Éxodo 17:7

7 Y llamó el nombre de aquel lugar Massah y Meribah, por la rencilla de los hijos de Israel, y porque tentaron á Jehová, diciendo: ¿Está, pues, Jehová entre nosotros, ó 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 Jehová dijo á Moisés: Pasa delante del pueblo, y toma contigo de los ancianos de Israel; y toma también en tu mano tu vara, con que heriste el río, y ve:

6 He aquí que yo estoy delante de ti allí sobre la peña en Horeb; y herirás la peña, y saldrán de ella aguas, y beberá el pueblo. Y Moisés lo hizo así en presencia de los ancianos de Israel.

7 Y llamó el nombre de aquel lugar Massah y Meribah, por la rencilla de los hijos de Israel, y porque tentaron á Jehová, diciendo: ¿Está, pues, Jehová entre nosotros, ó no?

8 Y vino Amalec y peleó con Israel en Rephidim.

9 Y dijo Moisés á Josué: Escógenos varones, y sal, pelea con Amalec: mañana yo estaré sobre la cumbre del collado, y la vara de Dios en mi mano.