New English Translation
Exodus 1:9
9He said to his people, “Look at the Israelite people, more numerous and stronger than we are!
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
7The Israelites, however, were fruitful, increased greatly, multiplied, and became extremely strong, so that the land was filled with them. 8Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power over Egypt. He said to his people, “Look at the Israelite people, more numerous and stronger than we are! 10Come, 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.” 11So they put foremen over the Israelites to oppress them with hard 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
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Exodus 1:9
- Numbers 22:4So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “Now this mass of people will lick up everything around us, as the bull devours the grass of the field. Now Balak son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at this time.
- Job 5:2For wrath kills the foolish person, and anger slays the silly one.
- Psalms 105:24The Lord made his people very fruitful, and made them more numerous than their enemies.
- Proverbs 14:28A king’s glory is the abundance of people, but the lack of subjects is the ruin of a ruler.
- Proverbs 27:4Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
- Ecclesiastes 4:4Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless – like chasing the wind.
- James 3:14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.
- James 4:5Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”?
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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