Exodus 15:25
And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּצְעַ֣ק
And he cried
H6817
וַיִּצְעַ֣ק
And he cried
Strong's:
H6817
Word #:
1 of 18
to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly)
יְהוָה֙
and the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
and the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וַיּוֹרֵ֤הוּ
shewed
H3384
וַיּוֹרֵ֤הוּ
shewed
Strong's:
H3384
Word #:
4 of 18
properly, to flow as water (i.e., to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e., to shoot); figuratively, to point out (as if by
יְהוָה֙
and the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
and the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עֵ֔ץ
him a tree
H6086
עֵ֔ץ
him a tree
Strong's:
H6086
Word #:
6 of 18
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ֙
which when he had cast
H7993
וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ֙
which when he had cast
Strong's:
H7993
Word #:
7 of 18
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
הַמָּ֑יִם
into the waters
H4325
הַמָּ֑יִם
into the waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
9 of 18
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וַֽיִּמְתְּק֖וּ
were made sweet
H4985
וַֽיִּמְתְּק֖וּ
were made sweet
Strong's:
H4985
Word #:
10 of 18
to suck, by implication, to relish, or (intransitively) be sweet
הַמָּ֑יִם
into the waters
H4325
הַמָּ֑יִם
into the waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
11 of 18
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
שָׁ֣ם
H8033
שָׂ֥ם
there he made
H7760
שָׂ֥ם
there he made
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
13 of 18
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
חֹ֥ק
for them a statute
H2706
חֹ֥ק
for them a statute
Strong's:
H2706
Word #:
15 of 18
an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)
וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט
and an ordinance
H4941
וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט
and an ordinance
Strong's:
H4941
Word #:
16 of 18
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
Cross References
Deuteronomy 8:2And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.Psalms 66:10For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.Judges 3:4And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.Judges 2:22That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.Judges 3:1Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;Exodus 16:4Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.Deuteronomy 8:16Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;Exodus 14:10And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.2 Kings 2:21And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.Psalms 91:15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
Historical Context
The sweetening tree's identity (possibly acacia or certain desert shrubs with water-purifying properties) is unknown. The focus is on God revealing the solution to Moses through prayer. The 'statute and ordinance' likely refer to testing obedience.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Moses crying to the LORD rather than solving problems independently model leadership?
- What bitter situation in your life needs God to show you the 'tree' that sweetens the waters?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Moses' response to complaint: 'he cried unto the LORD.' Rather than defending himself or solving the problem independently, Moses intercedes. God's answer—'the LORD shewed him a tree'—provides solution through creation. Casting the tree 'into the waters, the waters were made sweet' accomplishes miracle through natural means. The tree's identity isn't specified because the focus is on God's provision, not the method. The subsequent 'there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them' indicates Marah becomes testing ground.