Exodus / Chapter 1

Exodus 1

22 verses • Westminster Leningrad Codex

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

The sons of Israel multiply in Egypt, fulfilling the creation mandate, until a new Pharaoh who does not know Joseph enslaves them. When state-sponsored infanticide targets Hebrew boys, two midwives defy the king's order because they fear God.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

The chapter opens with a cascade of creation-language verbs — paru, vayyishretzu, vayyirbu ('were fruitful, swarmed, multiplied') — deliberately echoing Genesis 1:28 and the teeming life of Genesis 1:20-21. Covenant fruitfulness thrives inside imperial oppression. Meanwhile, two named women (Shiphrah and Puah) resist an unnamed Pharaoh; the text grants enduring honor to the resisters and anonymity to the tyrant.

Translation Friction

The verb vayyishretzu ('swarmed') posed a real translation decision. The root sharats is used for teeming aquatic life in Genesis 1 — it carries connotations of unstoppable, almost biological increase. We retained 'swarmed' rather than softening it, because the Hebrew deliberately makes Israel's growth sound like creation bursting its banks. The phrase yotsei yerekh ('those who came out of Jacob's thigh') we rendered as 'from Jacob's own line' to preserve the kinship meaning without the anatomical idiom.

Connections

The tribal list echoes Genesis 46:8-27. The creation verbs point back to Genesis 1:28 and 9:1. The midwives' civil disobedience anticipates Daniel 3 and Acts 5:29. God building 'households' for the midwives (v21) foreshadows the house-building promise of 2 Samuel 7:11.

Exodus 1:1

וְאֵ֗לֶּה שְׁמוֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַבָּאִ֖ים מִצְרָ֑יְמָה אֵ֣ת יַעֲקֹ֔ב אִ֥ישׁ וּבֵית֖וֹ בָּֽאוּ׃

These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each man with his household:

KJV Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The chapter opens with a deliberate echo of Genesis 46, linking Exodus to the covenant family history. The story of deliverance begins with remembered names, not anonymous masses.
Exodus 1:2

רְאוּבֵ֣ן שִׁמְע֔וֹן לֵוִ֖י וִיהוּדָֽה׃

namely Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

KJV Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The tribal list begins with Leah's first four sons, following established birth-order tradition in Genesis.
Exodus 1:3

יִשָּׂשכָ֥ר זְבוּלֻ֖ן וּבִנְיָמִֽן׃

Issachar and Zebulun and Benjamin,

KJV Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin complete the core sons born to Leah and Rachel before the sons of the maidservants are listed.
Exodus 1:4

דָּ֥ן וְנַפְתָּלִ֖י גָּ֥ד וְאָשֵֽׁר׃

Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher.

KJV Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The full list preserves the continuity of the twelve-tribe identity before Israel becomes a nation in Egypt.
Exodus 1:5

וַֽיְהִ֗י כׇּל־נֶ֛פֶשׁ יֹצְאֵ֥י יֶֽרֶךְ־יַעֲקֹ֖ב שִׁבְעִ֣ים נָ֑פֶשׁ וְיוֹסֵ֖ף הָיָ֥ה בְמִצְרָֽיִם׃

All the persons who came from Jacob's own line were seventy in all, and Joseph was already in Egypt.

KJV And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

יֹצְאֵי יֶרֶךְ yotsei yerekh
"from Jacob's own line" — those issuing from the thigh, direct descendants, bloodline offspring

A kinship idiom for biological descent. The phrase emphasizes family continuity and covenant lineage.

Translator Notes

  1. 'From Jacob's own line' literally reflects the Hebrew idiom 'those who came out of Jacob's thigh,' a kinship expression for direct descendants.
Exodus 1:6

וַיָּ֤מׇת יוֹסֵף֙ וְכׇל־אֶחָ֔יו וְכֹ֖ל הַדּ֥וֹר הַהֽוּא׃

Then Joseph died, and all his brothers, and all that generation.

KJV And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. With Joseph and that generation gone, the narrative shifts from family memory to political vulnerability under a new regime.
Exodus 1:7

וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל פָּר֧וּ וַֽיִּשְׁרְצ֛וּ וַיִּרְבּ֥וּ וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ בִּמְאֹ֣ד מְאֹ֑ד וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א הָאָ֖רֶץ אֹתָֽם׃ {פ}

But the sons of Israel were fruitful and swarmed and multiplied and became exceedingly strong, and the land was filled with them.

