New Living Translation
Exodus 17:12
12Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held 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
10So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. 11As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. 13As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. 14After the victory, the Lord instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase 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
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 26:40Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?
- Mark 14:37Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?
- Ephesians 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
- Colossians 4:2Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
- Psalms 35:3Lift up your spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Let me hear you say, “I will give you victory!”
- Isaiah 35:3With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees.
- 2 Corinthians 1:11And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.
- Philippians 1:19For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:25Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.
- Hebrews 12:12So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.
- James 1:6But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is 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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