Exodus 17:5

And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Yahweh addresses Moses immediately after Moses reports that the Israelites are threatening to stone him for water.

The words — עֲבֹר ('a.Vor) means "to pass on" or "walk ahead," and קַח (Kach) means "to take." These verbs frame the command for Moses to advance before the congregation while gathering leadership.

The thread — The passage connects to Exodus 7:19 regarding the staff, Numbers 20:8 regarding staff use and assembly, and Ezekiel 2:6 regarding facing hostile crowds.

Why it lands — The text demands obedience in crisis by combining leadership presence, symbolic authority, and forward movement. It asks a reader to act on divine instruction while facing imminent hostility.

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

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said יְהוָ֜הYah.wehYahweh אֶל־'el-to מֹשֶׁ֗הmo.ShehMoses עֲבֹר֙'a.Vorpass on לִפְנֵ֣יli/f.Nei<to>/ before הָעָ֔םha./'Amthe/ people וְקַ֥חve./Kachand/ take אִתְּךָ֖'i.te./Khawith/ you מִזִּקְנֵ֣יmi./zik.Neisome of/ [the] elders of יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsrael וּמַטְּךָ֗u./ma.te./Khaand/ staff/ your אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sherwhich הִכִּ֤יתָhi.Ki.tayou struckבּוֹ֙b/owith <the>/ itאֶת־'et-<obj.>הַיְאֹ֔רha/y.'Orthe/ River קַ֥חkachtake בְּיָדְךָ֖be./ya.de./Khain/ hand/ your וְהָלָֽכְתָּ׃ve./ha.La.khe.taand/ you will go

King James Version

And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

Cross-references

Exodus 7:19 And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers and canals and ponds and all the reservoirs—that they may become blood.’ There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in the vessels of wood and stone.”
Numbers 20:8 “Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”
Ezekiel 2:6 But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house.
Acts 20:23 I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me.

People named

Moses

Places named

Nile