Exodus 17 in the early church
224 passages quote, allude to, or echo Exodus 17, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 16
Exodus 17:1
Then the whole congregation of Israel left the Desert of Sin, moving from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:1 | Commentary on John 13.11 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Exod 17:1 | Homilies on Exodus 8.1 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:1 | Homilies on Exodus 11.1 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:1 | Letter 78.12 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Exod 17:1 | On the Life of Moses 311 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Exod 17:1–6 | On the Life of Moses 365 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Exod 17:1 | Exposition of Psalm 118 5.5.2 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Exod 17:1–6 | Exodus, lines 639–662 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
Exodus 17:2
So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why do you contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you test the LORD?”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:2 | Commentary on 1 Corinthians 10:13 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| Exod 17:2 | Verses on the Birthday of the Maccabees 301–330 · Hilary of Arles | allusion, high confidence | ca. 430-449 |
| Exod 17:2–6 | Part 1, chapter 39 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Exodus 17:3
But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt—to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:3 | On Patience 5 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 198–206 |
| Exod 17:3 | Commentary on John 13.11 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Exod 17:3 | Homilies on Exodus 11.2 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:3 | Oration 40.21 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 17:3 | Letter 78.13 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
Exodus 17:4
Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “What should I do with these people? A little more and they will stone me!”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:4 | Commentary on Matthew 10.18 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| Exod 17:4 | On the Good of Patience 10 · Cyprian of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | 256 |
| Exod 17:4 | Demonstration 14.45 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Exod 17:4 | Letter 82.3 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
Exodus 17:5
And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:5 | Homilies on Exodus 11.2 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:5 | Verses on the Birthday of the Maccabees 331–360 · Hilary of Arles | allusion, high confidence | ca. 430-449 |
Exodus 17:6
Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Exodus 17:7
He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:7 | Letter 78.13 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
Exodus 17:8
After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:8 | Epistle of Barnabas 12.2 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | ca. 70–135 (often ca. 130) |
| Exod 17:8 | Arabic Pentateuch fragment XIV (on Num 1) · Hippolytus of Rome | allusion, medium confidence | unknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena) |
| Exod 17:8 | Homilies on Exodus 11.3 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:8 | Homilies on Joshua 1.1 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:8 | Homilies on Numbers 1.2 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:8–11 | Homilies on Numbers 19.1 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:8 | Homilies on Numbers 27.4 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:8 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.29.16 · Eusebius of Caesarea | echo, low confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Exod 17:8 | On the Incarnation 36.3 · Athanasius of Alexandria | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 318–325 |
| Exod 17:8–14 | Demonstration 3.10 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Exod 17:8 | Demonstration 3.13 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Exod 17:8 | On the Decrees of Nicaea 7 · Athanasius of Alexandria | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 350–356 |
| Exod 17:8 | Letter 101 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, low confidence | ca. 360–390 |
| Exod 17:8 | Letter 91.2 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Exod 17:8–13 | On the Life of Moses 313 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Exod 17:8–9 | On the Life of Moses 369 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Exod 17:8–13 | On the Life of Moses 371 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Exod 17:8–13 | On the Life of Moses 425 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Exod 17:8–13 | Sermon 4.9 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Exod 17:8–13 | Sermon 352.6 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Exod 17:8–13 | Sermon 353.2 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Exod 17:8–13 | Sermon 382.1 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Exod 17:8–13 | Against Jovinianus 2.15 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | 393 |
| Exod 17:8 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.92 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| Exod 17:8 | On the Trinity 4.15 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 399–419 |
| Exod 17:8–13 | Sermon 147 · Peter Chrysologus | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 425-450 |
| Exod 17:8–13 | Part 1, chapter 40 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Exodus 17:9
So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:9 | Dialogue with Trypho 90.4 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Exod 17:9 | Homilies on Exodus 11.3 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:9 | Homilies on Joshua 1.1 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:9 | Homilies on Joshua 1.2 · Origen | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:9–14 | To Quirinus 2.21 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later) |
| Exod 17:9 | Divine Institutes 4.17.12 · Lactantius | allusion, high confidence | ca. 303–311 |
Exodus 17:10
Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:10 | Homilies on Exodus 11.4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:10 | Letter 78.13 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
Exodus 17:11
As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:11 | Epistle of Barnabas 12.2 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | ca. 70–135 (often ca. 130) |
| Exod 17:11 | Sibylline Oracles 8.251ff. · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | 2nd-3rd cent. |
| Exod 17:11 | Dialogue with Trypho 90.4 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Exod 17:11 | Dialogue with Trypho 91.3 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Exod 17:11 | Dialogue with Trypho 131.4 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Exod 17:11 | Against Heresies 4.24.1 · Irenaeus of Lyons | allusion, high confidence | ca. 180–190 |