KJV And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

וַיִּשְׁרְצוּ vayyishretzu
"swarmed" — swarmed, teemed, multiplied abundantly

From the same root used for teeming life in creation texts (Genesis 1:20-21), signaling explosive covenant fruitfulness.

Translator Notes

  1. The cluster of verbs ('fruitful,' 'swarmed,' 'multiplied,' 'became strong') intentionally echoes creation and patriarchal blessing language, showing covenant increase in exile.
Exodus 1:8

וַיָּ֥קׇם מֶֽלֶךְ־חָדָ֖שׁ עַל־מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָדַ֖ע אֶת־יוֹסֵֽף׃

Now a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.

KJV Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'Did not know Joseph' likely means more than personal ignorance; it signals political refusal to honor Joseph's legacy and policy shift toward oppression.
Exodus 1:9

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֶל־עַמּ֑וֹ הִנֵּ֗ה עַ֚ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רַ֥ב וְעָצ֖וּם מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

He said to his people, "Look, the people of the sons of Israel are too many and too strong for us.

KJV And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Pharaoh frames Israel as a demographic threat. Fear-driven rhetoric becomes the justification for state violence.
Exodus 1:10

הָ֥בָה נִֽתְחַכְּמָ֖ה ל֑וֹ פֶּן־יִרְבֶּ֗ה וְהָיָ֞ה כִּֽי־תִקְרֶ֤אנָה מִלְחָמָה֙ וְנוֹסַ֤ף גַּם־הוּא֙ עַל־שֹׂ֣נְאֵ֔ינוּ וְנִלְחַם־בָּ֖נוּ וְעָלָ֥ה מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and leave the land."

KJV Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

נִתְחַכְּמָה nitchakkemah
"let us deal shrewdly" — act wisely, deal cunningly, act strategically

Pharaoh's so-called wisdom is moral corruption: political cunning used to justify oppression.

Translator Notes

  1. The Hebrew says 'deal wisely' (or shrewdly), but the wisdom is corrupt: it is strategic oppression disguised as national security.
Exodus 1:11

וַיָּשִׂ֤ימוּ עָלָיו֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מִסִּ֔ים לְמַ֥עַן עַנֹּת֖וֹ בְּסִבְלֹתָ֑ם וַיִּ֜בֶן עָרֵ֤י מִסְכְּנוֹת֙ לְפַרְעֹ֔ה אֶת־פִּתֹ֖ם וְאֶת־רַעַמְסֵֽס׃

So they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens, and they built supply cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses.

KJV Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The move from anxiety to policy is immediate: economic exploitation through forced labor. 'Supply/treasure cities' indicates state-building through enslaved bodies.
Exodus 1:12

וְכַאֲשֶׁר֙ יְעַנּ֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ כֵּ֥ן יִרְבֶּ֖ה וְכֵ֣ן יִפְרֹ֑ץ וַיָּקֻ֕צוּ מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and spread out, so the Egyptians came to dread the sons of Israel.

KJV But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The text stresses ironic reversal: oppression accelerates Israel's growth instead of suppressing it, intensifying Egyptian fear.
Exodus 1:13

וַיַּעֲבִ֧דוּ מִצְרַ֛יִם אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּפָֽרֶךְ׃

Then the Egyptians forced the sons of Israel to serve with harshness.

KJV And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

בְּפָרֶךְ befarekh
"with harshness" — with brutality, with severity, with crushing rigor

A key slavery term in Exodus. It denotes dehumanizing labor imposed by force.

Translator Notes

  1. 'With harshness' (befarekh) introduces a key term for crushing, ruthless labor that defines Israel's bondage.
Exodus 1:14

וַיְמָרְר֨וּ אֶת־חַיֵּיהֶ֜ם בַּעֲבֹדָ֣ה קָשָׁ֗ה בְּחֹ֙מֶר֙ וּבִלְבֵנִ֔ים וּבְכׇל־עֲבֹדָ֖ה בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה אֵ֚ת כׇּל־עֲבֹ֣דָתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־עָבְד֥וּ בָהֶ֖ם בְּפָֽרֶךְ׃

They made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and brick and in every kind of field work. In all their labor they forced them to serve with brutality.

