New International Version
Exodus 1:9
9“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous 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:
- 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;
- New Living Translation (NLT)He said to his people, “Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are.
Context of Exodus 1:9
7but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them. 8Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 10Come, 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.” 11So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and 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 22:4The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
- Job 5:2Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
- Psalms 105:24The Lord made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes,
- Proverbs 14:28A large population is a king’s glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined.
- Proverbs 27:4Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
- Ecclesiastes 4:4And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- James 3:14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
- James 4:5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries