Exodus 17:16
ESV
saying, "A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."
NIV
He said, "Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation."
NASB
and he said, 'Because the Lord has sworn, the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation.'
CSB
He said, "Indeed, my hand is lifted up toward the Lord’s throne. The Lord will be at war with Amalek from generation to generation."
NLT
He said, 'They have raised their fist against the Lord’s throne, so now the Lord will be at war with Amalek generation after generation.'
KJV
For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
NKJV
for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
What does Exodus 17:16 mean?
God's power came through Moses' staff to provide victory over an Amalekite attack (Exodus 17:8–13). Afterwards, Moses built an altar (Exodus 17:15). This was given the Hebrew name YHWH Nissi' y, meaning "The Lord is my Banner." This includes the name God used to identify Himself to Moses (Exodus 3:15), sometimes written as Yahweh. The other word is more obscure.Most manuscripts include an unusual spelling of the word for "throne," which looks almost identical to the word for "banner." One interpretation of a hand on a throne implies God making a vow. Another is that Moses' hand is reaching to God's throne to represent the flow of divine power. Some interpret this phrase to depict God's enemies raising their hands against Him, resulting in His eternal wrath. Still others believe the originally intended word was the Hebrew nēs, so this refers to a hand resting on the Lord's banner.
Despite that confusion, the meaning of the passage is relatively clear. It was the Lord's power that defeated the Amalekites. Israel was to depend on God for their future success (Zechariah 4:6). The Amalekites (Deuteronomy 25:17–19) were to be eliminated (1 Samuel 15:1–3, 9).
