16
and he said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Becauseכִּיa handיָדwas raised againstעַלthe throneכֵּסof Yah,יָהּYHWHיהוָהwill haveלַwarמִלְחָמָהwith Amalekבַּעֲמָלֵקfrom generationמִדֹּרto generation.”דֹּר
Exodus 17:16
Study it in the app“and he said, “Because a hand was raised against the throne of Yah, YHWH will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.””
With the Hebrew beneath
Exodus 17:16, word by word
- and he saidיֹּאמֶרyomer
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appears- a handיָדyad
hand
The part of the body with which one takes, gives and works; also what one does.
Where else “yad” appears- the throneכֵּסkes
throne
Throne (short form). It occurs only in Exodus 17:16, in a phrase of uncertain sense.
Where else “kes” appears- of Yahיָהּyah
Yah
Yah: the short form of the name YHWH. It is the form found in "Hallelujah" ("praise Yah").
Where else “yah” appears- YHWHיהוָהyhva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yhva” appears- warמִלְחָמָהmilchama
war, battle
War, battle.
Where else “milchama” appears- with Amalekעֲמָלֵקamalek
Amalek
Amalek, a grandson of Esau. The Amalekites, who became enemies of Israel, descend from him; the name also stands for that people.
Where else “amalek” appears- from generationדֹּרdor
generation
The people of the same time.
Where else “dor” appears
Translation note
The Hebrew of this verse is difficult; it can also be understood as “a hand on the banner of Yah,” as an oath. In any case it announces a lasting war against Amalek (Deuteronomy 25:17-19).
The context
15Moses built an altar and called its name YHWH Nissi,
16 · This verse (above)