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Read the Bible

New Life Version

Exodus 17:11

When Moses held up his hand, Israel would be winning. But when he let his hand down, Amalek would win.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armies;   Intercession;   Miracles;   Prayer;   Thompson Chain Reference - Miracles;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Amalekites, the;   Desert, Journey of Israel through the;   Miracles Wrought through Servants of God;   Prayer, Answers to;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Aaron;   Amalekites;   Joshua;   Miracle;   Rephidim;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Amalekites;   Baal;   Joshua the son of nun;   Moses;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Joshua, Theology of;   War, Holy War;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Agag;   Amalekite;   Hur;   Joshua;   Prayer;   Rephidim;   Sinai;   Wars of the Lord, the Book of the;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Aaron;   Amalekites;   Hur;   Moses;   Purim;   Rephidim;   War;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Amalekite;   Exodus, Book of;   Hur;   Joshua;   Moses;   Mount Sinai;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Amalek, Amalekites;   Hand;   Joshua;   Massah and Meribah;   Moses;   Zin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Gestures;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Amalek, Amalekites ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Ensign;   Mordecai;   Mount amalek;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Journeyings of israel from egypt to canaan;   Rephidim;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Am'alekites,;   Pu'rim;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Agag;   Miriam;   Rephidim;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Sinai;   On to Canaan;   Moses, the Man of God;   Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Amalek;   Egypt;   Intercession;   Joshua (2);   Moses;   Purim;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Aaron;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Army;   Joshua (Jehoshua);   Midrash Haggadah;   Purim;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
It happened, when Moshe held up his hand, that Yisra'el prevailed; and when he let down his hand, `Amalek prevailed.
King James Version
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Lexham English Bible
And when Moses raised his hand, Israel would prevail, but when he rested his hand, Amalek would prevail.
New Century Version
As long as Moses held his hands up, the Israelites would win the fight, but when Moses put his hands down, the Amalekites would win.
New English Translation
Whenever Moses would raise his hands, then Israel prevailed, but whenever he would rest his hands, then Amalek prevailed.
Amplified Bible
Now when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he lowered his hand [due to fatigue], Amalek prevailed.
New American Standard Bible
So it came about, when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed; but when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And when Moses helde vp his hande, Israel preuailed: but when he let his hande downe, Amalek preuailed.
Legacy Standard Bible
So it happened when Moses raised his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.
Contemporary English Version
The Israelites out-fought the Amalekites as long as Moses held up his arms, but they started losing whenever he had to lower them.
Complete Jewish Bible
When Moshe raised his hand, Isra'el prevailed; but when he let it down, ‘Amalek prevailed.
Darby Translation
And it came to pass when Moses raised his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Easy-to-Read Version
Any time Moses held his hands in the air, the men of Israel would start winning the fight. But when Moses put his hands down, the men of Israel began to lose the fight.
English Standard Version
Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.
George Lamsa Translation
And it came to pass, when Moses lifted up his hand, Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hands, Amalek prevailed.
Good News Translation
As long as Moses held up his arms, the Israelites won, but when he put his arms down, the Amalekites started winning.
Christian Standard Bible®
While Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, but whenever he put his hand down, Amalek prevailed.
Literal Translation
And so it was that when Moses lifted his hand, Israel prevailed. And when he rested his hand, Amalek conquered.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And wha Moses helde vp his hade, Israel had the victory: but whan he let downe his hande, Amalek had the victory.
American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Bible in Basic English
Now while Moses' hand was lifted up, Israel was the stronger: but when he let his hand go down, Amalek became the stronger.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And it came to passe, that when Moyses helde vp his hande, Israel had the better: and when he let his hande downe, Amelec had the better.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe when Moses held vp his hand, that Israel preuailed: and when he let downe his hand, Amalek preuailed.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it came to pass, when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hands, Amalec prevailed.
English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Berean Standard Bible
As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and whanne Moises reiside the hondis, Israel ouercam; forsothe if he let down a litil, Amalech ouercam.
Young's Literal Translation
and it hath come to pass, when Moses lifteth up his hand, that Israel hath been mighty, and when he letteth his hands rest, that Amalek hath been mighty.
Update Bible Version
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
World English Bible
It happened, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
New King James Version
And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
New Living Translation
As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage.
New Revised Standard
Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it shall be when Moses shall lift on high his hands, then shall Israel prevail, but when he shall let down his hands, then shall Amalek prevail.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel overcame; but if he let them down a little, Amalec overcame.
Revised Standard Version
Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Am'alek prevailed.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.

