Exodus 1:1-21 ▼

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel (he wrestles with God) who went to Egypt (land of bondage) with Jacob (he grasps the heel), each with his family:

2 Reuben (behold a son), Simeon (heard), Levi (joined to), and Judah (praised);

3 Issachar (there is recompense), Zebulun (exalted), and Benjamin (son of the right hand);

4 Dan (He has judged) and Naphtali (wrestling); Gad (troop) and Asher (happy).

5 The descendants of Jacob (he grasps the heel) numbered seventy [seventy-five] in all, including Joseph (YHWH has added), who was already in Egypt (land of bondage).

6 Now Joseph (YHWH has added) and all his brothers and all that generation died,

7 but the Israelites (God prevails) were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

8 Then a new king, who did not know Joseph (YHWH has added), came to power in Egypt (land of bondage).

9 “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites (God prevails) have become too numerous and too powerful for us.

10 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 (and take the country).

11 So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom (the city of justice) and Rameses (child of the sun) as store cities for Pharaoh (great house).

12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites (God prevails).

13 They worked (double straits) the Israelites (God prevails) ruthlessly

14 and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.

15 Then the king of Egypt (land of bondage) said to the Hebrew (one from beyond) midwives, whose names were Shiphrah (fair) and Puah (splendid),

16 “When you⁺ help the Hebrew (one from beyond) women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.”

17 The midwives, however, feared God {Elohim} and did not do as the king of Egypt (land of bondage) had instructed; they let the boys live.

18 So the king of Egypt (land of bondage) summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you⁺ done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

19 The midwives answered Pharaoh (great house), “The Hebrew women (one from beyond) are not like the Egyptian (double straits) women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.”

20 So God {Elohim} was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.

21 And because the midwives feared God {Elohim}, He gave them families of their own.