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Complete Jewish Bible

Exodus 17:3

However, the people were thirsty for water there and grumbled against Moshe, "For what did you bring us up from Egypt? To kill us, our children and our livestock with thirst?"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Backsliders;   Blessing;   Evil for Good;   Ingratitude;   Israel;   Meribah;   Moses;   Murmuring;   Trouble;   Thompson Chain Reference - Content-Discontent;   Israel;   Murmuring;   Thirst (Physical);   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Desert, Journey of Israel through the;   Murmuring;   Rocks;   Water;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Aaron;   Meribah;   Rephidim;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Moses;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Exodus, Theology of;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Meribah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Levi;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Aaron's Rod;   Exodus, Book of;   Kadesh-Meribah;   Provocation;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Exodus;   Manna;   Massah and Meribah;   Moses;   Numbers, Book of;   Zin;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Levi;   Mordecai;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Journeyings of israel from egypt to canaan;   Meribali;   Rephidim;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Sinai;   On to Canaan;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Criticism (the Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis);   Manna;   Moses;   Pentateuch;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Eleazar (Eliezer) B. Hisma;   Exodus, Book of;   Rephidim;   Water;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
The people were thirsty for water there; and the people murmured against Moshe, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Mitzrayim, to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?"
King James Version
And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
Lexham English Bible
And the people thirsted for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, "Why ever did you bring us up from Egypt to kill me and my sons and my cattle with thirst?"
New Century Version
But the people were very thirsty for water, so they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Was it to kill us, our children, and our farm animals with thirst?"
New English Translation
But the people were very thirsty there for water, and they murmured against Moses and said, "Why in the world did you bring us up out of Egypt—to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?"
Amplified Bible
But the people were thirsty for water; and the people murmured against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us up from Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"
New American Standard Bible
But the people were thirsty for water there; and they grumbled against Moses and said, "Why is it that you have brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"
Geneva Bible (1587)
So the people thirsted there for water, & the people murmured against Moses, & said, Wherefore hast thou thus brought vs out of Egypt to kil vs and our children and our cattel with thirst?
Legacy Standard Bible
But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, "Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to put us and our children and our livestock to death with thirst?"
Contemporary English Version
But the people were thirsty and kept on complaining, "Moses, did you bring us out of Egypt just to let us and our families and our animals die of thirst?"
Darby Translation
And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Why is it that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
Easy-to-Read Version
But the people were very thirsty, so they continued complaining to Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Did you bring us out here so that we, our children, and our cattle will all die without water?"
English Standard Version
But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"
George Lamsa Translation
And the people thirsted there for water; and they murmured against Moses, and said to him, Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
Good News Translation
But the people were very thirsty and continued to complain to Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt? To kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"
Christian Standard Bible®
But the people thirsted there for water and grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you ever bring us up from Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
Literal Translation
And the people thirsted there for water, and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Why, then, have you caused us to go up from Egypt, to kill me and my sons and my livestock with thirst?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But whan the people thyrsted there for water, they murmured agaynst Moses, & sayde: Wherfore hast thou caused vs to come out of Egipte? to let vs, oure children, and oure catell dye of honger?
American Standard Version
And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore hast thou brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
Bible in Basic English
And the people were in great need of water; and they made an outcry against Moses, and said, Why have you taken us out of Egypt to send death on us and our children and our cattle through need of water?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
There the people thirsted for water, and ye people murmured agaynst Moyses, and saide: wherefore hast thou thus brought vs vp out of Egypt, to kil me, & my children, and my cattell with thyrst?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said: 'Wherefore hast thou brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?'
King James Version (1611)
And the people thirsted there for water, and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought vs vp out of Egypt, to kill vs and our children, and our cattell with thirst?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the people thirsted there for water, and there the people murmured against Moses, saying, Why is this? hast thou brought us up out of Egypt to slay us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
English Revised Version
And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore hast thou brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
Berean Standard Bible
But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: "Why have you brought us out of Egypt-to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor the puple thristide there for the scarsnesse of watir, and grutchiden ayens Moises, and seide, Whi madist thou vs to go out of Egipt, to sle vs, and oure fre children, and beestis, for thrist?
Young's Literal Translation
and the people thirst there for water, and the people murmur against Moses, and say, `Why [is] this? -- thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to put us to death, also our sons and our cattle, with thirst.'
Update Bible Version
And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our sons and our cattle with thirst?
Webster's Bible Translation
And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Why [is] this [that] thou hast brought us out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
World English Bible
The people were thirsty for water there; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?"
New King James Version
And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, "Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"
New Living Translation
But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. "Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?"
New Life Bible
But the people were thirsty there for water. They complained against Moses, saying, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and animals with thirst?"
New Revised Standard
But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So the people thirsted, there for water, and the people murmured against Moses, - and said - Wherefore is it that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill me and my sons and my cattle, with thirst?
Douay-Rheims Bible
So the people were thirsty there for want of water, and murmured against Moses, saying: Why didst thou make us go forth out of Egypt, to kill us and our children, and our beasts with thirst?
Revised Standard Version
But the people thirsted there for water, and the people murmured against Moses, and said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?"
THE MESSAGE
But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses, "Why did you take us from Egypt and drag us out here with our children and animals to die of thirst?"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, "Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"

