The Meaning of Exodus 17:4 Explained

Exodus 17:4

KJV: And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

YLT: And Moses crieth to Jehovah, saying, 'What do I to this people? yet a little, and they have stoned me.'

Darby: And Moses cried to Jehovah, saying, What shall I do with this people? Yet a little, and they will stone me!

ASV: And Moses cried unto Jehovah, saying, What shall I do unto this people? They are almost ready to stone me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moses  cried  unto the LORD,  saying,  What shall I do  unto this people?  they be almost  ready to stone  me. 

What does Exodus 17:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 17:1-16 - Water From The Rock Victory Over Amalek
From the smitten rock flowed the water for the thirsty hosts. So the Rock of Ages was smitten, and from His riven side has flowed out blood and water, for the sin and thirst of the world. He that eateth His flesh and drinketh His blood, spiritually, hath eternal life. Such refreshment is in preparation for warfare. Then came Amalek! When our physical needs are satisfied, there is always the fear of Amalek, who, in the typology of Scripture, stands for the flesh. Between this wilderness tribe and Israel the conflict was long and bitter. The old Adam, said Luther, is too strong for the young Melanchthon. But let the Lord fight for you! Lift up your hands with opened palms to Him; He will not fail. See r.v. margin and Matthew 1:21. But guard the rear, and ask that Jesus shall beset you behind as well as before. See Deuteronomy 25:17-18.
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Chapter Summary: Exodus 17

1  The people murmur for water to Rephidim
6  God send them for water to the rock in Horeb
7  The place is called Massah and Meribah
8  Amalek is overcome by Joshua, while Moses holds up his hand
14  Amalek is doomed to destruction; and Moses builds the altar Jehovah-nissi

What do the individual words in Exodus 17:4 mean?

so cried out Moses to Yahweh saying what shall I do with people this ready almost and they are to stone me
וַיִּצְעַ֤ק מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־ יְהוָ֣ה לֵאמֹ֔ר מָ֥ה אֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה לָעָ֣ם ؟ הַזֶּ֑ה ע֥וֹד מְעַ֖ט ! וּסְקָלֻֽנִי

וַיִּצְעַ֤ק  so  cried  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָעַק  
Sense: to cry, cry out, call, cry for help.
מֹשֶׁה֙  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לֵאמֹ֔ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה  shall  I  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לָעָ֣ם  with  people 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
؟ הַזֶּ֑ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
ע֥וֹד  ready 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
מְעַ֖ט  almost 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: מְעַט  
Sense: littleness, few, a little, fewness.
! וּסְקָלֻֽנִי  and  they  are  to  stone  me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural, first person common singular
Root: סָקַל  
Sense: to stone (to death), put to death by stoning.