Exodus 17:7
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)
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The people didn't just complain about the lack of water; their core issue was doubting God's presence and faithfulness. By asking "Is the LORD among us or not?", they weren't just testing Moses, but directly challenging God's commitment to them after all He had done.
Just after receiving manna and quail, the Israelites arrive at Rephidim, only to find no water, causing them to immediately quarrel with Moses and test the Lord by questioning His presence among them. In response, God instructs Moses to strike a rock, which will then provide water for the people, and gives the place the names Massah and Meribah to commemorate their testing and quarreling.
Why did Moses give this place two names? Discover how 'Massah' and 'Meribah' point to the deep-seated unbelief that gripped the Israelites.
Moses names the place Massah and Meribah, not just as a historical marker, but as a lasting indictment of the people's spiritual state.
Massah: The Test of God's Presence
Meribah: The Quarrel with God's Servant
This wasn't just about thirst; it was about a crisis of faith. What was the real heart issue behind their desperate question?
The people’s cry, 'Is the LORD among us or not?' exposes a fundamental disconnect between their experience and their belief.
Doubt Born from Forgetfulness
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 and Meribah highlights a critical moment where the Israelites' lack of faith, revealed through their grumbling and accusations against Moses and God, is permanently marked. This event serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle between divine faithfulness and human unbelief.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
After centuries of slavery, God miraculously delivers the Israelites from Egyptian bondage under Moses' leadership.
c. 1446 BC
Journey through the Wilderness
Following their exodus, the Israelites embark on a nomadic journey through the Sinai wilderness, often facing hardships and requiring divine provision.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Arrival at Rephidim
The Israelites reach a location called Rephidim, where they discover there is no water available for them to drink.
c. 1446 BC
Water from the Rock
God instructs Moses to strike a rock in Horeb, from which water miraculously flows, providing for the thirsty people.
This passage recounts a similar incident where the Israelites again question God's presence and provision due to lack of water, highlighting a recurring pattern of testing God.
Psalm 95:7-11This Psalm directly references the events at Massah and Meribah, rebuking the people for their stubbornness and for testing God, reinforcing the seriousness of their actions.
Hebrews 3:7-11The author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 95, explicitly linking the Israelites' testing of God in the wilderness to a warning against hardening one's heart and falling into unbelief.
1 Corinthians 10:4This passage identifies the spiritual rock from which water flowed for the Israelites as Christ, showing a deeper theological meaning behind the physical event and its connection to God's provision.
Deuteronomy 6:16This verse warns against testing the Lord, directly referencing the incident at Massah, underscoring the perpetual danger of questioning God's presence and power even after experiencing His deliverance.
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 people didn't just complain about the lack of water; their core issue was doubting God's presence and faithfulness. By asking "Is the LORD among us or not?", they weren't just testing Moses, but directly challenging God's commitment to them after all He had done.
Just after receiving manna and quail, the Israelites arrive at Rephidim, only to find no water, causing them to immediately quarrel with Moses and test the Lord by questioning His presence among them. In response, God instructs Moses to strike a rock, which will then provide water for the people, and gives the place the names Massah and Meribah to commemorate their testing and quarreling.
Just after receiving manna and quail, the Israelites arrive at Rephidim, only to find no water, causing them to immediately quarrel with Moses and test the Lord by questioning His presence among them. In response, God instructs Moses to strike a rock, which will then provide water for the people, and gives the place the names Massah and Meribah to commemorate their testing and quarreling.
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Demanding Proof, Not Trusting Promise
c. 1446 BC
Naming of Massah and Meribah
Moses names the place 'Massah' (testing) and 'Meribah' (strife) to commemorate the people's quarreling and testing of God.
"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 people didn't just complain about the lack of water; their core issue was doubting God's presence and faithfulness. By asking "Is the LORD among us or not?", they weren't just testing Moses, but…
