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

EXODUS 17:4KJV
Know the Bible

Exodus 17:4 (KJV)

What does Exodus 17:4 mean?

Exodus 17:4 shows Moses in distress, calling out to the LORD for help because the people are so angry with him that they are nearly ready to kill him by stoning. Moses is overwhelmed by the people's complaints and fears for his safety as their leader.

In this verse, Moses is speaking directly to the LORD (God), expressing his desperation as the Israelites threaten him due to their lack of water in the wilderness. The verse highlights the tension between Moses and the people, showing how quickly their frustration has turned into real danger for him.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 17:4

  • "Cried" (צָעַק, tsa'aq) means to call out or cry for help, often in distress or urgency. Moses is not just speaking; he is urgently pleading with God, showing the seriousness of the situation.
  • "Almost" (מְעַט, me'at) means "a little" or "nearly." The word emphasizes just how close the people are to actually stoning Moses, underlining the intensity of their anger.
  • "Stone" (סָקַל, saqal) refers to the act of stoning, a form of execution. The use of this word shows that Moses genuinely believes his life is in danger, not just that the people are grumbling.

Why Exodus 17:4 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that the people's complaints were minor; Moses genuinely feared for his life, showing how serious the conflict had become.
  • Exodus 17:4 sets the stage for God's intervention, highlighting Moses' dependence on God when human solutions have run out.
  • The verse connects to the larger story of Israel's journey, showing a pattern of complaint and crisis that recurs throughout their time in the wilderness.

Where else these words appear

“stone” Hebrew H5619 · used in 20 verses

  • Exodus 8:26 And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?
  • Deuteronomy 17:5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.
  • 2 Samuel 16:13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

“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.

“almost” Hebrew H4592 · used in 92 verses

  • Genesis 18:4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
  • 1 Samuel 14:43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
  • Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.