Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?” New Living Translation So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded. “Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the LORD?” English Standard Version Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” Berean Standard Bible So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why do you contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you test the LORD?” King James Bible Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? New King James Version 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 tempt the LORD?” New American Standard Bible So the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water so that we may drink!” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” NASB 1995 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” NASB 1977 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” Legacy Standard Bible Therefore the people contended with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you test Yahweh?” Amplified Bible Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water so we may [have something to] drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you tempt the LORD and try His patience?” Christian Standard Bible So the people complained to Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why are you complaining to me? ” Moses replied to them. “Why are you testing the LORD? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible So the people complained to Moses, “Give us water to drink."” Why are you complaining to me?” Moses replied to them. “Why are you testing the LORD?” American Standard Version Wherefore the people strove with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why strive ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt Jehovah? Contemporary English Version The people started complaining to Moses, "Give us some water!" Moses replied, "Why are you complaining to me and trying to put the LORD to the test?" English Revised Version Wherefore the people strove with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why strive ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? GOD'S WORD® Translation So they complained to Moses by saying, "Give us water to drink!" Moses said to them, "Why are you complaining to me? Why are you testing the LORD?" Good News Translation They complained to Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses answered, "Why are you complaining? Why are you putting the LORD to the test?" International Standard Version The people quarreled with Moses: "Give us water to drink." Moses told them, "Why are you quarreling with me? Why are you testing the LORD?" Majority Standard Bible So the people contended with Moses, ?Give us water to drink.? ?Why do you contend with me?? Moses replied. ?Why do you test the LORD?? NET Bible So the people contended with Moses, and they said, "Give us water to drink!" Moses said to them, "Why do you contend with me? Why do you test the LORD?" New Heart English Bible Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?" Webster's Bible Translation Wherefore the people contended with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said to them, Why chide you with me? why do ye tempt the LORD? World English Bible Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand the people strive with Moses, and say, “Give us water, and we drink.” And Moses says to them, “Why do you strive with me? Why do you try YHWH?” Young's Literal Translation and the people strive with Moses, and say, 'Give us water, and we drink.' And Moses saith to them, 'What? -- ye strive with me, what? -- ye try Jehovah?' Smith's Literal Translation And the people contended with Moses, and they will say, Give to us water and we will drink. And Moses will say to them, Why will ye contend with me, and why will ye tempt Jehovah? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd they chode with Moses, and said: Give us water, that we may drink. And Moses answered them: Why chide you with me? Wherefore do you tempt the Lord? Catholic Public Domain Version And arguing against Moses, they said, “Give us water, so that we may drink.” And Moses answered them: “Why argue against me? For what reason do you tempt the Lord?” New American Bible and so they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to a test?” New Revised Standard Version The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWherefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said to him. Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said to them, Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you tempt the LORD? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the people disputed with Moshe and they said to him, “Give us water we will drink”; Moshe said to them, “Why are you arguing with me and why are you tempting LORD JEHOVAH?” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Wherefore the people strove with Moses, and said: 'Give us water that we may drink.' And Moses said unto them: 'Why strive ye with me? wherefore do ye try the LORD?' Brenton Septuagint Translation And the people reviled Moses, saying, Give us water, that we may drink; and Moses said to them, Why do ye revile me, and why tempt ye the Lord? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Water from the Rock1Then the whole congregation of Israel left the Desert of Sin, moving from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why do you contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you test the LORD?” 3But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt—to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”… Cross References Numbers 20:2-13 Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron. / The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD! / Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? ... Psalm 95:8-9 do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, though they had seen My work. Deuteronomy 6:16 Do not test the LORD your God as you tested Him at Massah. 