1 These are the names of the Israelis a1:1 Lit. the sons of Israel and so throughout the book who entered Egypt with Jacob, each one having come with his family: b1:1 Or household ISV — Exodus 1:1
2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, ISV — Exodus 1:2
3 Issacar, Zebulun, Benjamin, ISV — Exodus 1:3
4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. ISV — Exodus 1:4
5 All those who descended from c1:5 Lit. came out of the loins of Jacob totaled 75 persons. d1:5 So with DSS and LXX. MT reads 70 Now Joseph was already e1:5 The Heb. lacks already in Egypt. ISV — Exodus 1:5
6 Then Joseph, all his brothers, and that entire generation died. ISV — Exodus 1:6
7 But the Israelis were fruitful and increased abundantly. f1:7 Lit. swarmed They multiplied in numbers and became very, very strong. As a result, the land was filled with them. ISV — Exodus 1:7
8 Eventually a new king who was unacquainted with Joseph came to power in g1:8 Lit. arose over Egypt. ISV — Exodus 1:8
9 He told his people, “Look, the Israeli people are more numerous and more powerful than we are. ISV — Exodus 1:9
10 Come on, let’s be careful how we treat them, so that when they grow numerous, if a war breaks out they won’t join our enemies, fight against us, and leave our land.” ISV — Exodus 1:10
11 So the Egyptians h1:11 Lit. they placed supervisors over them, oppressing them with heavy burdens. The Israelis i1:11 Lit. They built the supply cities of Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh. ISV — Exodus 1:11
12 But the more the Egyptians afflicted the Israelis, j1:12 Lit. them the more they multiplied and flourished, so that the Egyptians k1:12 Lit. they became terrified of l1:12 Or came to loathe the Israelis. ISV — Exodus 1:12
13 The Egyptians ruthlessly forced the Israelis to serve them, ISV — Exodus 1:13
14 making their lives bitter through hard labor with mortar, bricks, and all kinds of outdoor labor. They ruthlessly imposed all this m1:14 Lit. their work on them. ISV — Exodus 1:14
15 Later, the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah. ISV — Exodus 1:15
16 “When you help the Hebrew women give birth,” he said, “watch them as they deliver. n1:16 Lit. them on the birth stool If it’s a son, kill him; but if it’s a daughter, let her live.” ISV — Exodus 1:16
17 But the midwives feared God and didn’t do what the king of Egypt told them. Instead, o1:17 The Heb. lacks Instead they let the boys live. ISV — Exodus 1:17
18 When the king of Egypt called for the midwives, he asked them, “Why have you done this p1:18 Lit. this thing and allowed the boys to live?” ISV — Exodus 1:18
19 “Hebrew women aren’t like Egyptian women,” the midwives replied to Pharaoh. “They’re so healthy that they give birth before the midwives arrive to help q1:19 The Heb. lacks to help them.” ISV — Exodus 1:19
20 God was pleased with the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very strong. ISV — Exodus 1:20
21 Because the midwives feared God, he provided families r1:21 Or households; lit. houses for them. ISV — Exodus 1:21
22 Meanwhile, Pharaoh continued commanding all of his people, “You’re to throw every Hebrew s1:22 The Heb. lacks Hebrew son who is born into the Nile River, t1:22 The Heb. lacks River but you’re to allow every Hebrew u1:22 The Heb. lacks Hebrew daughter to live.” ISV — Exodus 1:22