Exodus 17:6 kjv
Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Exodus 17:6 nkjv
Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Exodus 17:6 niv
I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Exodus 17:6 esv
Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Exodus 17:6 nlt
I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink." So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on.
Exodus 17 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 8:15 | ...who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness... who brought you water out of the flinty rock, | God's miraculous provision in the desert. |
| Num 20:8-13 | Take the staff, and assemble the congregation... you shall speak to the rock... and water will come out for them. But Moses struck the rock twice... | Second instance of water from rock; Moses' disobedience. |
| Neh 9:15 | You gave them bread from heaven... and brought water for them out of the rock... | Recounts God's faithful provision during the Exodus. |
| Ps 78:15-16 | He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as from the great deep. He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers. | Praises God's miraculous power to provide water. |
| Ps 105:41 | He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed in the desert like a river. | Recalls the provision of water from the rock. |
| Ps 114:8 | Who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water. | Illustrates God's power over nature. |
| Isa 48:21 | They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts... he made water flow from the rock for them... | Highlights God's care and guidance for His people. |
| Ps 95:8 | Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness... | Connects to the people's rebellion and testing God. |
| Heb 3:7-9 | Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness... | Cautions against hardening hearts and testing God. |
| 1 Cor 10:4 | And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. | Spiritual interpretation; the rock foreshadows Christ. |
| Ex 17:1 | All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on... from the wilderness of Sin by stages... there was no water... | Immediate context: people's complaint about no water. |
| Ex 17:7 | And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel... | The naming of the place due to their contention. |
| Ex 3:1 | ...Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro... And he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. | Horeb as the mountain of God, previous mention. |
| Ex 16:1-35 | Provides manna and quails... | Prior divine provision despite complaints. |
| John 4:10 | Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” | Spiritual living water contrasted with physical. |
| John 7:37-38 | ...Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” | Christ as the ultimate source of spiritual sustenance. |
| Isa 41:17-18 | When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none... I the Lord will answer them... I will open rivers on the bare heights and fountains in the midst of the valleys... | God's promise to provide water for the needy. |
| Ps 23:2 | He leads me beside still waters. | God as the Shepherd who provides refreshment. |
| Ezek 47:1 | ...Behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east... | Water flowing from the sanctuary as a symbol of life. |
| Rev 21:6 | And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.” | The Lamb providing the water of life in the new creation. |
| Rev 22:1 | Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. | Ultimate fulfillment of thirst quenched in the New Heavens and Earth. |
Exodus 17 verses
Exodus 17 6 Meaning
Exodus 17:6 describes God's direct command and provision in response to the Israelites' grumbling for water in the wilderness at Rephidim. God instructs Moses to strike a specific rock at Horeb while He, the Lord, stands physically present upon it. Upon being struck, the rock will miraculously yield water, ensuring the survival and sustenance of the entire Israelite community, thus demonstrating God's unfailing presence and care for His people despite their unfaithfulness.
Exodus 17 6 Context
Exodus chapter 17 is situated early in the Israelites' wilderness journey after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt, following their experience at Marah (bitter waters made sweet) and Elim (oases). The narrative shows the people quickly returning to their default of complaining and grumbling against Moses and, by extension, against God, specifically concerning a lack of water at Rephidim. This consistent theme of murmuring demonstrates their short-term memory of God's power and provision and their spiritual immaturity. The event at Rephidim, named Massah ("testing") and Meribah ("quarrel"), sets the stage for God to once again miraculously intervene, not based on the Israelites' merit, but on His faithfulness to His covenant promises. Horeb, the location for this miracle, is synonymous with Mount Sinai, which will soon be the sacred site where God gives the Law and establishes His covenant with Israel, underscoring the immediate presence and activity of God even before the covenant is formally laid out. This incident powerfully highlights God's readiness to provide for His people's most fundamental needs in the direst circumstances.
Exodus 17 6 Word analysis
Behold: (Hebrew: Hinnēh - הִנֵּה). An interjection drawing immediate attention. It signals a momentous declaration or action, often divine. It emphasizes the directness and certainty of God's impending act.
