KJV ORIGINAL
And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
When they arrived at Marah, they couldn't drink the water there because it was bitter. That's why the place was named Marah.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The Israelites found a water source they desperately needed, but it was too bitter to drink, so they named the place 'Bitter.'
📚 Historical Context
This happened during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after escaping Egypt, when they had been traveling for three days without finding water. Marah was likely an oasis in the Sinai Peninsula where the water contained high levels of minerals that made it undrinkable. The name 'Marah' literally means 'bitter' in Hebrew.
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