KJV And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The verse piles up labor terms to emphasize totalizing oppression: domestic production, construction labor, and agricultural service.
Exodus 1:15

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖ת הָֽעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת אֲשֶׁ֨ר שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאַחַת֙ שִׁפְרָ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית פּוּעָֽה׃

Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one named Shiphrah and the other named Puah.

KJV And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Two women are named in the narrative while Pharaoh remains only 'the king of Egypt.' The text grants enduring honor to faithful resistance.
Exodus 1:16

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בְּיַלֶּדְכֶן֙ אֶת־הָֽעִבְרִיּ֔וֹת וּרְאִיתֶ֖ן עַל־הָאׇבְנָ֑יִם אִם־בֵּ֥ן הוּא֙ וַהֲמִתֶּ֣ן אֹת֔וֹ וְאִם־בַּ֥ת הִ֖וא וָחָֽיָה׃

He said, "When you help the Hebrew women give birth and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, put him to death; if it is a daughter, let her live."

KJV And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The command targets males to destroy covenant continuity while absorbing females into Egyptian society. It is population control through selective infanticide.
Exodus 1:17

וַתִּירֶ֤אןָ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְלֹ֣א עָשׂ֔וּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ן מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִֽים׃

But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them; they let the boys live.

KJV But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

וַתִּירֶאןָ ... אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים vattirena ... et-haElohim
"the midwives feared God" — revered God, stood in awe of God, honored God's authority

Biblical 'fear of God' means moral allegiance to divine authority above human power.

Translator Notes

  1. The midwives' civil disobedience is explicitly theological: they fear God above Pharaoh. This is the first direct human resistance to imperial decree in Exodus.
Exodus 1:18

וַיִּקְרָ֤א מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֔ת וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ן מַדּ֥וּעַ עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ן הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִֽים׃

So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this and let the boys live?"

KJV And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Pharaoh's interrogation shows the state recognizes that quiet resistance can undermine policy more effectively than open revolt.
Exodus 1:19

וַתֹּאמַ֤רְןָ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה כִּ֣י לֹ֧א כַנָּשִׁ֛ים הַמִּצְרִיֹּ֖ת הָֽעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת כִּֽי־חָי֣וֹת הֵ֔נָּה בְּטֶ֨רֶם תָּב֧וֹא אֲלֵהֶ֛ן*(בכתר ארם צובה היה כתוב אֲלֵיהֶ֛ן) הַמְיַלֶּ֖דֶת וְיָלָֽדוּ׃

The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. They are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them."

KJV And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Their reply functions as protective speech under tyranny. Whether fully factual or strategic, the narrative commends the life-preserving result.
Exodus 1:20

וַיֵּ֥יטֶב אֱלֹהִ֖ים לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֑ת וַיִּ֧רֶב הָעָ֛ם וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ מְאֹֽד׃

So God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very strong.

KJV Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. God's favor toward the midwives shows divine approval of their costly protection of vulnerable life.
Exodus 1:21

וַיְהִ֕י כִּֽי־יָרְא֥וּ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖ת אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ לָהֶ֖ם בָּתִּֽים׃

And because the midwives feared God, He made households for them.

KJV And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

וַיַּעַשׂ לָהֶם בָּתִּים vayya'as lahem battim
"He made households for them" — built houses, established families, gave enduring households

Likely refers to God establishing their family lines and legacy, a covenant-style reward for faithful courage.

Translator Notes

  1. 'He made households for them' likely means God granted them enduring family lines/status, reversing the threat of child-destruction with covenant-style fruitfulness.
Exodus 1:22

וַיְצַ֣ו פַּרְעֹ֔ה לְכׇל־עַמּ֖וֹ לֵאמֹ֑ר כׇּל־הַבֵּ֣ן הַיִּלּ֗וֹד הַיְאֹ֙רָה֙ תַּשְׁלִיכֻ֔הוּ וְכׇל־הַבַּ֖ת תְּחַיּֽוּן׃ {פ}

Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, "Every son that is born you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you shall let live."

KJV And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Pharaoh expands policy from professional midwives to the whole population, moving from covert control to public genocide by decree.
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