Exodus 1:10
New International Version
Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”

New Living Translation
We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don’t, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country.”

English Standard Version
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”

Berean Standard Bible
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.”

New American Standard Bible
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, otherwise they will multiply, and in the event of war, they will also join those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.”

NASB 1995
“Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.”

NASB 1977
“Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply and in the event of war, they also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us, and depart from the land.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply and it be in the event of war, that they also join themselves to those who hate us and fight against us and go up from the land.”

Amplified Bible
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, so that they will not multiply and in the event of war, join our enemies, and fight against us and escape from the land.”

Christian Standard Bible
Come, let’s deal shrewdly with them; otherwise they will multiply further, and when war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let us deal shrewdly with them; otherwise they will multiply further, and if war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”

American Standard Version
come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land.

Contemporary English Version
If we don't outsmart them, their families will keep growing larger. And if our country goes to war, they could easily fight on the side of our enemies and escape from Egypt.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
We have to outsmart them, or they'll increase in number. Then, if war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country."

Good News Translation
In case of war they might join our enemies in order to fight against us, and might escape from the country. We must find some way to keep them from becoming even more numerous."

International Standard Version
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."

Majority Standard Bible
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.?

NET Bible
Come, let's deal wisely with them. Otherwise they will continue to multiply, and if a war breaks out, they will ally themselves with our enemies and fight against us and leave the country."

New Heart English Bible
Come, let us 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."

Webster's Bible Translation
Come, let us deal wisely with them: lest they multiply, and it shall come to pass, that when there falleth out any war, they will join with our enemies, and fight against us, and depart from the land.

World English Bible
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.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Give help! Let us act wisely concerning it, lest it multiply, and it has come to pass, when war happens, that it has been joined, even it, to those hating us, and has fought against us, and has gone up out of the land.”

Young's Literal Translation
give help! let us act wisely concerning it, lest it multiply, and it hath come to pass, when war happeneth, that it hath been joined, even it, unto those hating us, and hath fought against us, and hath gone out up of the land.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Come, we will be wise with them, lest they shall multiply, and it was when war shall happen, and also being added to our armies and fighting against us, and they went up from the land.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Come, let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply: and if any war shall rise against us, join with our enemies, and having overcome us, depart out of the land.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Come, let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply; and if any war should advance against us, they may be added to our enemies, and having fought against us, they might depart from the land.”

New American Bible
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase; otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies to fight against us, and so leave the land.”

New Revised Standard Version
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Come, let us deal wisely with them, before they multiply, lest when we chance to be at war, they will be added also to our enemies, and fight against us, and so drive us out of the land.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Grant that we will be wise concerning them before they are multiplied, lest we come to war and they are added also unto our haters, and they will fight with us and they will drive us out from the land.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
come then, let us deal craftily with them, lest at any time they be increased, and whensoever war shall happen to us, these also shall be added to our enemies, and having prevailed against us in war, they will depart out of the land.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Oppression by a New King
9“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. 10Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.” 11So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.…

Cross References
Genesis 11:4
“Come,” they said, “let us build for ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens, that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of all the earth.”

Genesis 15:13-14
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. / But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.

Acts 7:19
He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.

Psalm 105:25
whose hearts He turned to hate His people, to conspire against His servants.

Acts 7:6
God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

Genesis 47:11
So Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

Genesis 47:27
Now the Israelites settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and became fruitful and increased greatly in number.

Deuteronomy 26:6
But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor.

Nehemiah 9:10
You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day.

Isaiah 52:4
For this is what the Lord GOD says: “At first My people went down to Egypt to live, then Assyria oppressed them without cause.

Exodus 12:33
And in order to send them out of the land quickly, the Egyptians urged the people on. “For otherwise,” they said, “we are all going to die!”

Exodus 14:5
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”

Exodus 14:9
The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon.

Exodus 15:9
The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’

Numbers 22:6
So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”


Treasury of Scripture

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

Come on.

Psalm 10:2
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

Psalm 83:3,4
They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones…

Proverbs 1:11
If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

wisely.

Numbers 22:6
Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

Job 5:13
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

Psalm 105:25
He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.

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Befalleth Breaks Deal Depart Enemies Escape Event Falleth Fight Hate Join Multiply Themselves War Wisely
Exodus 1
1. The children of Israel, after Joseph's death, increase.
8. The more they are oppressed by a new king, the more they multiply.
15. The godliness of the midwives in saving the male children alive.
22. Pharaoh commands the male children to be cast into the river














Come, we must deal shrewdly with them
This phrase marks the beginning of Pharaoh's plan to suppress the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "deal shrewdly" is "נִתְחַכְּמָה" (nithchakkemah), which implies a cunning or strategic approach. Historically, this reflects the Egyptian rulers' fear of losing control over a growing foreign population within their borders. The Israelites were seen as a potential threat due to their increasing numbers and strength. This phrase sets the stage for the ensuing oppression, highlighting the tension between the Egyptians and the Israelites.

or they will increase
The concern here is the rapid population growth of the Israelites. The Hebrew root "רָבָה" (ravah) means to multiply or become numerous. This reflects God's blessing upon the Israelites, as promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that their descendants would be as numerous as the stars. The Egyptians' fear of this growth underscores the fulfillment of God's promises, even in the face of adversity.

and if war breaks out
This phrase indicates the Egyptians' fear of external threats and internal instability. Historically, Egypt was a powerful nation but faced threats from neighboring regions. The possibility of war exacerbated their fear of the Israelites, who might ally with enemies. This reflects the political and military concerns of the time, where alliances could shift the balance of power.

