Exodus 17 · Verse 9

Exodus 17:9

And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
Exodus 17:9, King James Version

Exodus 17:9 in other translations

BSBSo Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.”
WEBMoses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us, and go out to fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with God’s rod in my hand.”
ASVAnd Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to-morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.
YLTand Moses saith unto Joshua, ‘Choose for us men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to-morrow I am standing on the top of the hill, and the rod of God in my hand.'
DARBYAnd Moses said to Joshua, Choose us men, and go out, fight with Amalek; to-morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.
BBEAnd Moses said to Joshua, Get together a band of men for us and go out, make war on Amalek: tomorrow I will take my place on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.
WebsterAnd Moses said to Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to-morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.

What does Exodus 17:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. Moses said unto Joshua--or, "Jesus" (Ac 7:45; He 4:8). This is the earliest notice of a young warrior destined to act a prominent part in the history of Israel. He went with a number of picked men. There is not here a wide open plain on which the battle took place, as according to the rules of modern warfare. The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe, making an irregular attack on a multitude probably not better trained than themselves, and for such a conflict the low hills and open country around this wady would afford ample space [Robinson].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Moses said unto Joshua - This is the first place in which Joshua the son of Nun is mentioned: the illustrious part which he took in Jewish affairs, till the settlement of his countrymen in the promised land, is well known. He was captain-general of the Hebrews under Moses; and on this great man's death he became his successor in the government. Joshua was at first called Hoshea, Num 13:16, and afterwards called Joshua by Moses. Both in the Septuagint and Greek Testament he is called Jesus: the name signifies Savior; and he is allowed to have been a very expressive type of our blessed Lord. He fought with and conquered the enemies of his people, brought them into the promised land, and divided it to them by lot. The parallel between him and the Savior of the world is too evident to require pointing out. Top of the hill - Probably some part of Horeb or Sinai, to which they were then near.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 17:8-16

Israel engaged with Amalek in their own necessary defence. God makes his people able, and calls them to various services for the good of his church. Joshua fights, Moses prays, both minister to Israel. The rod was held up, as the banner to encourage the soldiers. Also to God, by way of appeal to him. Moses was tired. The strongest arm will fail with being long held out; it is God only whose hand is stretched out…

Read the full comment on Exodus 17:8-16 →

Exodus 17:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
מֹשֶׁ֤הmo.ShehMosesH4872
אֶל\־'el-toH413
יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ye.ho.Shu.a'JoshuaH3091
בְּחַר\־be.char-chooseH977
לָ֣נוּLa.nufor <the> us
אֲנָשִׁ֔ים'a.na.ShimmenH582
וְצֵ֖אve.Tze'and go outH3318
הִלָּחֵ֣םhi.la.ChemfightH3898
בַּעֲמָלֵ֑קba.'a.ma.Lekagainst AmalekH6002
מָחָ֗רma.ChartomorrowH4279
אָנֹכִ֤י'a.no.KhiIH595
נִצָּב֙ni.Tzav[will be] standingH5324
עַל\־'al-onH5921
רֹ֣אשׁrosh[the] top ofH7218
הַגִּבְעָ֔הha.giv.'Ahthe hillH1389
וּמַטֵּ֥הu.ma.Tehand [the] staff ofH4294
הָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.Him<the> GodH430
בְּיָדִֽי\׃be.ya.Di[will be] in hand myH3027

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 17:9

  • Deuteronomy 32:44

    And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.

  • Exodus 24:13

    And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.

  • Exodus 4:20

    And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

  • Exodus 4:2

    And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

  • Hebrews 4:8

    For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

  • Numbers 31:3-4

    And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the Lord of Midian. Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.

  • Numbers 11:28

    And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.

  • Exodus 17:13

    And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

  • Acts 7:45

    Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;

  • Numbers 13:16

    These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
unto Joshua.
13; 24:13; Nu 11:28; 13:16
Oshea. Jehoshua.
De 32:44
Hoshea. Called Jesus.
Ac 7:45; Heb 4:8
Choose.
Nu 31:3,4
the rod.
4:2,20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Exodus 17:8

    Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

  • Exodus 17:9

    And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

  • Exodus 17:10

    So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

Read all of Exodus 17

Exodus 17:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y dijo Moisés á Josué: Escógenos varones, y sal, pelea con Amalec: mañana yo estaré sobre la cumbre del collado, y la vara de Dios en mi mano.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Moïse dit à Josué: Choisis-nous des hommes, et sors, combats contre Amalek; demain je me tiendrai sur le sommet de la colline, la verge de Dieu dans ma main.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Mose sprach zu Josua: Erwähle uns Männer und ziehe aus, streite wider Amalek; morgen will ich auf dem Gipfel des Hügels stehen, mit dem Stabe Gottes in meiner Hand.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixitque Moyses ad Josue: Elige viros: et egressus, pugna contra Amalec: cras ego stabo in vertice collis, habens virgam Dei in manu mea.