Focused Passage

Exodus 17:8-16

Water from the Rock and War with Amalek

Israel quarrels with Moses because there is no water, tests the LORD’s presence, receives water from the rock at Horeb, faces Amalek in battle, and learns that victory comes through the LORD’s upheld servant and the LORD’s banner over His people.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

8After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.

9So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.”

10Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed.

12When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.

13So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his army with the sword.

14Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

15And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner.

16“Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will war against Amalek from generation to generation.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 8

Original words

After this, the Amalekitesעֲמָלֵ֑קH6002Noun - proper - masculine singularcameוַיָּבֹ֖אH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularand attackedוַיִּלָּ֥חֶםH3898Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .עִם־H5973Prepositionthe Israelitesיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularat Rephidimבִּרְפִידִֽם׃H7508Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 9

Original words

So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֤הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionJoshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙H3091Noun - proper - masculine singularChooseבְּחַר־H977Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularvvvלָ֣נוּPreposition | first person common pluralsome of our menאֲנָשִׁ֔יםH582Noun - masculine pluraland go outוְצֵ֖אH3318Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularto fightהִלָּחֵ֣םH3898Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singularthe Amalekitesבַּעֲמָלֵ֑קH6002Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularTomorrowמָחָ֗רH4279AdverbIאָנֹכִ֤יH595Pronoun - first person common singularwill standנִצָּב֙H5324Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe hilltopרֹ֣אשׁH7218Noun - masculine singular construct. . .הַגִּבְעָ֔הH1389Article | Noun - feminine singularwith the staffוּמַטֵּ֥הH4294Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםH430Article | Noun - masculine pluralin my handבְּיָדִֽי׃H3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 10

Original words

Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַH3091Noun - proper - masculine singulardidוַיַּ֣עַשׂH6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularasכַּאֲשֶׁ֤רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativeMosesמֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularhad instructedאָֽמַר־H559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularhimלוֹ֙Preposition | third person masculine singularand foughtלְהִלָּחֵ֖םH3898Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive constructagainst the Amalekitesבַּעֲמָלֵ֑קH6002Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularwhile Mosesוּמֹשֶׁה֙H4872Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularAaronאַהֲרֹ֣ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singularand Hurוְח֔וּרH2354Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularwent upעָל֖וּH5927Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralto the topרֹ֥אשׁH7218Noun - masculine singular constructof the hillהַגִּבְעָֽה׃H1389Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 11

Original words

-וְהָיָ֗הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularAs long asכַּאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativeMosesמֹשֶׁ֛הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularheld upיָרִ֥יםH7311Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularhis handsיָד֖וֹH3027Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularprevailedוְגָבַ֣רH1396Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularbut whenוְכַאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativehe loweredיָנִ֛יחַH5117Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular[them]יָד֖וֹH3027Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularAmalekעֲמָלֵֽק׃H6002Noun - proper - masculine singularprevailedוְגָבַ֥רH1396Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 12

Original words

When Moses’מֹשֶׁה֙H4872Noun - proper - masculine singularhandsוִידֵ֤יH3027Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine dual constructgrew heavyכְּבֵדִ֔יםH3515Adjective - masculine pluralthey tookוַיִּקְחוּ־H3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plurala stoneאֶ֛בֶןH68Noun - feminine singularand putוַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּH7760Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralit under himתַחְתָּ֖יוH8478Preposition | third person masculine singularand he satוַיֵּ֣שֶׁבH3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularon itעָלֶ֑יהָH5921Preposition | third person feminine singularThen Aaronוְאַהֲרֹ֨ןH175Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularand Hurוְח֜וּרH2354Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularheldתָּֽמְכ֣וּH8551Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralhis hands upבְיָדָ֗יוH3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine singularoneמִזֶּ֤הH2088Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singularon eachאֶחָד֙H259Number - masculine singular. . .וּמִזֶּ֣הH2088Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singularsideאֶחָ֔דH259Number - masculine singularso that his handsיָדָ֛יוH3027Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine singularremainedוַיְהִ֥יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularsteadyאֱמוּנָ֖הH530Noun - feminine singularuntilעַד־H5704Prepositionthe sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃H8121Article | Noun - common singularwent downבֹּ֥אH935Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 13

Original words

So Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַH3091Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeroverwhelmedוַיַּחֲלֹ֧שׁH2522Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularAmalekעֲמָלֵ֥קH6002Noun - proper - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand his armyעַמּ֖וֹH5971Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular. . .לְפִי־H6310Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructwith the swordחָֽרֶב׃פH2719Noun - feminine singular
Verse 14

Original words

Then the LORDיְהוָ֜הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֗הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularWrite thisכְּתֹ֨בH3789Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular. . .זֹ֤אתH2063Pronoun - feminine singularon a scrollבַּסֵּ֔פֶרH5612Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularas a reminderזִכָּרוֹן֙H2146Noun - masculine singularand reciteוְשִׂ֖יםH7760Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular. . .בְּאָזְנֵ֣יH241Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual constructit to Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַH3091Noun - proper - masculine singularbecauseכִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionI will utterly blot outמָחֹ֤הH4229Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .אֶמְחֶה֙H4229Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe memoryזֵ֣כֶרH2143Noun - masculine singular constructof Amalekעֲמָלֵ֔קH6002Noun - proper - masculine singularfrom underמִתַּ֖חַתH8478Preposition-mheavenהַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃H8064Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 15

Original words

And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularbuiltוַיִּ֥בֶןH1129Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularan altarמִזְבֵּ֑חַH4196Noun - masculine singularand namedוַיִּקְרָ֥אH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularitשְׁמ֖וֹH8034Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularThe LORDיְהוָ֥ה׀H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularIs My Bannerנִסִּֽי׃H5251Noun - proper - masculine singular construct | first person common singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew YHWH Nissi
Verse 16

Original words

Indeedכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionhe saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulara handיָד֙H3027Noun - feminine singularwas lifted up towardעַל־H5921Prepositionthe throneכֵּ֣סH3676Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיָ֔הּH3050Noun - proper - masculine singularThe LORDלַיהוָ֖הH3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularwill warמִלְחָמָ֥הH4421Noun - feminine singularagainst Amalekבַּֽעֲמָלֵ֑קH6002Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularfrom generationמִדֹּ֖רH1755Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singularto generationדֹּֽר׃פH1755Noun - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.