they may join our enemies
The Egyptians feared that the Israelites might side with their adversaries. This reflects a common ancient Near Eastern concern about loyalty and the potential for internal groups to collaborate with external foes. The Israelites, as a distinct ethnic group within Egypt, were seen as a wildcard in the event of conflict, highlighting the Egyptians' insecurity and the precariousness of their dominance.

fight against us
This phrase emphasizes the perceived threat of the Israelites as a potential military force. The Egyptians were concerned about the Israelites' ability to rise against them, which speaks to the Israelites' growing strength and numbers. This fear of rebellion is a recurring theme in history, where dominant powers often suppress minority groups to maintain control.

and leave the country
The ultimate fear was that the Israelites would depart, taking their labor and economic contributions with them. The Hebrew word "עָלָה" (alah) means to go up or ascend, often used in the context of leaving or exodus. This foreshadows the eventual Exodus, where the Israelites do indeed leave Egypt, fulfilling God's promise of deliverance. The Egyptians' fear of losing their workforce highlights their dependence on the Israelites and sets the stage for the dramatic events that follow.

(10) Let us deal wisely.--Instead of open force, the king proposes stratagem. He thinks that he has hit upon a wise scheme--a clever plan--by which the numbers of the Israelites will be kept down, and they will cease to be formidable. The nature of the plan appears in Exodus 1:11.

When there falleth out any war.--The Egyptians were in general an aggressive people--a terror to their neighbours, and seldom the object of attack. But about the beginning of the nineteenth dynasty a change took place. "A great nation grew up beyond the frontier on the north-east to an importance and power which began to endanger the Egyptian supremacy in Western Asia" (Brugsch, History of Egypt, vol. ii. p. 2). War threatened them from this quarter, and the impending danger was felt to be great.

They join also.--Rather, they too join. It was not.likely that the Hebrews would have any real sympathy with the attacking nation, whether Arabs, Philistines, Syrians, or Hittites; but they might regard an invasion as affording them a good opportunity of striking a blow for freedom, and, therefore, attack the Egyptians simultaneously with their other foes. The Egyptians themselves would perhaps suppose a closer connection between them and the other Eastern races than really existed.

Get them up out of the land.--The Pharaohs of the nineteenth dynasty were excessively jealous of the withdrawal from Egypt of any of their subjects, and endeavoured both to hinder and to recover them. Immigration was encouraged, emigration sternly checked. The loss of the entire nation of the Hebrews could not be contemplated without extreme alarm.

Verse 10. - Come on. The "Come then" of Kalisch is better. Let us deal wisely. "The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." Severe grinding labour has often been used as a means of keeping down the aspirations of a people, if not of actually diminishing their numbers, and has been found to answer. Aristotle (Pol. 5:9) ascribes to this motive the building of the Pyramids and the great works of Polycrates of Samos, Pisistratus of Athens, and the Cypselidae of Corinth. The constructions of the last Tarquin are thought to have had the same object (Liv. 1:56; Niebuhr, 'Roman History,' vol. 1. p. 479). Lest, when there falleth out any war, they join also to our enemies. 'At the accession of the nineteenth dynasty, though there was peace, war threatened. While the Egyptians, under the later monarchs of the eighteenth dynasty, had been quarrelling among themselves, a great nation upon their borders "had been growing up to an importance and power which began to endanger the Egyptian supremacy in Western Asia" (Brugsch, 'History of Egypt,' vol. 2. p. 2). Both Rameses I. and his son Seti had almost immediately after their accession to engage in a war, which was rather defensive the, offensive, with the Khita, or Hittites, who were the great power of Syria (ib. pp. 9, 15, 16). At the commencement of his reign, Seti may well have feared a renewed invasion like that of the Hyksos, which would no doubt have been greatly helped by a rising of the Israelites. And so get them up out of the land. Literally, "And go up out of the land." The Pharaoh already fears that the Israelites will quit Egypt. As men of peaceful and industrious habits, and in some cases of considerable wealth (Joseph. 'Ant. Jud.' 2:9, § 1), they at once increased the strength of Egypt and the revenue of the monarch. Egypt was always ready to receive refugees, and loth to lose them. We find in a treaty made by Rameses II., the son of Seti, with the Hittites, a proviso that any Egyptian subjects who quit the country, and transfer themselves to the dominion of the Hittite king, shall be sent back to Egypt ('Records of the Past,' vol. 4. p. 30).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Come,
הָ֥בָה (hā·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3051: To give, to put, imperatively, come

we must deal shrewdly with them,
נִֽתְחַכְּמָ֖ה (niṯ·ḥak·kə·māh)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 2449: To be wise

or
פֶּן־ (pen-)
Conjunction
Strong's 6435: Removal, lest

they will increase even more;
יִרְבֶּ֗ה (yir·beh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

and if
וְהָיָ֞ה (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a war
מִלְחָמָה֙ (mil·ḥā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

breaks out,
תִקְרֶ֤אנָה (ṯiq·re·nāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 7122: To encounter, befall

they
הוּא֙ (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

may join
וְנוֹסַ֤ף (wə·nō·w·sap̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3254: To add, augment

our enemies,
שֹׂ֣נְאֵ֔ינוּ (śō·nə·’ê·nū)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 8130: To hate

fight against us,
וְנִלְחַם־ (wə·nil·ḥam-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle

and leave
וְעָלָ֥ה (wə·‘ā·lāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

the country.”
הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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