New King James Version
Exodus 17:16
16for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Exodus 17:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
- New International Version (NIV)He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)saying, "A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."
- New Living Translation (NLT)He said, “They have raised their fist against the Lord’s throne, so now the Lord will be at war with Amalek generation after generation.”
Context of Exodus 17:16
14Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Read all of Exodus 17Exodus 17:16 word by word
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כִּֽי־יָד֙ עַל־כֵּ֣ס יָ֔הּ מִלְחָמָ֥ה לַיהוָ֖ה בַּֽעֲמָלֵ֑ק מִדֹּ֖ר דֹּֽר׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Exodus 17:16
- Isaiah 66:1Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?
- Acts 7:49‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest?
- Psalms 21:8Your hand will find all Your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate You.
Commentaries on Exodus 17:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16The Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek, etc. - This is no translation of the words מלחמה יה כס על יד כי ki yad al kes yah milckamah, which have been variously rendered by different translators and critics; the most rational version of which is the following: Because the hand of Amalek is against the throne of God, therefore will I have war with Amalek from generation to generation. This gives a tolerably consistent sense, yet still…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Because the Lord hath sworn - This rendering is incorrect. Our translators regard the expression as a solemn asseveration by the throne of God. However, to this the objections are insuperable; it has no parallel in Scriptural usage: God swears by Himself, not by His Throne. As the Hebrew text now stands the meaning is more satisfactorily given in the margin. An alteration, slight in form, but considerable in meaning, has been proposed with much…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. 16a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD: This may describe Amalek’s attack against the Lord and his people. In that sense, Amalek raised a hand in defiance against God. Another possible meaning connects this phrase to Moses raising his hands in prayer during the battle (17:15). In this view, the lifted hand refers to Moses calling on the Lord for help.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1614-16. Write this for a memorial--If the bloody character of this statute seems to be at variance with the mild and merciful character of God, the reasons are to be sought in the deep and implacable vengeance they meditated against Israel (Psa 83:4).Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 17:16
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries