He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come, let’s deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies and fight against us, and escape out of the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They started to dread the children of Israel.
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Exodus 1:9-12 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who didn’t know Joseph. He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come, let’s deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies and fight against us, and escape out of the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They started to dread the children of Israel. The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve, and they made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and in brick, and in all kinds of service in the field, all their service, in which they ruthlessly made them serve.
Parallel Translations
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He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.
Come, let’s deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies and fight against us, and escape out of the land.”
Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses.
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They started to dread the children of Israel.
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And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
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.
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
Show all 3 translations
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And he said unto his people: 'Behold, the people of the children of Israel are too many and too mighty for us;
come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there befalleth us any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land.'
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and Raamses.
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And they were adread because of the children of Israel.
Cross-references (42)
- Psalms 105:24 (v12) He increased his people greatly, and made them stronger than their adversaries.
- Genesis 15:13 (v11) He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will…
- Exodus 1:9 (v12) He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.
- Genesis 47:11 (v11) Joseph placed his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of…
- Exodus 2:11 (v11) In those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers and saw their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his…
Show all 41 cross-references
- Exodus 3:7 (v11) Yahweh said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I…
- Psalms 83:3-4 (v10) They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones. “Come,” they say, “let’s destroy them as a nation,…
- Acts 7:19 (v10) The same took advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to throw out their babies, so that they wouldn’t stay…
- Psalms 105:24-25 (v9) He increased his people greatly, and made them stronger than their adversaries. He turned their heart to hate his people, to conspire…
- Proverbs 1:11 (v10) If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lay in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
- Deuteronomy 26:6 (v11) The Egyptians mistreated us, afflicted us, and imposed hard labor on us.
- Psalms 81:6 (v11) “I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the basket.
- Psalms 105:25 (v10) He turned their heart to hate his people, to conspire against his servants.
- Romans 8:28 (v12) We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.
- Exodus 6:6-7 (v11) Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am Yahweh, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you…
- Numbers 20:15 (v11) how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers.
- 1 Kings 9:19 (v11) all the storage cities that Solomon had, the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build…
- 2 Chronicles 8:4 (v11) He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the storage cities, which he built in Hamath.
- Psalms 10:2 (v10) In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
- Ecclesiastes 4:4 (v9) Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
- Acts 5:28-33 (v12) saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to…
- James 3:14-16 (v9) But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that…
- Proverbs 27:4 (vv9, 11) Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
- Exodus 5:4-6 (v11) The king of Egypt said to them, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!” Pharaoh said,…
- Exodus 5:15 (v11) Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?
- Numbers 22:4-5 (v9) Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.”…
- Numbers 22:6 (v10) Please come now therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them,…
- Job 5:13 (v10) He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
- Psalms 68:13 (v11) while you sleep among the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold.
- Psalms 105:13 (v11) They went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.
- Proverbs 14:28 (v9) In the multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
- Proverbs 16:25 (v10) There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
- Proverbs 21:30 (v10) There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
- John 12:19 (v12) The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.”
- Acts 4:2-4 (v12) being upset because they taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. They laid hands on them, and put them in…
- Acts 23:12 (v10) When it was day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until…
- 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 (v10) Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. For…
- Titus 3:3 (v9) For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating…
- James 3:15-18 (v10) This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition are,…
- Job 5:2 (v9) For resentment kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.
- James 4:5 (v9) Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously”?
41 distinct cross-references across this passage (42 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv10–12 Or, go up out of the land.
Or, go up out of the land.
Into Canaan, and so we shall lose our commodity.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv9–12 Exo 1:9 And he said unto his people, Behold,…
Exo 1:9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel [are] more and mightier than we:
Ver. 9. More and mightier.] He speaks as if he had looked through a multiplying glass. {See Trapp on "Gen 31:1"}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv9–12 This was not a true, but an invidious representation…
This was not a true, but an invidious representation and aggravation of the matter, the better to justify the sororities which he designed.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv9–12 And he said unto his people,.... His princes, nobles,…
And he said unto his people,.... His princes, nobles, and courtiers about him, his principal ministers of state:
behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: which could not be true in fact, but is said to stir up his nobles to attend to what he was about to say, and to work upon them to take some speedy measures for the crushing of this people; for that they were more in number, and mightier in power and wealth than the Egyptians, it was impossible; and indeed it may seem strange, that the king should tell such an untruth, which might be so easily contradicted by his courtiers; though the words will bear to be otherwise rendered, as that "the children of Israel are many" (o); as they were very greatly multiplied, and became very numerous; and they might be "mightier", that is, more robust and strong, and fitter for war than the Egyptians, and therefore, were formidable, and a people to be guarded against; and it was high time to think of securing themselves from them, before they grew too mighty and powerful; or they might be more numerous and mighty in that part of the land in which they were, in Goshen, though not more and mightier than the Egyptians in general.
