Exodus 17:2
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?
Original Language Analysis
תְּרִיבוּן֙
did chide
H7378
תְּרִיבוּן֙
did chide
Strong's:
H7378
Word #:
1 of 19
properly, to toss, i.e., grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e., hold a controversy; (by implication) to defend
הָעָם֙
Wherefore the people
H5971
הָעָם֙
Wherefore the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
2 of 19
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
עִם
H5973
עִם
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
3 of 19
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
תְּנוּ
Give
H5414
תְּנוּ
Give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
6 of 19
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
מַ֖יִם
us water
H4325
מַ֖יִם
us water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
8 of 19
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וְנִשְׁתֶּ֑ה
that we may drink
H8354
וְנִשְׁתֶּ֑ה
that we may drink
Strong's:
H8354
Word #:
9 of 19
to imbibe (literally or figuratively)
מַה
H4100
מַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
13 of 19
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
תְּרִיבוּן֙
did chide
H7378
תְּרִיבוּן֙
did chide
Strong's:
H7378
Word #:
14 of 19
properly, to toss, i.e., grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e., hold a controversy; (by implication) to defend
מַה
H4100
מַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
16 of 19
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
תְּנַסּ֖וּן
ye with me wherefore do ye tempt
H5254
תְּנַסּ֖וּן
ye with me wherefore do ye tempt
Strong's:
H5254
Word #:
17 of 19
to test; by implication, to attempt
Cross References
Psalms 78:41Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.Deuteronomy 6:16Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.Isaiah 7:12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.Psalms 78:18And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.1 Corinthians 10:9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.Hebrews 3:9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.Psalms 95:9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.Matthew 4:7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.Numbers 21:5And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.Acts 15:10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Historical Context
This is the third major complaint (food in Ex 15:24, manna in Ex 16:2, now water), establishing a pattern of murmuring that characterizes Israel's wilderness journey.
Questions for Reflection
- How does legitimate need become sinful 'tempting God' through manner of asking?
- What does putting human leaders 'on trial' for circumstances reveal about refusing God's sovereignty?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink—The verb 'chide' (רִיב, riv) means 'to contend, quarrel legally'—Israel puts Moses on trial for their thirst. Their demand 'Give us water' treats Moses as responsible rather than crying to God. Moses' response 'Why chide ye with me?' recognizes their real accusation: 'wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?' The verb 'tempt' (נָסָה, nasah) means 'to test, put to trial'—Israel presumes to test God rather than trust Him. This reverses proper relationship: creatures don't test Creator. Their thirst is legitimate, but their response is faithless, echoing Psalm 78:18—'they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.'