Exodus 17:7

7 He named * the place ¹Massah and ²Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they ³tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us, or not?"

Exodus 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.

Exodus 17:7 In-Context

5 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

6 "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at 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 He named the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the LORD , saying, "Is the LORD among us, or not?"

8 Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim.

9 So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand."

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 6:16; Deuteronomy 9:22; Psalms 95:8
• 2. Numbers 20:13, 24; Numbers 27:14; Psalms 81:7
• 3. Numbers 14:22; Deuteronomy 33:8

Footnotes

• [a] I.e. test
• [b] I.e. quarrel