Contextual Overview

1 (vii) The whole community of the people of Isra'el left the Seen Desert, traveling in stages, as Adonai had ordered, and camped at Refidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 The people quarreled with Moshe, demanding, "Give us water to drink!" But Moshe replied, "Why pick a fight with me? Why are you testing Adonai ?" 3 However, the people were thirsty for water there and grumbled against Moshe, "For what did you bring us up from Egypt? To kill us, our children and our livestock with thirst?" 4 Moshe cried out to Adonai , "What am I to do with these people? They're ready to stone me!" 5 Adonai answered Moshe, "Go on ahead of the people, and bring with you the leaders of Isra'el. Take your staff in your hand, the one you used to strike the river; and go. 6 I will stand in front of you there on the rock in Horev. You are to strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so the people can drink." Moshe did this in the sight of the leaders of Isra'el. 7 The place was named Massah [testing] and M'rivah [quarreling] because of the quarreling of the people of Isra'el and because they tested Adonai by asking, "Is Adonai with us or not?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

thou hast: Exodus 16:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 14:11 - Because Exodus 15:24 - General Exodus 33:1 - thou hast Numbers 11:1 - And when Numbers 14:2 - murmured Numbers 16:13 - to kill Numbers 20:4 - why Numbers 21:5 - spake Joshua 7:7 - to deliver 2 Samuel 14:32 - it had been Psalms 63:1 - General Proverbs 25:25 - cold Isaiah 41:17 - seek Jeremiah 42:14 - nor hear Jeremiah 48:18 - and sit Hosea 2:3 - and slay Acts 7:39 - and in 1 Corinthians 10:10 - murmur

