Internet Verse Search Commentaries Word Analysis ITL - draft

Exodus 17:2

NETBible	So the people contended¹ with Moses, and they said, “Give us water to drink!”² Moses said to them, “Why do you contend³ with me? Why do you test⁴ the Lord?”
NIV © biblegateway Exo 17:2	So they quarrelled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?"
NASB © biblegateway Exo 17:2	Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water that we may drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?"
NLT © biblegateway Exo 17:2	So once more the people grumbled and complained to Moses. "Give us water to drink!" they demanded. "Quiet!" Moses replied. "Why are you arguing with me? And why are you testing the LORD?"
MSG © biblegateway Exo 17:2	The people took Moses to task: "Give us water to drink." But Moses said, "Why pester me? Why are you testing GOD?"
BBE © SABDAweb Exo 17:2	So the people were angry with Moses, and said, Give us water for drinking. And Moses said, Why are you angry with me? and why do you put God to the test?
NRSV © bibleoremus Exo 17:2	The people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?"
NKJV © biblegateway Exo 17:2	Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, "Give us water, that we may drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the LORD?"
[+] More English


KJV	Wherefore the people <05971> did chide <07378> (8799) with Moses <04872>_, and said <0559> (8799)_, Give <05414> (8798) us water <04325> that we may drink <08354> (8799)_. And Moses <04872> said <0559> (8799) unto them, Why chide <07378> (8799) ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt <05254> (8762) the LORD <03068>_?
NASB © biblegateway Exo 17:2	Therefore the people <05971> quarreled <07378> with Moses <04872> and said <0559> , "Give <05414> us water <04325> that we may drink <08354> ." And Moses <04872> said <0559> to them, "Why <04100> do you quarrel <07378> with me? Why <04100> do you test <05254> the LORD <03068> ?"
LXXM	kai <2532> CONJ eloidoreito <3058> V-IMI-3S o <3588> T-NSM laov <2992> N-NSM prov <4314> PREP mwushn {N-ASM} legontev <3004> V-PAPNP dov <1325> V-AAD-2S hmin <1473> P-DP udwr <5204> N-ASN ina <2443> CONJ piwmen <4095> V-AAS-1P kai <2532> CONJ eipen {V-AAI-3S} autoiv <846> D-DPM mwushv {N-NSM} ti <5100> I-ASN loidoreisye <3058> V-PMI-2P moi <1473> P-DS kai <2532> CONJ ti <5100> I-ASN peirazete <3985> V-PAI-2P kurion <2962> N-ASM
NET [draft] ITL	So the people <05971> contended <07378> with <05973> Moses <04872> , and they said <0559> , “Give <05414> us water <04325> to drink <08354> !” Moses <04872> said <0559> to them, “Why <04100> do you contend <07378> with me <05978> ? Why <04100> do you test <05254> the Lord <03068> ?”
HEBREW	hwhy <03068> ta <0853> Nwont <05254> hm <04100> ydme <05978> Nwbyrt <07378> hm <04100> hsm <04872> Mhl <0> rmayw <0559> htsnw <08354> Mym <04325> wnl <0> wnt <05414> wrmayw <0559> hsm <04872> Me <05973> Meh <05971> bryw (17:2) <07378>

NETBible

So the people contended¹ with Moses, and they said, “Give us water to drink!”² Moses said to them, “Why do you contend³ with me? Why do you test⁴ the Lord?”

NET Notes

¹tn The verb וַיָּרֶב (vayyarev) is from the root רִיב (riv); it forms the basis of the name “Meribah.” The word means “strive, quarrel, be in contention” and even “litigation.” A translation “quarrel” does not appear to capture the magnitude of what is being done here. The people have a legal dispute – they are contending with Moses as if bringing a lawsuit.

²tn The imperfect tense with the vav (ו) follows the imperative, and so it carries the nuance of the logical sequence, showing purpose or result. This may be expressed in English as “give us water so that we may drink,” but more simply with the English infinitive, “give us water to drink.”

²sn One wonders if the people thought that Moses and Aaron had water and were withholding it from the people, or whether Moses was able to get it on demand. The people should have come to Moses to ask him to pray to God for water, but their action led Moses to say that they had challenged God (B. Jacob, Exodus, 476).

³tn In this case and in the next clause the imperfect tenses are to be taken as progressive imperfects – the action is in progress.

⁴tn The verb נָסָה (nasah) means “to test, tempt, try, prove.” It can be used of people simply trying to do something that they are not sure of (such as David trying on Saul’s armor), or of God testing people to see if they will obey (as in testing Abraham, Gen 22:1), or of people challenging others (as in the Queen of Sheba coming to test Solomon), and of the people in the desert in rebellion putting God to the test. By doubting that God was truly in their midst, and demanding that he demonstrate his presence, they tested him to see if he would act. There are times when “proving” God is correct and required, but that is done by faith (as with Gideon); when it is done out of unbelief, then it is an act of disloyalty.