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Place Old Testament

Massah

Also known as Massah =ESV, NIV, KJV; temptation =KJV

Massah, a place in the wilderness where the Israelites tested the Lord by demanding water (Exodus 17:7; Deu.6.16; 9:22; 33:8; Psalm 95:8). Mentioned in 5 verses across 3 books, first at Exodus 17:7.

Why it matters. A place where the Israelites tested God

Location
28.731, 33.842 (approximate, within about 2 km)

Coordinates from STEPBible TIPNR (palopenmaps.org link). Approximate; not independently verified.

Last reviewed
2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team

About Massah

Massah was a location in the wilderness where the Israelites quarreled with Moses and tested the Lord by demanding water (Exodus 17:7). The name Massah means "testing" or "temptation." At this place, the people grumbled against Moses, questioning whether the Lord was among them or not. Moses, following God's instructions, struck the rock at Horeb, and water came out for the people to drink (Exodus 17:5-6). The incident at Massah is later recalled as an example of Israel's rebellion and lack of faith (Deu.6.16; 9:22; 33:8; Psalm 95:8), serving as a warning for future generations not to test the Lord.

Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.

Connections

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Appears in Scripture

Named in 5 verses across 3 books. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.

Record type: Place. FaithGraph explanations on this page are editorial and are not Scripture.