Exodus 17:4

KJV

And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Moses {H4872} cried {H6817} unto the LORD {H3068}, saying {H559}, What shall I do {H6213} unto this people {H5971}? they be almost {H4592} ready to stone {H5619} me.

Complete Jewish Bible

Moshe cried out to ADONAI, "What am I to do with these people? They're ready to stone me!"

Berean Standard Bible

Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “What should I do with these people? A little more and they will stone me!”

American Standard Version

And Moses cried unto Jehovah, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they are almost ready to stone me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 17:4 powerfully captures Moses' desperate cry to the LORD, revealing the immense pressure and mortal danger he faced from the Israelites. In their intense thirst and frustration, the people were on the verge of stoning him. This pivotal moment not only underscores the profound burden of leadership in the face of a rebellious multitude but also highlights the people's persistent unbelief despite miraculous divine provision, ultimately showcasing Moses' unwavering and immediate reliance on God's intervention in a truly existential threat.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the narrative of the Israelites' wilderness wanderings, specifically at Rephidim, following their miraculous provision of manna and quail in [Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - The Provision of Manna and Quail"). The people had journeyed from the wilderness of Sin and encamped at Rephidim, only to find no water. This immediate crisis triggered a familiar and escalating pattern of grumbling and contention, directed first at Moses, and implicitly, at God Himself. Moses' urgent plea in this verse serves as the critical turning point that sets the stage for God's dramatic and miraculous provision of water from the rock at Horeb. This event is so significant that it gives rise to the names Massah ("testing") and Meribah ("contention") for the place, as recorded in [Exodus 17:7](/exodus/17-7 "Exodus 17:7 - Massah and Meribah"). The direct threat to Moses' life underscores the severity of the people's rebellion and the absolute necessity of divine intervention to preserve not only Moses, God's chosen leader, but also the very existence of the nascent nation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites, a vast multitude numbering potentially in the millions, were traversing a harsh, arid wilderness, a journey inherently fraught with challenges to sustenance, especially water. Their recent liberation from centuries of Egyptian slavery, marked by dramatic divine interventions such as the [crossing of the Red Sea](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Crossing of the Red Sea"), should have cultivated profound trust in God's providence. However, their deeply ingrained slave mentality and a persistent lack of faith often led to immediate complaints, a desire to return to the perceived security of Egypt, and open rebellion when faced with hardship, a pattern vividly illustrated in [Numbers 14:1-4](/numbers/14-1-4 "Numbers 14:1-4 - The People Rebel and Desire to Return to Egypt"). The threat of stoning was a recognized and severe form of capital punishment in ancient Near Eastern societies, later codified in Israelite law for grave offenses like blasphemy or idolatry (e.g., [Leviticus 24:16](/leviticus/24-16 "Leviticus 24:16 - Punishment for Blasphemy")). This indicates that the people's anger had escalated far beyond mere grumbling; it was a direct, violent challenge to Moses' divinely appointed authority, as they viewed him as personally responsible for their potential demise rather than as God's instrument. Moses' desperate cry thus reflects the true gravity of his precarious position as the divinely chosen, yet human, leader of a deeply rebellious and volatile nation.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major theological and narrative themes prevalent throughout Exodus and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights the **persistent testing of God** by His people, despite His unwavering faithfulness and miraculous provision. The people's repeated grumbling demonstrates a profound lack of faith and a tendency to forget God's past mercies, echoing the warning in [Psalm 95:8-9](/psalms/95-8-9 "Psalm 95:8-9 - Do Not Harden Your Hearts"). Secondly, it powerfully illustrates the **burden and isolation of faithful leadership**. Moses, caught between a rebellious people and a holy God, bears the immense weight of responsibility, finding himself without human recourse. His immediate turning to the LORD exemplifies **dependence on divine intervention**, a recurring motif where human inadequacy is met by God's omnipotence. Finally, the verse subtly underscores the theme of **God's covenant faithfulness**, as He continues to provide for His people even in their rebellion, demonstrating His enduring commitment to His promises despite their unworthiness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **cried (Hebrew, _tsâʻaq'_):** This verb signifies a loud, urgent, and often desperate cry for help, typically directed to God in times of extreme distress, oppression, or danger. It implies a profound recognition of one's own powerlessness and a fervent, almost visceral, appeal for divine intervention. Moses' "crying" here is not merely a complaint or a lament but an earnest, heartfelt prayer born of immediate and existential peril, echoing the cries of the Israelites themselves in Egypt before their deliverance (cf. [Exodus 2:23](/exodus/2-23 "Exodus 2:23 - The Israelites Groan Under Bondage")).
