Bible Strands
Exodus 17:15
And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses acts immediately after the defeat of Amalek, following the Lord’s command to record the nation’s judgment. He constructs an altar at the site to serve as a permanent memorial.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיִּבֶן (va-yi-ven) means "he built," and the proper name יְהוָה נִסִּי (Yahweh nissi) translates literally as "Yahweh is my banner" or "standard." Moses applies these terms to designate the altar’s physical construction and its theological identity.
The thread — This naming convention parallels Abraham’s site designation "The LORD Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14) and Gideon’s altar title "The LORD Is Peace" (Judges 6:24). The banner imagery reappears in Psalm 60:4, where God raises a banner for those who fear Him.
Why it lands — The text states that Moses physically built a structure and assigned it a name declaring Yahweh’s role as protector and standard-bearer. It requires the reader to acknowledge divine agency in conflict and to commit to recording God’s interventions for future reference.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it JEHOVAH–nissi:
Cross-references
- Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. So to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
- Judges 6:24 So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
- Psalms 60:4 You have raised a banner for those who fear You, that they may flee the bow. Selah
- Genesis 33:20 There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.