Read Scripture ad-free with Bible Gateway Plus—trusted Study Bibles and commentaries beside every verse. Try it FREE for 7 days.
Log In/Sign Up

#
Exodus 17
New King James Version

### Water from the Rock(A)

17 Then (B)all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of (C)Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to (D)drink. 2 (E)Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.”

So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you (F)tempt the Lord?”

3 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people (G)complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our (H)livestock with thirst?”

4 So Moses (I)cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to (J)stone[a] me!”

5 And the Lord said to Moses, (K)“Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which (L)you struck the river, and go. 6 (M)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. 7 So he called the name of the place (N)Massah[b] and [c]Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they [d]tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

### Victory over the Amalekites(O)

8 (P)Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with (Q)the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses (R)held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became [e]heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, (S)“Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that (T)I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, [f]The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; 16 for he said, “Because [g]the Lord has (U)sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

#### Footnotes

1. Exodus 17:4 Put me to death by stoning
2. Exodus 17:7 Lit. Tempted
3. Exodus 17:7 Lit. Contention
4. Exodus 17:7 tested
5. Exodus 17:12 Weary of being held up
6. Exodus 17:15 Heb. YHWH Nissi
7. Exodus 17:16 Lit. a hand is upon the throne of the Lord

#### Cross references

1. Exodus 17:1 : Num. 20:1–13
2. Exodus 17:1 : Ex. 16:1
3. Exodus 17:1 : Num. 33:11–15
4. Exodus 17:1 : Ex. 15:22; Num. 20:2
5. Exodus 17:2 : Ex. 14:11; Num. 20:2, 3, 13
6. Exodus 17:2 : [Deut. 6:16]; Ps. 78:18, 41; [Matt. 4:7]; 1 Cor. 10:9
7. Exodus 17:3 : Ex. 16:2, 3
8. Exodus 17:3 : Ex. 12:38
9. Exodus 17:4 : Ex. 14:15
10. Exodus 17:4 : John 8:59; 10:31
11. Exodus 17:5 : Ezek. 2:6
12. Exodus 17:5 : Num. 20:8
13. Exodus 17:6 : Num. 20:10, 11; Deut. 8:15; Neh. 9:15; Ps. 78:15; 105:41; 114:8; [1 Cor. 10:4]
14. Exodus 17:7 : Num. 20:13, 24; 27:14; Ps. 81:7
15. Exodus 17:8 : Gen. 14:7; Num. 13:29; 14:25
16. Exodus 17:8 : Gen. 36:12; Num. 24:20; Deut. 25:17–19; 1 Sam. 15:2
17. Exodus 17:9 : Ex. 4:20
18. Exodus 17:11 : [James 5:16]
19. Exodus 17:14 : Ex. 24:4; 34:27; Num. 33:2
20. Exodus 17:14 : Deut. 25:19; 1 Sam. 15:3; 2 Sam. 1:1; 1 Chr. 4:43
21. Exodus 17:16 : Gen. 22:14–16

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

#### Bible Gateway Recommends

NKJV, Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, 2nd Edition, Comfort Print: Growing in Knowledge and Understanding of God Through His Word
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, The Prayer Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $35.99
Save: $24.00 (40%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Woman's Study Bible, Red Letter, Full-Color: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, The Bible Study Bible, Comfort Print: A Study Guide for Every Chapter of the Bible
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
View more titles