| Exod 17:11 | Against Heresies 4.33.1 · Irenaeus of Lyons | allusion, high confidence | ca. 180–190 |
| Exod 17:11–12 | Against the Jews 10 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 197–207 |
| Exod 17:11 | On Prayer 29 · Tertullian | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 198–206 |
| Exod 17:11 | Commentary on Daniel 3.24 · Hippolytus of Rome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 202-204 |
| Exod 17:11 | Against Marcion 3.18 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Exod 17:11 | PG 12:1285 (Ps 27 LXX) · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Exod 17:11 | Commentary on John 28.37 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Exod 17:11 | Homily on 1 Samuel 1.9 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:11 | Homilies on Exodus 3.3 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:11 | Homilies on Exodus 11.4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:11 | Homilies on Joshua 1.2 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:11 | Homilies on Leviticus 6.6 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:11 | Homilies on Numbers 13.4 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:11–14 | To Fortunatus 8 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | 253 or 257 |
| Exod 17:11 | On the Making of the World 5 · Victorinus of Pettau | allusion, high confidence | late 3rd century |
| Exod 17:11–12 | Acta Archelai (Latin) 50 · Hegemonius | allusion, high confidence | early to mid 4th century (Greek original) |
| Exod 17:11–13 | Demonstration 4.7 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Exod 17:11 | Letter 241 · Basil of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 357–378 |
| Exod 17:11 | Tractates on the Psalms 133.5 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Exod 17:11 | Tractates on the Psalms 140.3 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Exod 17:11 | Oration 2.39 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 17:11 | Oration 4.19 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 17:11 | Oration 6.17 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 17:11 | Oration 10.3 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 17:11–12 | Oration 13.2 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 17:11–12 | Oration 15.5 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 17:11 | Oration 32.16 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 17:11 | Oration 43.54 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 17:11 | Oration 45.20 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 17:11 | On the Destruction of Jerusalem 5.16 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370 |
| Exod 17:11 | Letter 60.17 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Exod 17:11 | Letter 78.13 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Exod 17:11 | Letter 91.2 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Exod 17:11–13 | On the Lord's Prayer 1123 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 380–394 |
| Exod 17:11 | Homilies on Matthew 28.2 · John Chrysostom | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 390 |
| Exod 17:11 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.11.1 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Exod 17:11 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.11.2 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Exod 17:11–13 | Sermon 352.7 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Exod 17:11–12 | Sermon 363.3 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Exod 17:11 | Poem 26, lines 67–98 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, high confidence | ca. 393–431 |
| Exod 17:11–12 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 12.30 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| Exod 17:11 | On the Trinity 4.15 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 399–419 |
| Exod 17:11 | City of God 10.8 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Exod 17:11 | Commentary on Jeremiah 5.2 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
| Exod 17:11 | Against Five Heresies 2 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 437-450 |
Exodus 17:12
When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:12 | Epistle of Barnabas 12.2 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 70–135 (often ca. 130) |
| Exod 17:12 | Dialogue with Trypho 90.4 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Exod 17:12 | Dialogue with Trypho 90.5 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Exod 17:12 | Dialogue with Trypho 97.1 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Exod 17:12 | Dialogue with Trypho 111.1 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Exod 17:12 | Against Marcion 3.18 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Exod 17:12 | On Fasting 10 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 210–220 |
| Exod 17:12 | To Quirinus 2.16 · Cyprian of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later) |
| Exod 17:12 | On the Making of the World 5 · Victorinus of Pettau | allusion, medium confidence | late 3rd century |
| Exod 17:12 | Oration 12.1 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 17:12 | Oration 18.29 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 17:12 | Letter 78.13 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Exod 17:12 | On the Duties of the Clergy 3.1 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386–390 |
| Exod 17:12 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.11.3 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Exod 17:12 | On the Trinity 4.15 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 399–419 |
Exodus 17:13
So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his army with the sword.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:13 | Dialogue with Trypho 111.1 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Exod 17:13–16 | Homilies on Numbers 19.1 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 17:13 | Exposition of Psalm 118 5.5.3 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Exod 17:13 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.11.2 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 387-397 |
Exodus 17:14
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:14 | Epistle of Barnabas 12.9 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | ca. 70–135 (often ca. 130) |
| Exod 17:14 | Dialogue with Trypho 131.4 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Exod 17:14 | Demonstration 3.13 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Exod 17:14 | Letter 91.2 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Exod 17:14–16 | Exodus, lines 687–711 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
Exodus 17:16
“Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will war against Amalek from generation to generation.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:16 | Dialogue with Trypho 49.8 · Justin Martyr | quotation, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Exod 17:16 | Against Heresies 3.16.4 · Irenaeus of Lyons | allusion, high confidence | ca. 180–190 |
| Exod 17:16 | PG 12:1251 (Ps 20 LXX) · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Exod 17:16 | Homilies on Exodus 11.4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |