Berean Standard Bible
Exodus 1:9
9“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us.
Exodus 1:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
- New International Version (NIV)“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he said to his people, "Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we;
Context of Exodus 1:9
7but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them. 8Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt. “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.
Read all of Exodus 1Exodus 1:9 word by word
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֶל־עַמּ֑וֹ הִנֵּ֗ה עַ֚ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רַ֥ב וְעָצ֖וּם מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear
- Lookהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
- he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- toאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
- his peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- the Israelitesבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- the Israelitesיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- too numerousרַבrab · manyH7227
- and too powerfulעָצוּם‛âtsûm ‛âtsûm · mightyH6099
- for usמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480
Cross-references for Exodus 1:9
- Numbers 22:4So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time,
- Job 5:2For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
- Psalms 105:24And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes,
- Proverbs 14:28A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.
- Proverbs 27:4Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
- Ecclesiastes 4:4I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- James 3:14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
- James 4:5Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?
Commentaries on Exodus 1:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9He 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.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-14Verses 8-14 The land of Egypt became to Israel a house of bondage. The place where we have been happy, may soon become the place of our affliction; and that may prove the greatest cross to us, of which we said, This same shall comfort us. Cease from man, and say not of any place on this side heaven, This is my rest. All that knew Joseph, loved him, and were kind to his brethren for his sake; but the best and most useful services a man does to others, are…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-10From about 1650 to 1550 BC, Semitic invaders ruled northern Egypt, where the Israelites lived. The Egyptians called these rulers "shepherd kings" or Hyksos. Semitic peoples were ancient groups from the Middle East and North Africa, known for their shared languages (such as Hebrew, Aramaic, or Arabic) and cultural traditions. Many scholars think these kings supported the Israelites, who might have allied with them. Egypt finally expelled the invaders…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-109-10. 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…Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 1:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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