Places of the Bible

Marah

Wilderness of Shur (Sinai) · Old Testament · 3 verses

Marah, meaning bitter, was a place in the wilderness of Shur where Israel found water they could not drink. It was one of the first stops after crossing the sea. The name appears in Exodus, Numbers in the King James text.

About Marah

Marah, meaning bitter, was a place in the wilderness of Shur where Israel found water they could not drink. It was one of the first stops after crossing the sea.

Its place in the story

At Marah the people grumbled because the water was bitter, and God showed Moses a tree that, cast into the water, made it sweet. There God gave a statute and tested his people.

Marah in Scripture (KJV)

“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.”

Exodus 15:23 (KJV)

“And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.”

Numbers 33:8 (KJV)

“And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there.”

Numbers 33:9 (KJV)

Where it leads

The bitter water made sweet at Marah is one of the wilderness signs of God's provision, part of the story of grace fulfilled in Christ.

Who is Jesus? · Places of the Bible

More places of the Bible

All the places Read the Bible Who is Jesus?

Scripture verbatim KJV. Place facts curated; any coordinates via Wikidata (CC0).