Berean Standard Bible
Exodus 17:12
12When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.
Exodus 17:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
- New International Version (NIV)When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
Context of Exodus 17:12
10Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed. When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down. 13So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his army with the sword. 14Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”
Read all of Exodus 17Exodus 17:12 word by word
וִידֵ֤י מֹשֶׁה֙ כְּבֵדִ֔ים וַיִּקְחוּ־אֶ֛בֶן וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ תַחְתָּ֖יו וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב עָלֶ֑יהָ וְאַהֲרֹ֨ן וְח֜וּר תָּֽמְכ֣וּ בְיָדָ֗יו מִזֶּ֤ה אֶחָד֙ וּמִזֶּ֣ה אֶחָ֔ד וַיְהִ֥י יָדָ֛יו אֱמוּנָ֖ה עַד־בֹּ֥א הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃Read the interlinear
- When Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
- handsיָדyâd · handH3027
- grew heavyכָּבֵדkâbêd · heavyH3515
- they tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- a stoneאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
- and putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- it under himתַּחַתtachath · underneath: underH8478
- and he satיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- on itעַל‛al · uponH5921
- Then Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
- and Hurחוּרchûr · HurH2354
- heldתָּמַךְtâmak · to graspH8551
- oneזֶהzeh · thisH2088
- on eachאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- remainedהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- steadyאֱמוּנָה'ĕmûnâh 'ĕmûnâh · faithfulnessH530
- untilעַד‛ad · tillH5704
- the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
- went downבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): (sun)setH935
Cross-references for Exodus 17:12
- Matthew 26:40Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter.
- Mark 14:37Then Jesus returned and found them sleeping. “Simon, are you asleep?” He asked. “Were you not able to keep watch for one hour?
- Ephesians 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Colossians 4:2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
- Psalms 35:3Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”
- Isaiah 35:3Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
- 2 Corinthians 1:11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers.
- Philippians 1:19because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:25Brothers, pray for us as well.
- Hebrews 12:12Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.
- James 1:6But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Commentaries on Exodus 17:12
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Until the going down of the sun - The length of this first great battle indicates the strength and obstinacy of the assailants. It was no mere raid of Bedouins, but a deliberate attack of the Amalekites, who had been probably thoroughly trained in warfare by their struggles with Egypt.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-16Verses 8-16 Israel engaged with Amalek in their own necessary defence. God makes his people able, and calls them to various services for the good of his church. Joshua fights, Moses prays, both minister to Israel. The rod was held up, as the banner to encourage the soldiers. Also to God, by way of appeal to him. Moses was tired. The strongest arm will fail with being long held out; it is God only whose hand is stretched out still. We do not find that…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-13This victory was a gift from God. The description in this passage makes that clear. God’s blessing determined the outcome of the battle. Moses showed this by raising his hands. When his hands were lifted up, Israel prevailed. This pattern appeared again and again when Israel entered the land of Canaan. When God blessed them, they succeeded. But without God’s blessing, Israel could do nothing. They failed when they tried to fight on their own (see Numbers…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-1210-12. Moses ... went up ... the hill ... held up his hand--with the wonder-working rod; Moses acted as the standard bearer of Israel, and also their intercessor, praying for success and victory to crown their arms--the earnestness of his feelings being conspicuously evinced amid the feebleness of nature.Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 17:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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