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,

EXODUS 15:25KJV
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Exodus 15:25 (KJV)

What does Exodus 15:25 mean?

Exodus 15:25 describes how Moses called out to the LORD for help when the Israelites could not drink the bitter water at Marah, and the LORD showed him a tree to throw into the water, making it sweet and drinkable. At that place, God gave the people a rule and a test to see if they would obey Him.

Moses is leading the Israelites through the wilderness after their escape from Egypt, and they have just found water that is too bitter to drink. Moses prays to the LORD (the personal name for God, often written as "Yahweh"), who responds with a practical solution and then uses the moment to set guidelines and test the people's trust and obedience.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 15:25

  • "Cried" (צָעַק, tsa'aq): This word means to call out or cry for help, showing Moses’s urgent plea to God in a desperate situation.
  • "Shewed" (יָרָה, yarah): This verb means to instruct or point out, emphasizing that God didn’t just perform a miracle but gave Moses clear direction.
  • "Tree" (עֵץ, 'etz): The word simply means a tree or wood; the specific type isn’t named, highlighting that the focus is on God’s action rather than the object itself.
  • "Proved" (נָסָה, nasah): This word means to test or try, showing that God used this event to see how the Israelites would respond to His instructions.

Why Exodus 15:25 matters

  • Exodus 15:25 shows that God responds to the needs of His people, but also uses difficulties to teach and test them, not just to provide for them.
  • The verse connects the miracle at Marah to the giving of laws and expectations, showing that God’s care comes with guidance and standards for living.
  • This moment sets a pattern for the wilderness journey: God provides, but He also expects trust and obedience from the Israelites, preparing them for future challenges.

Where else these words appear

“sweet” Hebrew H4985 · used in 5 verses

  • Job 20:12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
  • Job 21:33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
  • Psalms 55:14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

“proved” Hebrew H5254 · used in 34 verses

  • Genesis 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
  • Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,
  • Psalms 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

“cried” Hebrew H6817 · used in 53 verses

  • Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
  • Joshua 24:7 And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.
  • 2 Kings 8:5 And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.

“shewed” Hebrew H3384 · used in 75 verses

  • Genesis 31:51 And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee;
  • 1 Kings 8:36 Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.
  • Psalms 45:4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.