Cross-References

Genesis 17:17
At this Avraham fell on his face and laughed — he thought to himself, "Will a child be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah give birth at ninety?"
Genesis 17:18
Avraham said to God, "If only Yishma‘el could live in your presence!"
Genesis 17:23
Avraham took Yishma‘el his son, all the slaves born in his house and all who had been bought with his money, every male among the people in Avraham's household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin that very day, just as God had said to him.
Genesis 17:24
(Maftir) Avraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin,
Exodus 3:6
I am the God of your father," he continued, "the God of Avraham, the God of Yitz'chak and the God of Ya‘akov." Moshe covered his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Numbers 14:5
Moshe and Aharon fell on their faces before the entire assembled community of the people of Isra'el.
Numbers 16:22
They fell on their faces and said, "Oh God, God of the spirits of all humankind, if one person sins, are you going to be angry with the entire assembly?"
Numbers 16:45
Now Korach the son of Yitz'har, the son of K'hat, the son of Levi, along with Datan and Aviram, the sons of Eli'av, and On, the son of Pelet, descendants of Re'uven, took men and rebelled against Moshe. Siding with them were 250 men of Isra'el, leaders of the community, key members of the council, men of reputation. They assembled themselves against Moshe and Aharon and said to them, "You take too much on yourselves! After all, the entire community is holy, every one of them, and Adonai is among them. So why do you lift yourselves up above Adonai 's assembly?" When Moshe heard this he fell on his face. Then he said to Korach and his whole group, "In the morning, Adonai will show who are his and who is the holy person he will allow to approach him. Yes, he will bring whomever he chooses near to himself. Do this: take censers, Korach and all your group; put fire in them; and put incense in them before Adonai tomorrow. The one whom Adonai chooses will be the one who is holy! It is you, you sons of Levi, who are taking too much on yourselves!" Then Moshe said to Korach, "Listen here, you sons of Levi! Is it for you a mere trifle that the God of Isra'el has separated you from the community of Isra'el to bring you close to himself, so that you can do the work in the tabernacle of Adonai and stand before the community serving them? He has brought you close and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you. Now you want the office of cohen too! That's why you and your group have gathered together against Adonai ! After all, what is Aharon that you complain against him?" Then Moshe sent to summon Datan and Aviram, the sons of Eli'av. But they replied, "We won't come up! Is it such a mere trifle, bringing us up from a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert, that now you arrogate to yourself the role of dictator over us? (ii) You haven't at all brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, and you haven't put us in possession of fields and vineyards. Do you think you can gouge out these men's eyes and blind them? We won't come up!" Moshe was very angry and said to Adonai , "Don't accept their grain offering! I haven't taken one donkey from them, I've done nothing wrong to any of them." Moshe said to Korach, "You and your group, be there before Adonai tomorrow — you, they and Aharon. Each of you take his fire pan and put incense in it; every one of you, bring before Adonai his fire pan, 250 fire pans, you too, and Aharon — each one his fire pan." Each man took his fire pan, put fire in it, laid incense on it and stood at the entrance to the tent of meeting with Moshe and Aharon. Korach assembled all the group who were against them at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then the glory of Adonai appeared to the whole assembly. (iii) Adonai said to Moshe and Aharon, "Separate yourselves from this assembly; I'm going to destroy them right now!" They fell on their faces and said, "Oh God, God of the spirits of all humankind, if one person sins, are you going to be angry with the entire assembly?" Adonai answered Moshe, "Tell the assembly to move away from the homes of Korach, Datan and Aviram." Moshe got up and went to Datan and Aviram, and the leaders of Isra'el followed him. There he said to the assembly, "Leave the tents of these wicked men! Don't touch anything that belongs to them, or you may be swept away in all their sins." So they moved away from all around the area where Korach, Datan and Aviram lived. Then Datan and Aviram came out and stood at the entrance to their tents with their wives, sons and little ones. Moshe said, "Here is how you will know that Adonai has sent me to do all these things and that I haven't done them out of my own ambition: if these men die a natural death like other people, only sharing the fate common to all humanity, then Adonai has not sent me. But if Adonai does something new — if the ground opens up and swallows them with everything they own, and they go down alive to Sh'ol — then you will understand that these men have had contempt for Adonai ." The moment he finished speaking, the ground under them split apart — the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all the people who had sided with Korach and everything they owned. So they and everything they owned went down alive into Sh'ol, the earth closed over them and their existence in the community ceased. All Isra'el around them fled at their shrieks, shouting, "The earth might swallow us too!" Then fire came out from Adonai and destroyed the 250 men who had offered the incense.
Joshua 5:14
"No," he replied, "but I am the commander of Adonai 's army; I have come just now." Y'hoshua fell down with his face to the ground and worshipped him, then asked, "What does my lord have to say to his servant?"
Judges 13:20
as the flame went up toward the sky from the altar, the angel of Adonai went up in the flame from the altar. When Manoach and his wife saw it, they fell to the ground on their faces.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the people thirsted there for water,.... They saw there was no water when they first came thither, and therefore chid Moses for bringing them to such a place, where they could not subsist; and having stayed some little time here, and all the water they brought with them from Alush being spent, and having none to drink, began to be very thirsty:

and the people murmured against Moses; became more impatient and enraged, and threw out their invectives against him with much acrimony and severity:

wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt? where it would have been much better for us to have continued:

to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst: which is intolerable to any, and especially to children and cattle, which require frequent drinking: they could not suppose that Moses had such a murderous view in bringing them out of Egypt, or that this was his intention in it, but that this would be the issue and event of it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 17:3. And the people murmured — The reader must not forget what has so often been noted relating to the degraded state of the minds of the Israelites. A strong argument however may be drawn from this in favour of their supernatural escape from Egypt. Had it been a scheme concerted by the heads of the people, provision would necessarily have been made for such exigencies as these. But as God chose to keep them constantly dependent upon himself for every necessary of life, and as they had Moses alone as their mediator to look to, they murmured against him when brought into straits and difficulties, regretted their having left Egypt, and expressed the strongest desire to return. This shows that they had left Egypt reluctantly; and as Moses and Aaron never appear to have any resources but those which came most evidently in a supernatural way, therefore the whole exodus or departure from Egypt proves itself to have been no human contrivance, but a measure concerted by God himself.


 
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