And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The true sting of Israel's complaint wasn't just about thirst; it was their doubt that God was even with them. They framed their need for water as a test, essentially asking if God was powerful and present enough to actually help them in this remote place.
And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Israelites have just arrived at a new camp in the wilderness of Rephidim, but to their horror, there is no water. In their desperate thirst, they turn on Moses, accusing him of leading them out of Egypt only to die in the desert, and then they directly question God's presence and care for them. This verse names the place Massah and Meribah, marking it as a site of testing and quarreling, both between the people and Moses, and between the people and God Himself.
Why did Moses give this place such harsh names? What do 'Massah' and 'Meribah' reveal about the people's hearts?
The place where the Israelites ran out of water wasn't just a dry spot; it became a monument to their unbelief.
The Sting of 'Massah'
Massah means 'testing' or 'temptation.' The people weren't just thirsty; they were actively testing God. They demanded proof of His presence and power. Instead of trusting the God who had already performed so many miracles for them, they put Him on trial. This shows a dangerous tendency to demand supernatural reassurance rather than relying on past faithfulness.
The Sound of 'Meribah'
Meribah means 'chiding' or 'strife.' The Israelites didn't just question God; they argued and quarreled. They directed their anger and frustration at Moses, blaming him for their predicament. This shows how easily our needs can turn into accusations against God and His servants, creating conflict instead of seeking solutions through faith.
The people's desperate question, 'Is the LORD among us or not?' strikes at the heart of faith. What does this doubt reveal?
This single question, 'Is the LORD among us or not?', is the seed from which their chiding and testing grew. It’s a fundamental question that probes the very nature of God's presence and commitment.
Doubt vs. Denial
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It’s important to see that they weren't necessarily denying God’s existence. Instead, they were questioning His active involvement in their lives. They had experienced God’s power in Egypt and at the Red Sea, but the immediate hardship of thirst made them doubt if that same God was still present and still cared.
The Consequence of Unbelief
This doubt led them to accuse God of bringing them out of Egypt only to let them die. It was a failure to recall God’s faithfulness and a presumption that their present suffering meant His presence had been withdrawn. This is a powerful reminder that doubt, when left unchecked, can quickly morph into accusation and a complete misjudgment of God's character and purposes.
Understand the original words
Massah · Hebrew Proper Noun
A place name meaning "testing" or "trial"; it represents the human tendency to doubt God's faithfulness despite His previous displays of power and provision.
Meribah · Hebrew Proper Noun
A place name meaning "strife" or "quarreling"; it signifies the active rebellion and complaining of the heart against God's providence.
nissotam · Hebrew Verb
An act of distrust or unbelief, where one puts God to the test by demanding proof of His presence or care, essentially challenging His sovereignty and goodness.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of the one true God, signifying His eternal, self-existent, and faithful nature toward His chosen people.
The naming of Massah (Temptation) and Meribah (Strife) serves as a stark reminder of the Israelites' faithlessness during their wilderness journey. It highlights their tendency to doubt God's presence and provision, even after witnessing His powerful acts.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
Following generations of slavery, God miraculously delivers the Israelites from Egyptian bondage under the leadership of Moses.
c. 1446 BC
Journey through Wilderness
The Israelites begin their journey into the Sinai wilderness, a period marked by their dependence on God's provision and their struggles with faith and obedience.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Arrival at Rephidim
The Israelites arrive at Rephidim, a location in the Sinai wilderness, where they encounter a severe lack of drinking water.
c. 1446 BC
Water from the Rock
God commands Moses to strike a rock at Mount Horeb, from which miraculous water flows, sustaining the people and their livestock.
This passage describes a later incident where the Israelites again quarrel with Moses and test God for water, showing a recurring pattern of unbelief and its consequences.
Psalm 95:8-11The psalmist directly references the events at Massah and Meribah, warning future generations not to harden their hearts as their ancestors did when they tested God in the wilderness.
Hebrews 3:7-11This New Testament passage quotes Psalm 95, specifically linking the Israelites' testing of God in the wilderness (including the events at Massah and Meribah) to the danger of persistent unbelief for believers today.
Deuteronomy 6:16Moses reminds the Israelites not to 'test the LORD your God, as you tested him at Massah,' directly linking this place to the sin of testing God and serving as a warning for their future obedience.
1 Corinthians 10:4Paul refers to the spiritual rock that followed the Israelites and from which they drank, identifying it with Christ and highlighting that despite this divine provision, many still perished due to unbelief, underscoring the gravity of their testing.
calvinExodus 17:1-7: "And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink."
And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.
Deinde profectus est un…
bensonExodus 17:7: "And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?"
Exodus 17:7 . Is the Lord among us or not? — To protect and provide for us according to his word; will he be as good as his word, or will he not? Words which implied that to them it was very doubtful. Against doubts of this kind we ought constantly to guard. For, whatever may be suggested to our minds b…
The true sting of Israel's complaint wasn't just about thirst; it was their doubt that God was even with them. They framed their need for water as a test, essentially asking if God was powerful and present enough to actually help them in this remote place.
The Israelites have just arrived at a new camp in the wilderness of Rephidim, but to their horror, there is no water. In their desperate thirst, they turn on Moses, accusing him of leading them out of Egypt only to die in the desert, and then they directly question God's presence and care for them. This verse names the place Massah and Meribah, marking it as a site of testing and quarreling, both between the people and Moses, and between the people and God Himself.
The Israelites have just arrived at a new camp in the wilderness of Rephidim, but to their horror, there is no water. In their desperate thirst, they turn on Moses, accusing him of leading them out of Egypt only to die in the desert, and then they directly question God's presence and care for them. This verse names the place Massah and Meribah, marking it as a site of testing and quarreling, both between the people and Moses, and between the people and God Himself.
"And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”" — The true sting of Israel's complaint wasn't just about thirst; it was their doubt that God was even with them. They framed their need for water as a test, essentially asking if God was powerful and…
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Last reviewed October 2026