I: (Hebrew: ʼanī - אֲנִי). The first-person pronoun, directly referring to Yahweh. Stresses divine personal agency and commitment. It is God's own will and power at play.
will stand: (Hebrew: ‛ōmēd - עֹמֵד, a participle indicating ongoing or imminent action). Denotes God's immediate and real presence. Not just a command, but an active, observable manifestation of divine authority.
before you: God's direct interaction with Moses. Emphasizes Moses' unique role as the mediator. Implies a visible manifestation, even if only to Moses.
there: A deictic adverb pointing to the precise location God has designated.
on the rock: (Hebrew: baṣ-ṣur - בַּצּוּר). The Hebrew word ṣur means rock, boulder, or cliff. Often used metaphorically for God Himself as a refuge or strength (e.g., Ps 18:2). Here, it's a literal, specific physical object chosen for the miracle.
at Horeb: (Hebrew: bĕḥōrēb - בְּחֹרֵב). An alternative name for Mount Sinai. Its significance is immense as the site of the burning bush and future reception of the Law. Locating the miracle there elevates its spiritual importance, preceding the full covenant revelation.
and you: (Hebrew: wĕʼattāh - וְאַתָּה). Refers explicitly to Moses. It designates him as the appointed human instrument for God's divine act.
shall strike: (Hebrew: wĕhikkīṯā - וְהִכִּיתָ). A verb indicating a forceful, decisive blow. Moses' specific, obedient action is crucial. Contrast this later with Num 20:8 where God commands him to "speak to" the rock.
the rock: (Hebrew: haṣ-ṣur - הַצּוּr). Refers back to the previously mentioned specific rock. It is the object of Moses' divinely commanded action.
and water: (Hebrew: wĕmayim - וְמַיִם). The essential element for life in a desert. Its provision is a clear, immediate answer to the people's dire need.
shall come out of it: (Hebrew: wĕyāṣʾû mimmennû - וְיָצְאוּ מִמֶּנּוּ). Emphasizes the miraculous efflux. The water is supernaturally drawn from a dry, barren object, purely by God's power.
and the people: (Hebrew: wĕhā-‛ām - וְהָעָם). The large Israelite congregation, who were complaining. They are the beneficiaries.
will drink: (Hebrew: wĕšāṯâ - וְשָׁתָה). The ultimate purpose and successful outcome of the miracle – relief and sustenance for the multitude.
Words-group analysis:
- "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb": This phrase underscores God's personal engagement, precise location, and direct involvement. It reveals God's tangible presence, ensuring His immediate supervision and direct power for the impending miracle, making it undeniably a divine act. The reference to Horeb connects this life-sustaining miracle with the very mountain of God's covenant revelation.
- "and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it": This links Moses' obedient action with the miraculous divine outcome. It highlights Moses' necessary, instrumental role, while emphasizing that the water flows purely through God's power. The action itself (striking a dry rock) naturally leads to an impossible result, signifying a clear divine intervention.
- "and the people will drink": This concisely states the compassionate and practical result of the miracle. Despite the people's contentious behavior, God's grace ensures their most basic need is met, confirming His faithfulness as their provider and shepherd in the wilderness.
Exodus 17 6 Bonus section
- The striking of the rock served not only to provide water but also as a visible sign to the elders of Israel that Moses acted with divine authority, confronting the people's lack of faith and rebellion.
- This event contributes to the names of the place: Massah (meaning "testing," because the people tested the Lord) and Meribah (meaning "quarreling" or "contention," because they quarreled with Moses and God). These names served as perpetual reminders of Israel's unfaithfulness.
- God's choice to stand on the rock signifies His presence and dominion over creation, literally validating the act performed by Moses upon His command. It's a localized, powerful theophany.
- The subsequent contrast with Moses' action in Numbers 20, where he strikes the rock a second time instead of speaking to it as commanded, highlights the seriousness of obedience to God's specific instructions and the consequences of deviating from them, even for a leader like Moses.
- The water from the rock sustains the entire community for a period, implying a continuous flow, demonstrating God's consistent rather than merely momentary provision in the wilderness.
Exodus 17 6 Commentary
Exodus 17:6 encapsulates God's active involvement and faithful provision for His people. Despite Israel's contentious and testing attitude, God, in His steadfast love, chooses to reveal Himself as their Provider. He demonstrates His power through an undeniable miracle – extracting life-giving water from a barren rock. This act highlights several profound truths. First, God's provision is often a response to our need, not our worthiness. Even when tested, His grace abounds. Second, Moses serves as God's chosen intermediary; his obedience in striking the rock is crucial, yet the power is entirely divine. Moses is an instrument, not the source. Third, the location at "Horeb" is significant, foreshadowing God's continued presence and covenant relationship with Israel on this sacred mountain. The profound New Testament interpretation in 1 Corinthians 10:4 reveals that this rock was a spiritual Rock, pointing prophetically to Christ, the true source of living water for spiritual sustenance. The striking of the rock can be seen as foreshadowing Christ being "smitten" for our sins, allowing living water (the Holy Spirit, salvation) to flow to believers. Practically, this verse teaches believers to trust God for provision even in seemingly impossible circumstances, reminding us that God is ever-present and always capable of meeting our deepest needs, both physical and spiritual, through unexpected means.