Translation commentary on Exodus 17:8

Then is the usual conjunction waw, but here it begins a new episode. Amalek was the name of the ancestor of the Amalekites, used here to represent the entire tribe. (See the introductory statement above.) In many languages this will be expressed as “people of Amalek.” And fought with Israel is understood by Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, and others to mean that they “attacked the Israelites.” In languages that favor the passive voice, one may say “The Israelites were attacked by the people of Amalek.” The decisive battle comes in the following verses. There is no indication as to why they attacked them, but it is possible they fought over access to the source of water. (See the comment at verse 1.) At Rephidim suggests that the Amalekites may have been far from their original territory, which Gen 14.7 identifies as Kadesh, in the northeast part of the Sinai peninsula.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Exodus 17:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 17:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “The Amalekites came to fight the Israelites at Rephidim.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When the Israelites were staying at Raphidim, the Amalek came to attack them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “While the Israelinhon (were) still there in Refidim, they were-attacked by the Amaleknon.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “It came about that the Amalek people came and made a fight against the Israel people at the area of Repidim.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “After that, people of Amalek came attacked people of Israel at Rephidim.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Then the descendants of the Amalek people-group came and fought against the Israeli people at Rephidim.” (Source: Translation for Translators)