Exodus 17:5
New International Version
The LORD answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

New Living Translation
The LORD said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you.

English Standard Version
And the LORD said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

Berean Standard Bible
And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

King James Bible
And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

New King James Version
And the LORD said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go.

New American Standard Bible
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.

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
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.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh 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.

Amplified Bible
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 the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD answered Moses, “Go on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take the staff you struck the Nile with in your hand and go.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD answered Moses, “Go on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take the staff you struck the Nile with in your hand and go.

American Standard Version
And Jehovah said unto Moses, Pass on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thy hand, and go.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD answered, "Take some of the leaders with you and go ahead of the rest of the people. Also take along the walking stick with which you struck the Nile River.

English Revised Version
And the LORD said unto Moses, Pass on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD answered Moses, "Bring some of the leaders of Israel with you, and go to where the people can see you. Take the staff you used to strike the Nile River.

Good News Translation
The LORD said to Moses, "Take some of the leaders of Israel with you, and go on ahead of the people. Take along the stick with which you struck the Nile.

International Standard Version
Then the LORD told Moses, "Go over in front of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

Majority Standard Bible
And the LORD said to Moses, ?Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

NET Bible
The LORD said to Moses, "Go over before the people; take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile and go.

New Heart English Bible
The LORD said to Moses, "Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD said to Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel: and thy rod, with which thou smotest the river, take in thy hand, and go.

World English Bible
Yahweh said to Moses, “Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH says to Moses, “Pass over before the people, and take with you from [the] elderly of Israel, and take your rod in your hand, with which you have struck the River, and you have gone.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Pass over before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel, and thy rod with which thou hast smitten the River take in thy hand, and thou hast gone:

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will say to Moses, Pass over before the people and take with thee from the old men of Israel; and thy rod which thou didst strike with it the river, take in thy hand and go.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said to Moses: God before the people, and take with thee of the ancients of Israel: and take in thy hand the rod wherewith thou didst strike the river, and go.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord said to Moses: “Go before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. And take in your hand the staff, with which you struck the river, and advance.

New American Bible
The LORD answered Moses: Go on ahead of the people, and take along with you some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the Nile.

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said to Moses. Go on before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and your staff with which you smote the river, take it in your hand and go.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said to Moshe: “Pass before the people and take with you some Elders of Israel, and take your staff in your hand with which you struck the river, and go.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Pass on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thy hand, and go.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord said to Moses, Go before this people, and take to thyself of the elders of the people; and the rod with which thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and thou shalt go.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Water from the Rock
4Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “What should I do with these people? A little more and they will stone me!” 5And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.…

Cross References
Numbers 20:7-8
And the LORD said to Moses, / “Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”

Psalm 78:15-16
He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the seas. / He brought streams from the stone and made water flow down like rivers.

Isaiah 48:21
They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.

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.

Numbers 20:11
Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.

Deuteronomy 8:15
He led you through the vast and terrifying wilderness with its venomous snakes and scorpions, a thirsty and waterless land. He brought you water from the rock of flint.

Nehemiah 9:15
In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven; in their thirst You brought them water from the rock. You told them to go in and possess the land that You had sworn to give them.

Psalm 105:41
He opened a rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.

John 4:14
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”

John 7:37-38
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. / Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”

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.

Psalm 114:8
who turned the rock into a pool, the flint into a fountain of water!

Isaiah 41:17-18
The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. / I will open rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into flowing springs.

Numbers 20:24
“Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land that I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.

Deuteronomy 6:16
Do not test the LORD your God as you tested Him at Massah.


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD said to Moses, Go on before the people, and take with you of the elders of Israel; and your rod, with which you smote the river, take in your hand, and go.

go on

Ezekiel 2:6
And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

Acts 20:23,24
Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me…

thy rod

Exodus 7:19,20
And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone…

Numbers 20:8-11
Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink…

Jump to Previous
Ahead Chiefs Elders Hand Israel Moses Nile River Rod Smite Smitten Staff Stretched Struck Walk Wherewith
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Ahead Chiefs Elders Hand Israel Moses Nile River Rod Smite Smitten Staff Stretched Struck Walk Wherewith
Exodus 17
1. The people murmur for water to Rephidim
6. 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














The LORD answered Moses
This phrase emphasizes the direct communication between God and Moses, highlighting the unique relationship Moses had with God as a prophet and leader. The Hebrew root for "answered" (עָנָה, 'anah) implies a response to a plea or request, indicating that God is attentive to the needs and cries of His people. This interaction underscores the faithfulness of God in guiding and providing for His chosen leader and, by extension, His people.

Walk on ahead of the people
Here, God instructs Moses to lead by example, moving ahead of the Israelites. The Hebrew verb for "walk" (הָלַךְ, halak) often signifies a journey or a way of life. This command not only directs Moses physically but also spiritually, as he is to demonstrate faith and obedience. Historically, leaders in ancient times often led from the front, symbolizing courage and trust in divine guidance.

Take with you some of the elders of Israel
The inclusion of the elders signifies the importance of shared leadership and accountability. The elders were respected leaders within the community, and their presence would serve as witnesses to God's power and Moses' authority. This reflects the biblical principle of establishing truth and leadership through the testimony of multiple witnesses, as seen throughout Scripture.

take in your hand the staff
The staff is a symbol of God's power and authority given to Moses. In Hebrew, the word for "staff" (מַטֶּה, matteh) can also mean "tribe," symbolizing leadership and governance. The staff had previously been used to perform miracles, such as turning the Nile to blood, and its presence here reinforces the continuity of God's miraculous provision and the authority vested in Moses.

with which you struck the Nile
This phrase recalls the past miracle of turning the Nile into blood, a pivotal event in the Exodus narrative. It serves as a reminder of God's past faithfulness and power, encouraging trust in His continued provision. The act of striking the Nile was a demonstration of God's supremacy over the Egyptian gods, reinforcing His sovereignty and the legitimacy of Moses' leadership.

and go
The command to "go" (לֵךְ, lekh) is a call to action, requiring faith and obedience. It signifies movement towards God's promise and purpose. In the broader biblical narrative, "going" often involves stepping into the unknown with trust in God's guidance, reflecting the journey of faith that all believers are called to undertake. This directive encapsulates the essence of following God's will, even when the path is not fully revealed.

(5) Go on before the people.--The people were probably in no condition to move. They were exhausted. with a long day's march--weary, faint, nerveless. Moses and the elders, who probably journeyed on asses, would have more strength.

Take with thee of the elders--as witnesses. Each miracle had an educational value, and was designed to call forth, exercise, and so strengthen the faith of the people.

The rock in Horeb must necessarily designate some particular rock of the Horeb region already known to Moses during his previous stay in these parts. It cannot possibly, however, have been the traditional "rock of Moses" in the Seil Leja, under Ras Sufsafeh, since that rock is a long day's journey from the site of Rephidim, near which the miracle must have been performed. (See Stanley, Sinai and Palestine, pp. 46-48.)

Verse 5. - Go on before the people. "Leave the people," i.e., "where they are, in Rephidim, and go on in front of them, with some of the elders as witnesses, that the miracle may be sufficiently attested." On the other occasion, when water was brought forth out of the rock (Numbers 20:8-11), it was done in the presence of the people. Perhaps now there was a real danger of their stoning Moses, had he not quitted them. Thy rod with which thou smotest the river. See above, Exodus 7:20.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The LORD
יְהוָ֜ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

answered
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

Moses,
מֹשֶׁ֗ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

“Walk on
עֲבֹר֙ (‘ă·ḇōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

ahead of
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the people
הָעָ֔ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

and take
וְקַ֥ח (wə·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

some of the elders
מִזִּקְנֵ֣י (miz·ziq·nê)
Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2205: Old

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

with you.
אִתְּךָ֖ (’it·tə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

Take along
קַ֥ח (qaḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

in your hand
בְּיָדְךָ֖ (bə·yā·ḏə·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

the staff
וּמַטְּךָ֗ (ū·maṭ·ṭə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe

with which
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you struck
הִכִּ֤יתָ (hik·kî·ṯā)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

the Nile,
הַיְאֹ֔ר (hay·’ōr)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2975: Nile -- a channel, a fosse, canal, shaft, the Nile, the Tigris

and go.
וְהָלָֽכְתָּ׃ (wə·hā·lā·ḵə·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk


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OT Law: Exodus 17:5 Yahweh said to Moses Walk on before (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 17:4
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