* **stone (Hebrew, _çâqal'_):** This verb, derived from a root meaning "to be weighty," is used here in the sense of "lapidation," referring to the act of pelting someone with stones. In ancient Israel, stoning was a brutal and public method of capital punishment, reserved for severe offenses. Its use in this context vividly conveys the lethal intent of the people's wrath. It indicates that the Israelites were not just angry or complaining, but had reached a point of outright mutiny where they were prepared to take Moses' life, viewing him as the direct cause of their suffering rather than as God's appointed instrument.
* **do (Hebrew, _ʻâsâh'_):** While part of the broader phrase "What shall I do," the root verb _ʻâsâh_ carries a wide semantic range, meaning "to do or make" in the broadest sense and widest application. In this context, Moses' question, "What shall I do," expresses his utter helplessness and lack of human recourse or strategy. It is not a request for advice on how to manage the crowd, but a desperate plea for divine strategy and intervention. Moses acknowledges his complete inability to control the volatile situation or provide a solution, placing the entire burden and responsibility squarely on the LORD.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Moses cried unto the LORD,"**: In the face of overwhelming human opposition, a direct threat to his life, and the complete absence of any human solution, Moses immediately turns to the ultimate source of help, authority, and power. This highlights his consistent posture of dependence on God, a stark contrast to the people's tendency to complain and rebel against divine leadership. His cry is an act of profound faith, seeking God's wisdom and omnipotence where human strength, strategy, and reason are utterly insufficient.
* **"saying, What shall I do unto this people?"**: This is a cry of profound desperation, powerlessness, and a recognition of the situation's utter hopelessness from a human perspective. Moses is not asking for a moral directive or a tactical plan for crowd control; rather, he is acknowledging his complete inability to manage, appease, or provide for the enraged multitude. He recognizes that the problem extends beyond mere physical thirst to the people's rebellious heart and that the situation is entirely beyond his control, requiring nothing less than a divine solution.
* **"they be almost ready to stone me."**: This clause reveals the immediate and mortal danger Moses faced. The phrase "almost ready" (literally, "yet a little, and they will stone me") emphasizes the terrifying imminence of the threat. The people's anger, fueled by their thirst and a deep-seated lack of faith, had escalated to the point of contemplating murder against their divinely appointed leader. This demonstrates the extreme volatility of the crowd and the severe, life-threatening consequences of their unbelief and rebellion against God's chosen servant.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 17:4 effectively employs several literary techniques to convey the intensity of the moment. The statement "they be almost ready to stone me" contains an element of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the extreme nature of the people's rage and the perceived imminence of the threat, even if the actual stoning had not yet begun. This vivid language serves to underscore Moses' desperate plight and the severity of the crisis. **Dramatic Irony** is powerfully present in the people's actions: despite having witnessed numerous divine miracles, including the recent provision of manna and quail, they quickly resort to profound unbelief and lethal threats, highlighting their spiritual blindness and short-sightedness. Moses' immediate and fervent cry to the LORD is a classic example of **Intercession**, where a leader pleads on behalf of a rebellious people to God, a recurring and vital motif throughout the wilderness narrative that foreshadows the ultimate intercessory work of Christ.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 17:4 powerfully illustrates the persistent tension between divine faithfulness and human faithlessness, a central theme in the wilderness narrative. Despite God's consistent provision, miraculous interventions, and covenant promises, the Israelites repeatedly tested God's patience and doubted His care, revealing a deep-seated spiritual rebellion and a hardened heart. Moses' response, however, exemplifies the posture of faithful leadership: recognizing his own inadequacy and the overwhelming nature of the threat, he turns immediately to God as his sole refuge and source of wisdom and power. This demonstrates profound reliance on divine omnipotence in the face of overwhelming human hostility. This narrative serves as a timeless warning against hardening one's heart, murmuring against God's appointed leaders, and testing the Lord, while simultaneously affirming God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people, even when they are undeserving and rebellious.

