Exodus 17:3
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?
Original Language Analysis
שָׁ֤ם
H8033
הָעָ֖ם
And the people
H5971
הָעָ֖ם
And the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
3 of 20
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
לַמַּ֔יִם
there for water
H4325
לַמַּ֔יִם
there for water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
4 of 20
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וַיָּ֥לֶן
murmured
H3885
וַיָּ֥לֶן
murmured
Strong's:
H3885
Word #:
5 of 20
to stop (usually over night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to complain)
הָעָ֖ם
And the people
H5971
הָעָ֖ם
And the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
6 of 20
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
7 of 20
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
לָ֤מָּה
H4100
לָ֤מָּה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
10 of 20
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
זֶּה֙
H2088
הֶֽעֱלִיתָ֣נוּ
Wherefore is this that thou hast brought
H5927
הֶֽעֱלִיתָ֣נוּ
Wherefore is this that thou hast brought
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
12 of 20
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם
us up out of Egypt
H4714
מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם
us up out of Egypt
Strong's:
H4714
Word #:
13 of 20
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt
לְהָמִ֥ית
to kill
H4191
לְהָמִ֥ית
to kill
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
14 of 20
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
אֹתִ֛י
H853
אֹתִ֛י
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
15 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
16 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בָּנַ֥י
us and our children
H1121
בָּנַ֥י
us and our children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
17 of 20
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
18 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Historical Context
The Sinai wilderness is extremely arid. Without supernatural provision, no large group could survive. Israel's thirst was genuine crisis, making their need legitimate but their response faithless.
Questions for Reflection
- How does unbelief interpret God's testing as God's attempt to destroy us?
- What does accusing leaders of murderous intent reveal about the murmurer's heart toward God?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses—Physical thirst produces spiritual complaint. The verb 'murmured' (לוּן, lun) appears again (cf. Ex 16:2), showing Israel's default response to hardship. Their accusation that Moses brought them from Egypt 'to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst' reveals staggering unbelief: they interpret every trial as murderous intent. This projecting of evil motives onto God's servants (and thereby onto God) demonstrates how unbelief breeds paranoia. The thirst is real, but the interpretation—that God/Moses intends their death—is blasphemous. Christ also faced false accusations that He worked by Beelzebub (Matt 12:24), showing that unbelief interprets divine works as demonic.