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(o) "multus", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius, Rivet.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv10–12 Come on, let us deal wisely with them, lest…
Come on, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply - When men deal wickedly it is common for them to imagine that they deal wisely, but the folly of sin will at last be manifested before all men.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv9–12 Verse 9. He said unto his people] He probably…
Verse 9. He said unto his people] He probably summoned a council of his nobles and elders to consider the subject; and the result was to persecute and destroy them, as is afterwards stated.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv10, 12 Exo 1:10-11. Come on, let us deal wisely with…
Exo 1:10-11. Come on, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply — When men deal wickedly, it is common for them to imagine that they deal wisely, but the folly of sin will at last be manifested before all men. They set over them task-masters, to afflict them — With this very design. They not only made them serve, which was sufficient for Pharaoh’s profit, but they made them serve with rigour, so that their lives became bitter to them; intending hereby to break their spirits, and to rob them of every thing in them that was generous; to ruin their health, and shorten their days, and so diminish their numbers; to discourage them from marrying, since their children would be born to slavery; and to oblige them to desert the Hebrews, and incorporate with the Egyptians. And it is to be feared the oppression they were under did bring over many of them to join with the Egyptians in their idolatrous worship; for we read, Jos 24:14, that they served other gods in Egypt; and we find, Eze 20:8, that God had threatened to destroy them for it, even while they were in the land of Egypt. Treasure-cities — To keep the king’s money or corn, wherein a great part of the riches of Egypt consisted.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv10–11 Any war - The Northeastern frontier was infested by…
Any war - The Northeastern frontier was infested by the neighboring tribes, the Shasous of Egyptian monuments, and war was waged with Egypt by the confederated nations of Western Asia under the reigns of the successors of Amosis. These incursions were repulsed with extreme difficulty. In language, features, costume, and partly also in habits, the Israelites probably resembled those enemies of Egypt.
Out of the land - The Pharaohs apprehended the loss of revenue and power, which would result from the withdrawal of a peaceful and industrious race.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv9, 11 Numerous. Calvisius observes, that from Ephraim alone might have…
Numerous. Calvisius observes, that from Ephraim alone might have sprung 4,112,323,729 people. See St. Augustine, q. 43, &c. (Haydock) --- In the space of 215 years, 70 people may produce an immense multitude, as Bonfrere shews by an accurate calculation. God also was pleased to bless the Hebrews with fecundity, so that they sprung up (ebullierunt) like frogs or fishes, ver. 7. In Egypt, the women had sometimes seven at a birth (Pliny, Natural History vii. 3,) and Aristotle (Anim. vii. 4,) mentions one woman who had 20 children at four births. (Tirinus) --- Stronger. This might easily be true, if this king had only Thebais under his command. But if he was king of all Egypt, it seems an exaggeration. (Calmet) --- Indeed, human policy often gives birth to all kinds of wickedness. The king justifies his cruelty on this pretext of self-defence. He wishes to keep the Hebrews under; yet he is not willing to let them depart, as he knew they intended, according to Joseph’s prediction. (Haydock) --- God permitted this disposition, in order to punish his people for their idolatry, (Ezechiel xxiii. 8,) to admonish them not to fix their abode in Egypt, and to manifest his power and glory in the destruction of the impious. (Menochius)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv9, 11 he said . . . Behold, the . .…
he said . . . Behold, the . . . children of Israel are more and mightier than we--They had risen to great prosperity--as during the lifetime of Joseph and his royal patron, they had, probably, enjoyed a free grant of the land. Their increase and prosperity were viewed with jealousy by the new government; and as Goshen lay between Egypt and Canaan, on the border of which latter country were a number of warlike tribes, it was perfectly conformable to the suggestions of worldly policy that they should enslave and maltreat them, through apprehension of their joining in any invasion by those foreign rovers. The new king, who neither knew the name nor cared for the services of Joseph, was either Amosis, or one of his immediate successors [OSBURN].
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv9–12 9, 10. And he said unto his people —…
9, 10. And he said unto his people — This implies consultation of a king with his counsellors in an epoch of transition or revolution, and suits well the time of Amosis. Before his reign Egypt was divided into several kingdoms — Thebes, This, Memphis, etc., between which there were constant struggles, the different dynasties ruling side by side. Under Amosis, Thebes became supreme.
More and mightier than we — Not that they really outnumbered the Egyptians, but the new king is alarmed at the rapid increase of an alien population which, from its religious antagonism, could not become assimilated with the Egyptian nation. See Introduction, (2.)
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv9–12 9. more and mightier] In the Heb. the two…
9. more and mightier] In the Heb. the two adjectives corresponding to the two verbs ‘increased,’ and ‘waxed mighty,’ in v. 7. The marg. is merely an alternative rendering of the Heb., bringing out more distinctly the sense intended (cf. 1Ki_19:7, where the Heb. is similar).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv9–12 (9) He said unto his people.—It is not intended…
(9) He said unto his people.—It is not intended to represent the Egyptian monarch as summoning a popular assembly, and addressing it. “His people.” Is antithetical to “the people of the children of Israel,” and simply marks that those whom he addressed were of his own nation. No doubt they were his nobles, or, at any rate, his courtiers.
More and mightier than we.—Heb., great and mighty in comparison with us. The more to impress his counsellors, and gain their consent to his designs, the king exaggerates. Ancient Egypt must have had a population of seven or eight millions, which would imply nearly two millions of adult males, whereas the adult male Israelites, near a century later, were no more than six hundred thousand (Exo_12:37). Wicked men do not scruple at misrepresentation when they have an end to gain.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv9–12 And he said unto his people, Behold, the children…
And he said unto his people, Behold, the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Literally, "great and strong in comparison with us." Actual numerical superiority is not, perhaps, meant; yet the expression is no doubt an exaggerated one, beyond the truth the sort of exaggeration in which unprincipled persons indulge when they would justify themselves for taking an extreme and unusual course.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v11 Egyptians whose job was to force the Israelites to…
taskmasters
Egyptians whose job was to force the Israelites to do hard work
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to oppress them with hard labor
"to force the Israelites to do hard work for the Egyptians"
store cities
These were places where the leaders put food and other important things to keep them safe.
translationWords
labor
Pharaoh
oppress
Israel
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv10–12 1:10 The people whom Pharaoh referred to as our…
1:10 The people whom Pharaoh referred to as our enemies would almost certainly have been the remnants of the Hyksos (see study note on 1:8-10).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.