Exodus

Exodus 1

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