* [Exodus 32:11-14](/exodus/32-11-14 "Exodus 32:11-14 - Moses' Intercession after the Golden Calf")
* [Numbers 14:1-12](/numbers/14-1-12 "Numbers 14:1-12 - The Spies' Report and People's Rebellion")
* [Psalm 95:8-9](/psalms/95-8-9 "Psalm 95:8-9 - Do Not Harden Your Hearts")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Moses' desperate cry in Exodus 17:4 offers a profound and enduring model for believers facing overwhelming challenges, opposition, and seemingly impossible circumstances in their own lives today. It reminds us that true leadership, whether in the church, family, community, or workplace, often involves immense pressure, profound isolation, and even direct threats to one's well-being or reputation. In such moments, our human strategies, wisdom, and strength are utterly insufficient to resolve the crisis or appease the opposition. The primary lesson from Moses is to emulate his immediate and fervent appeal to God, acknowledging our limitations and placing our complete reliance on divine wisdom, power, and provision. This passage encourages us to bring our deepest fears, frustrations, and seemingly insurmountable situations directly to the Lord in earnest prayer, trusting that He hears and will provide a way, even when the path is unclear, the opposition is fierce, and the danger is imminent. It also calls us to cultivate empathy and prayerful support for those God has placed in positions of leadership, recognizing the heavy burdens they carry and the spiritual battles they often face on behalf of others.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When faced with overwhelming pressure or opposition, what is my immediate reaction? Do I tend to complain, strategize on my own, or cry out to God like Moses?**
* **How does this passage challenge my understanding of leadership, particularly in spiritual contexts? What responsibilities do I have to pray for and support those God has placed in authority over me?**
* **In what areas of my life am I currently tempted to doubt God's provision or test His patience, even after experiencing His faithfulness in the past?**

### FAQ
**Why were the Israelites so quick to complain and threaten Moses, despite God's recent miracles?**

Answer: The Israelites' rapid shift from gratitude to complaint, despite witnessing the awe-inspiring [parting of the Red Sea](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Crossing of the Red Sea") and the daily, miraculous provision of [manna](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - The Provision of Manna"), highlights a deep-seated issue of unbelief and a pervasive slave mentality. Having been accustomed to relying on Pharaoh's system for provision, they struggled profoundly to trust God's unseen hand and unfamiliar ways in the harsh wilderness. Their immediate focus was on their physical discomfort and perceived lack, rather than on God's past faithfulness, His covenant promises, or His ultimate plan. This pattern of grumbling, discontent, and testing God is a recurring and tragic theme throughout the wilderness narrative, notably seen again when they complain bitterly about their food in [Numbers 11:4-6](/numbers/11-4-6 "Numbers 11:4-6 - The People Crave Meat").

**What does it mean that they were "almost ready to stone" Moses?**

Answer: The phrase "almost ready to stone me" indicates that the people's anger and frustration had escalated to the point of contemplating a violent, lethal act against Moses. Stoning was a severe and public form of capital punishment in ancient Israel, reserved for grave offenses such as blasphemy, idolatry, or rebellion against divine authority (e.g., [Deuteronomy 13:10](/deuteronomy/13-10 "Deuteronomy 13:10 - Punishment for Idolatry")). This was not merely a verbal threat or an idle complaint, but a dangerous mob mentality on the verge of physical violence. It demonstrates the extreme depth of their frustration and rebellion against Moses' leadership, which they perceived as directly responsible for their dire situation and potential demise in the wilderness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 17:4, and the subsequent miraculous provision of water from the rock at Horeb, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul explicitly identifies this rock with Christ, stating in [1 Corinthians 10:4](/1_corinthians/10-4 "1 Corinthians 10:4 - Christ as the Spiritual Rock") that the Israelites "drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ." Just as the physical rock in the wilderness provided life-sustaining water to a rebellious and undeserving people, Christ is the spiritual Rock who provides living water to a thirsty and spiritually barren humanity. Moses, crying out in desperation on behalf of a people who sought to stone him, powerfully foreshadows Christ, the ultimate Intercessor, who was indeed "stoned" (figuratively, through rejection, persecution, and ultimately crucifixion) by His own people. Yet, in His ultimate act of self-sacrifice, Jesus poured out His life on the cross to provide eternal salvation and the true living water for all who believe. The people's rebellion and Moses' desperate intercession highlight the desperate need for a Savior who would not merely provide temporary relief from physical thirst but offer eternal life and spiritual satisfaction, a role perfectly fulfilled by [Jesus, who declared Himself the source of living water](/john/7-37-38 "John 7:37-38 - Jesus Offers Living Water") for all who come to Him in faith.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 30:6

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

Numbers 14:10

But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.

John 8:59

Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Acts 14:19

¶ And there came thither [certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

John 10:31

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

Numbers 16:19

And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.

Numbers 11:11

And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?