God’s Word Translation
Exodus 17:12
12Eventually, Moses’ hands felt heavy. So Aaron and Hur took a rock, put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron held up one hand, and Hur held up the other. His hands remained steady until sunset.
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 told him and fought the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel would win, but as soon as he put his hands down, the Amalekites would start to win. Eventually, Moses’ hands felt heavy. So Aaron and Hur took a rock, put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron held up one hand, and Hur held up the other. His hands remained steady until sunset. 13So Joshua defeated the Amalekite army in battle. 14The Lord said to Moses, “Write this reminder on a scroll, and make sure that Joshua hears it, too: I will completely erase any memory of the Amalekites from the earth.”
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- But Moses’מֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
- handsיָדyâd · handH3027
- heavyכָּבֵדkâbêd · heavyH3515
- and they tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- a stoneאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
- and putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- under him, and he satיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- thereon; and Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
- and Hurחוּרchûr · HurH2354
- stayed upתָּמַךְtâmak · to graspH8551
- the one on the one sideאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- were steadyאֱמוּנָה'ĕmûnâh 'ĕmûnâh · faithfulnessH530
- until the going downבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): (sun)setH935
- of the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
Cross-references for Exodus 17:12
- Matthew 26:40When he went back to the disciples, he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour?
- Mark 14:37He went back and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake for one hour?
- Ephesians 6:18Pray in the Spirit in every situation. Use every kind of prayer and request there is. For the same reason be alert. Use every kind of effort and make every kind of request for all of God’s people.
- Colossians 4:2Keep praying. Pay attention when you offer prayers of thanksgiving.
- Psalms 35:3Hold your spear to block the way of those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I am your savior.”
- Isaiah 35:3Strengthen limp hands. Steady weak knees.
- 2 Corinthians 1:11since you are also joining to help us when you pray for us. Then many people will thank God for the favor he will show us because many people prayed for us.
- Philippians 1:19for another reason. I know that I will be set free through your prayers and through the help that comes from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:25Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
- Hebrews 12:12Strengthen your tired arms and weak knees.
- James 1:6When you ask for something, don’t have any doubts. A person who has doubts is like a wave that is blown by the wind and tossed by the sea.
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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