King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, [which] when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
Complete Jewish Bible:
Moshe cried to ADONAI; and ADONAI showed him a certain piece of wood, which, when he threw it into the water, made the water taste good. There ADONAI made laws and rules of life for them, and there he tested them.
Berean Standard Bible:
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,
American Standard Version:
And he cried unto Jehovah; and Jehovah showed him a tree, and he cast it into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And he cried{H6817} unto the LORD{H3068}; and the LORD{H3068} shewed{H3384} him a tree{H6086}, which when he had cast{H7993} into the waters{H4325}, the waters{H4325} were made sweet{H4985}: there he made{H7760} for them a statute{H2706} and an ordinance{H4941}, and there he proved{H5254} them,
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 8:2
- And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
Psalms 66:10
- For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
Judges 3:1
- ¶ Now these [are] the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, [even] as many [of Israel] as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
Judges 3:4
- And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
Exodus 16:4
- Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
Judges 2:22
- That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep [it], or not.
Deuteronomy 8:16
- Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
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Commentary for Exodus 15:25
Exodus 15:25 is a verse set within the broader narrative of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt. This particular verse follows the jubilant Song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-18), which celebrates God's victory over the Egyptians at the Red Sea. The Israelites, having witnessed God's power, continue their trek and soon arrive at a place called Marah, where the water is too bitter to drink. The people grumble against Moses, who then intercedes with God on their behalf.
In response to Moses' prayer, God directs him to a tree, which, when thrown into the water, sweetens it, making it potable. This act of divine intervention not only meets the immediate physical need of the people but also serves as a powerful symbol of God's ability to transform a situation of despair into one of hope and sustenance. Moreover, it prefigures the role of Christ, often symbolized by a tree or wooden cross, as the one who brings spiritual healing and sweetness to the bitterness of human sin.
The latter part of the verse introduces a significant development in the Israelites' journey: God sets before them "a statute and an ordinance" and "proves" them. While the specifics of these laws are not detailed in this verse, it marks an early instance of God beginning to establish a covenantal relationship with His people, setting them apart with unique instructions and expectations. It also indicates the commencement of a series of tests that God allows the Israelites to undergo, which will challenge their faith and obedience, ultimately shaping their identity as a nation chosen by God.
In summary, Exodus 15:25 encapsulates themes of divine provision, the transformation of bitterness into sweetness, the establishment of God's law, and the testing of His people's faith. It reflects a moment of both physical and spiritual nourishment, as well as the beginning of a structured relationship between God and the Israelites, which will be further developed throughout the book of Exodus and beyond.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6817
There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָעַק
Transliteration: tsâʻaq
Pronunciation: tsaw-ak'
Description: a primitive root; to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly); [idiom] at all, call together, cry (out), gather (selves) (together). - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H3384
There are 75 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרָה
Transliteration: yârâh
Pronunciation: yaw-raw'
Description: or (2 Chronicles 26:15) יָרָא; a primitive root; properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e. to shoot); figuratively, to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to teach; ([phrase]) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew, shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through. - Strong's Number: H6086
There are 288 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵץ
Transliteration: ʻêts
Pronunciation: ates
Description: from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood. - Strong's Number: H7993
There are 121 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַךְ
Transliteration: shâlak
Pronunciation: shaw-lak
Description: a primitive root; to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively); adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off, out), hurl, pluck, throw. - Strong's Number: H4325
There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַיִם
Transliteration: mayim
Pronunciation: mah'-yim
Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). - Strong's Number: H4985
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָתַק
Transliteration: mâthaq
Pronunciation: maw-thak'
Description: a primitive root; to suck, by implication, to relish, or (intransitively) be sweet; be (made, [idiom] take) sweet. - Strong's Number: H7760
There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׂוּם
Transliteration: sûwm
Pronunciation: soom
Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work. - Strong's Number: H2706
There are 124 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֹק
Transliteration: chôq
Pronunciation: khoke
Description: from חָקַק; an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage); appointed, bound, commandment, convenient, custom, decree(-d), due, law, measure, [idiom] necessary, ordinance(-nary), portion, set time, statute, task. - Strong's Number: H4941
There are 406 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִשְׁפָּט
Transliteration: mishpâṭ
Pronunciation: mish-pawt'
Description: from שָׁפַט; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style; [phrase] adversary, ceremony, charge, [idiom] crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, [idiom] worthy, [phrase] wrong. - Strong's Number: H5254
There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָסָה
Transliteration: nâçâh
Pronunciation: naw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to test; by implication, to attempt; adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try.