The Meaning of Exodus 17:6 Explained

Exodus 17:6

KJV: Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

YLT: Lo, I am standing before thee there on the rock in Horeb, and thou hast smitten on the rock, and waters have come out from it, and the people have drunk.' And Moses doth so before the eyes of the elders of Israel,

Darby: Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock on Horeb; and thou shalt strike the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so before the eyes of the elders of Israel.

ASV: Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Behold, I will stand  before  thee there upon the rock  in Horeb;  and thou shalt smite  the rock,  and there shall come  water  out of it, that the people  may drink.  And Moses  did  so in the sight  of the elders  of Israel. 

What does Exodus 17:6 Mean?

Study Notes

rock
The rock, type of life through the Spirit by grace:
(1) Christ the Rock 1 Corinthians 10:4
(2) The people utterly unworthy Exodus 17:2 ; Ephesians 2:1-6 .
(3) Characteristics of life through grace:

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.
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments. [source]

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 17:6 mean?

Behold I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb and you shall strike the rock and will come out of it water that may drink the people Did so then Moses in the sight of the elders of Israel
הִנְנִ֣י עֹמֵד֩ לְפָנֶ֨יךָ שָּׁ֥ם ׀ עַֽל־ הַצּוּר֮ בְּחֹרֵב֒ וְהִכִּ֣יתָ בַצּ֗וּר וְיָצְא֥וּ מִמֶּ֛נּוּ מַ֖יִם וְשָׁתָ֣ה הָעָ֑ם וַיַּ֤עַשׂ כֵּן֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה לְעֵינֵ֖י זִקְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

הִנְנִ֣י  Behold 
Parse: Interjection, first person common singular
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
עֹמֵד֩  I  will  stand 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
לְפָנֶ֨יךָ  before  you 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הַצּוּר֮  the  rock 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: צוּר 
Sense: rock, cliff.
בְּחֹרֵב֒  in  Horeb 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֹרֵב  
Sense: another name for Mount Sinai from which God gave the law to Moses and the Israelites.
וְהִכִּ֣יתָ  and  you  shall  strike 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
בַצּ֗וּר  the  rock 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: צוּר 
Sense: rock, cliff.
וְיָצְא֥וּ  and  will  come 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
מִמֶּ֛נּוּ  out  of  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
מַ֖יִם  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
וְשָׁתָ֣ה  that  may  drink 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
הָעָ֑ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
כֵּן֙  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
מֹשֶׁ֔ה  then  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
לְעֵינֵ֖י  in  the  sight 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, cdc
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
זִקְנֵ֥י  of  the  elders 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: זָקֵן  
Sense: old.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.