Psalms 95:8-9

95:8 He says, ¹  “Do not be stubborn like they were at Meribah, ² 

like they were that day at Massah ³  in the wilderness, ⁴ 

95:9 where your ancestors challenged my authority, ⁵ 

and tried my patience, even though they had seen my work.

[95:8]  ¹ tn The words “he says” are supplied in the translation to clarify that the following words are spoken by the Lord (see vv. 9-11).

[95:8]  ² sn The name Meribah means “strife.” Two separate but similar incidents at Meribah are recorded in the Pentateuch (Exod 17:1-7; Num 20:1-13, see also Pss 81:7; 106:32). In both cases the Israelites complained about lack of water and the Lord miraculously provided for them.

[95:8]  ³ sn The name Massah means “testing.” This was another name (along with Meribah) given to the place where Israel complained following the Red Sea Crossing (see Exod 17:1-7, as well as Deut 6:16; 9:22; 33:8).

[95:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “do not harden your heart[s] as [at] Meribah, as [in] the day of Massah in the wilderness.”

[95:9]  ⁵ tn Heb “where your fathers tested me.”