Éxodo 17:7

7 Y puso a aquel lugar el nombre de Masah y Meriba , por la contienda de los hijos de Israel, y porque tentaron al SEÑOR, diciendo: ¿Está el SEÑOR entre nosotros o no?

Éxodo 17:7 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 17:7

And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah
The former signifies "temptation", and the latter "contention": the reason of which names being given by Moses, or whoever was the name of the place, follows: "because of the chiding of the children of Israel"; that was the reason why it was called by the last name, Meribah, because here, the Israelites chid and contended with Moses, and used him opprobriously:

and because they tempted the Lord;
therefore it had the former name of Massah:

saying, is the Lord among us or not?
as if they should say, if we perish through thirst, the Lord is not among us, nor takes any care of us; nor was it he that brought us out of Egypt, but Moses; nor is he in the pillar of cloud and fire, as is said; but if he works a miracle, and gives us water, for us, our children, and cattle, then it will appear he is among us; and thus they tempted the Lord, though without this they had full proof, by many instances, that he was among them, and even in a very extraordinary manner.

Éxodo 17:7 In-Context

5 Y el SEÑOR dijo a Moisés: Pasa delante del pueblo y toma contigo a algunos de los ancianos de Israel, y toma en tu mano la vara con la cual golpeaste el Nilo, y ve.

6 He aquí, yo estaré allí delante de ti sobre la peña en Horeb; y golpearás la peña, y saldrá agua de ella para que beba el pueblo. Y así lo hizo Moisés en presencia de los ancianos de Israel.

7 Y puso a aquel lugar el nombre de Masah y Meriba , por la contienda de los hijos de Israel, y porque tentaron al SEÑOR, diciendo: ¿Está el SEÑOR entre nosotros o no?

8 Entonces vino Amalec y peleó contra Israel en Refidim.

9 Y Moisés dijo a Josué: Escógenos hombres, y sal a pelear contra Amalec. Mañana yo estaré sobre la cumbre del collado con la vara de Dios en mi mano.

Footnotes

• [a] I.e., prueba
• [b] I.e., contienda