The Meaning of Exodus 17:8 Explained

Exodus 17:8

KJV: Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

YLT: And Amalek cometh, and fighteth with Israel in Rephidim,

Darby: And Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

ASV: Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then came  Amalek,  and fought  with Israel  in Rephidim. 

What does Exodus 17:8 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 17:8 mean?

and came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephidim
וַיָּבֹ֖א עֲמָלֵ֑ק וַיִּלָּ֥חֶם עִם־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בִּרְפִידִֽם

וַיָּבֹ֖א  and  came 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
עֲמָלֵ֑ק  Amalek 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲמָלֵק  
Sense: son of Eliphaz by his concubine Timnah, grandson of Esau, and progenitor of a race of people in southern Canaan.
וַיִּלָּ֥חֶם  and  fought 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לָחַם 
Sense: to fight, do battle, make war.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  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.
בִּרְפִידִֽם  in  Rephidim 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רְפִידִים  
Sense: a station of Israel in the wilderness between Egypt and Sinai.