1 Corinthians 10:9-10 We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes. / And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. Hebrews 3:8-9 do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works. Numbers 14:22 not one of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness—yet have tested Me and disobeyed Me these ten times— Deuteronomy 9:22 You continued to provoke the LORD at Taberah, at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah. Matthew 4:7 Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Luke 4:12 But Jesus answered, “It also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” John 6:30-31 So they asked Him, “What sign then will You perform, so that we may see it and believe You? What will You do? / Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Psalm 78:18-20 They willfully tested God by demanding the food they craved. / They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness? / When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?” Psalm 106:32-33 At the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them. / For they rebelled against His Spirit, and Moses spoke rashly with his lips. Isaiah 7:12 But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask; I will not test the LORD.” 1 Corinthians 10:4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Hebrews 3:15-19 As it has been said: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion.” / For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? / And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? ... Treasury of Scripture Why the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said to them, Why chide you with me? why do you tempt the LORD? the people Exodus 5:21 And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us. Exodus 14:11,12 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? … Exodus 15:24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? give us Genesis 30:1,2 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die… 1 Samuel 8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. wherefore Exodus 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not? Exodus 16:2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: Numbers 14:22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Jump to Previous Angry Chide Contended Dispute Drink Drinking Fault Find Found Moses Quarrel Quarreled Stove Strive Strove Tempt Test Try Water WhereforeJump to Next Angry Chide Contended Dispute Drink Drinking Fault Find Found Moses Quarrel Quarreled Stove Strive Strove Tempt Test Try Water WhereforeExodus 17 1. The people murmur for water to Rephidim6. God send them for water to the rock in Horeb 7. The place is called Massah and Meribah 8. Amalek is overcome by Joshua, while Moses holds up his hand 14. Amalek is doomed to destruction; and Moses builds the altar Jehovah-nissi So the people contended with Moses The Hebrew word for "contended" is "רִיב" (riv), which implies a legal dispute or a quarrel. This word suggests not just a simple disagreement but a serious challenge to authority. Historically, the Israelites had just been delivered from Egypt and were in the wilderness, a place of testing and reliance on God. Their contention with Moses reflects a deeper spiritual struggle, a lack of trust in God's provision despite His past faithfulness. This moment is a reminder of the human tendency to doubt and challenge leadership when faced with adversity. Give us water to drink 'Why do you contend with me?' Moses replied 'Why do you test the LORD?' Give us water.--It was not faith that spoke in these words, but wrath. They had no belief that Moses could give them water, and "were almost ready to stone" him (Exodus 17:4). Verse 2. - The people did chide. I.e. "quarrelled," made open murmurs and complaint - as before frequently (Exodus 14:11, 12; Exodus 15:24; Exodus 16:2, 3). Give us water. As Moses had already given them flesh (the quails) and bread (the manna), so it perhaps seemed to the people easy that he should give them such a common thing as water. Stanley notices (p. 70) that the wadys suggest the idea of water, and make its absence the more intolerable - they are "exactly like rivers," with "torrent bed, and banks, and clefts in the rock for tributary streams, and at times even rushes and shrubs fringing their course" - signs of "water, water everywhere, yet not a drop to drink." Wherefore do ye tempt the Lord? To "tempt the Lord" is to try his patience by want of faith, to arouse his anger, to provoke him to punish us. It was the special sin of the Israelites during the whole period of their sojourn in the wilderness. They "tempted and provoked the most high God" (Psalm 78:56); "provoked him to anger with their inventions" (Psalm 106:29), "murmured in their tents" (ib, 25), "provoked him at the sea" (ib, 7), "tempted him in the desert" (ib, 14). God's long-suffering, notwithstanding all, is simply amazing!Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So the peopleהָעָם֙ (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock contended וַיָּ֤רֶב (way·yā·reḇ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7378: To toss, grapple, to wrangle, controversy, to defend with עִם־ (‘im-) Preposition Strong's 5973: With, equally with Moses, מֹשֶׁ֔ה (mō·šeh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver “Give תְּנוּ־ (tə·nū-) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 5414: To give, put, set us water מַ֖יִם (ma·yim) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen to drink.” וְנִשְׁתֶּ֑ה (wə·niš·teh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common plural Strong's 8354: To imbibe “Why מַה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what do you contend תְּרִיבוּן֙ (tə·rî·ḇūn) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun Strong's 7378: To toss, grapple, to wrangle, controversy, to defend with me?” עִמָּדִ֔י (‘im·mā·ḏî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 5978: Against, by, from, me, mine, of, that I take, unto, Moses מֹשֶׁ֔ה (mō·šeh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver replied. וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say “Why מַה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what do you test תְּנַסּ֖וּן (tə·nas·sūn) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun Strong's 5254: To test, to attempt the LORD?” יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel Links Exodus 17:2 NIVExodus 17:2 NLT Exodus 17:2 ESV Exodus 17:2 NASB Exodus 17:2 KJV Exodus 17:2 BibleApps.com Exodus 17:2 Biblia Paralela Exodus 17:2 Chinese Bible Exodus 17:2 French Bible Exodus 17:2 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 17:2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses (Exo. 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