Contextual Overview

8 Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us. And go out and fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the special stick of God in my hand." 10 Joshua did as Moses told him. He fought against Amalek. And Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 When Moses held up his hand, Israel would be winning. But when he let his hand down, Amalek would win. 12 Moses' hands became tired. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. His hands did not move until the sun went down. 13 So Joshua destroyed Amalek and his people with the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Write this in a book, to be remembered, and tell Joshua that I will take away everything under heaven that would help you remember Amalek." 15 Moses built an altar and gave it the name The Lord is My Banner. 16 And he said, "Because the Lord has promised to have war against Amalek through all time."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Psalms 56:9, Luke 18:1, 1 Timothy 2:8, James 5:16

Reciprocal: Joshua 8:18 - Stretch Joshua 8:26 - drew not 1 Samuel 15:33 - As thy sword 2 Kings 13:18 - he smote thrice 1 Chronicles 5:20 - And they

Cross-References

Genesis 17:25
His son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he had the religious act done of cutting off his piece of skin.
Genesis 17:27
And all the men of his house, who were born in the house or bought with money from a stranger, had this religious act done with him.
Exodus 4:25
But Zipporah took a knife and cut off her son's piece of skin and threw it at Moses' feet. And she said, "For sure you are a husband of blood to me."
Exodus 12:48
But when a stranger staying with you wants to share in this special supper to the Lord, let all his men and boys go through the religious act of becoming a Jew. Then let him come near to share in the special supper. He will be like one who is born in the land. But no person who has not gone through the religious act may eat of it.
Deuteronomy 10:16
So then, from now on, obey the Lord. Do not be strong-willed any more.
Joshua 5:3
So Joshua made knives of hard stone. Then he had the sons of Israel go through this religious act at Gibeath-haaraloth.
2 Samuel 3:14
Then David sent men to Saul's son Ish-bosheth, saying, "Give me my wife Michal. I was married to her by giving a hundred pieces of skin from the sex parts of the Philistines."
Acts 7:8
"He made a promise with Abraham. It was kept by a religious act of becoming a Jew. Abraham had a son, Isaac. On the eighth day Abraham took Isaac and had this religious act done to him. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of our twelve early fathers.
Romans 4:11
He went through the religious act after he had put his trust in God. That religious act proved that his trust in God made him right with God even before he went through the religious act of becoming a Jew. In that way, it made him the early father of all those who believe. It showed that those who did not go through the religious act of becoming a Jew could be right with God.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed,.... With his rod in it as a banner displayed, as some think, which inspired the Israelites with courage to fight, and they had the better of it; though Aben Ezra rejects that notion, observing, that if that had been the case, Aaron or Hur would have lifted it up, or fixed it in a high place on the mount, that it might have been seen standing; and therefore he thinks the sense of the ancients the most correct, that it was a prayer gesture. And among the Heathens, Moses was famous for the efficacy of his prayers; Numenius, the Pythagoric philosopher y, says of him, that he was a man very powerful in prayer with God: and so all the Targums interpret it, and particularly the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase the words,

"when Moses lift up his hands in prayer, the house of Israel prevailed, but when he restrained his hands from prayer, the house of Amalek prevailed,''

as it follows:

when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed; so that victory seemed to go sometimes on one side, and sometimes on the other, according as the hand of Moses, with the rod in it, was held up or let down; when it was held up, and Israel saw it, they fought valiantly, but when it was let down, and they could not see it, their hearts failed them, and they feared it portended ill to them, which caused them to give way to the enemy. The spiritual Israel of God are engaged in a warfare with spiritual enemies, some within, and some without; and sometimes they prevail over their enemies, and sometimes their enemies prevail over them for a while; and things go on very much as a man either keeps up or leaves off praying, which is signified by the lifting up of holy hands without wrath and doubting, 1 Timothy 2:8 and which when rightly performed, under the influence of the divine Spirit in faith, in sincerity, and with fervency and constancy, has great power with God and Christ, and against Satan and every spiritual enemy.

y Apud Euseb. Praepar, Evangel. l. 9. c. 8. p. 411.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The act represents the efficacy of intercessory prayer - offered doubtless by Moses - a point of great moment to the Israelites at that time and to the Church in all ages.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 17:11. When Moses held up his hand — We cannot understand this transaction in any literal way; for the lifting up or letting down the hands of Moses could not, humanly speaking, influence the battle. It is likely that he held up the rod of God in his hand, Exodus 17:9, as an ensign to the people. We have already seen that in prayer the hands were generally lifted up and spread out, (Exodus 9:29,) and therefore it is likely that by this act prayer and supplication are intended. The Jerusalem Targum says, "When Moses held up his hands in prayer, the house of Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hands from prayer, the house of Amalek prevailed." We may therefore conclude, that by holding up the hands in this case these two things were intended:

1. That hereby a reference was made to God, as the source whence all help and protection must come, and that on him alone they must depend.

2. That prayer and supplication to God are essentially necessary to their prevalence over all their enemies.

It is indisputably true that, while the hands are stretched out, that is, while the soul exerts itself in prayer and supplication to God, we are sure to conquer our spiritual adversaries; but if our hands become heavy - if we restrain prayer before God, Amalek will prevail - every spiritual foe, every internal corruption, will gain ground. Several of the fathers consider Moses, with his stretched-out hands, as a figure of Christ on the cross, suffering for mankind, and getting a complete victory over sin and Satan.


 
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