Bible Strands
Exodus 17:4
Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “What should I do with these people? A little more and they will stone me!”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses cries out to Yahweh immediately after the Israelites grumble over thirst and threaten to stone him. He voices his desperation to God at the precise moment the mob's violence is about to escalate.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיִּצְעַק (va/yiṣʿaq) translates literally as "and he cried out," marking a loud, desperate plea rather than a quiet petition. The phrase מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה (mah ʾeʿśeh) asks "what will I do," framing Moses' immediate crisis of authority.
The thread — Threats of stoning against appointed leaders recur in 1 Samuel 30:6, Numbers 14:10, and John 8:59. These passages track a recurring pattern of mob violence directed at messengers when they cannot instantly satisfy popular demands.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that leadership under divine commission routinely meets violent opposition when human expectations are unmet. It demands a willingness to stand in the gap between crisis and divine intervention without assuming immediate rescue.
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 cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every man grieved for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.
- Numbers 14:10 But the whole congregation threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting.
- John 8:59 At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.
- John 10:31 At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.
- Acts 14:19 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead.
- Exodus 15:25 And Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log. And when he cast it into the waters, they were sweetened. There the LORD made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He tested them,
- Numbers 16:19 When Korah had gathered his whole assembly against them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole congregation.
- Acts 7:50 Has not My hand made all these things?’
- Exodus 14:15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.
- Numbers 11:11 So Moses asked the LORD, “Why have You brought this trouble on Your servant? Why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid upon me the burden of all these people?