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Exoduschapter 1

22 verses · Moses, by tradition · 15th or 13th century BC · The Law

In Jewish life

The reading

Weekly portion 13 of 54

שְׁמוֹת Shemot, Exodus 1:1 to 6:1

Read with it: Isaiah 27:6 to 28:13 and 29:22 to 29:23 in Ashkenazi use, and Jeremiah 1:1 to 2:3 in Sephardi use.

The verse numbers here are the ones a Hebrew Bible carries, which differ from an English Bible by a verse or two in several places. The Sephardi reading is named only where this site records a difference; communities vary beyond what is listed. What these books are, and how a Christian reader meets them →

How it is read

Rashi reads the multiplying of Israel in verse 7 as a mercy inside the body. The women, he says, did not miscarry "and did not die when they were young" (Rashi on Exodus 1:7:1). At verse 17 he holds that the midwives did more than spare the boys. They "provided them with food", and he points to the tractate Sotah for it (Rashi on Exodus 1:17:1). At verse 19 he gives two readings of the word the midwives use. The plain sense is that the Hebrew women are as skilful as midwives themselves. The Sages took the same word for the beasts of the field, which "do not require the help of midwives" (Rashi on Exodus 1:19:1). The verse 7 note is the Sefaria Community Translation, released CC0. The other two are the Rosenbaum and Silbermann Rashi of 1929 to 1934, in the public domain. Ibn Ezra comments through the chapter as well. The corpus carries him by reference alone, because the licence Sefaria reports for his translation holds the words back (Ibn Ezra on Exodus 1:9:1 and 1:14:1).

What the rabbis say

The rabbis take up the new king of verse 8 at Eruvin 53a:10. On the order given to the midwives they taught in Kohelet Rabbah 7:1:3 and Midrash Aggadah, Exodus 1:15:1. On Israel growing under affliction they taught at Kiddushin 13a:13. The Mekhilta carries this chapter at Tractate Pischa 5:6 and Tractate Shirah 5:5.

The text, verse by verse

Each word shows the Hebrew, the English under it, how it sounds and its Strong’s number. A rule between verses marks where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.

Israel Multiplies in Egypt

1:1
וְאֵ֗לֶּהand theseveelehH428שְׁמוֹת֙[are] [the] names ofshemotH8034בְּנֵ֣י[the] sons ofbeneiH1121יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelyisraelH3478הַבָּאִ֖יםwho wenthabaimH935מִצְרָ֑יְמָהEgypt towardsmitzrayemahH4714אֵ֣תwithʾetH854יַעֲקֹ֔בJacobyaakoH3290אִ֥ישׁeveryoneʾishH376וּבֵית֖וֹand household hisuveitoH1004בָּֽאוּ׃they wentbauH935
1:2
רְאוּבֵ֣ןReubenreuvenH7205שִׁמְע֔וֹןSimeonshimonH8095לֵוִ֖יLevileviH3878וִיהוּדָֽה׃and JudahvihudahH3063
1:3
יִשָּׂשכָ֥רIssacharyisoshkharH3485זְבוּלֻ֖ןZebulunzevulunH2074וּבְנְיָמִֽן׃and BenjaminuveneyaminH1144
1:4
דָּ֥ןDandanH1835וְנַפְתָּלִ֖יand NaphtalivenaftaliH5321גָּ֥דGadgadH1410וְאָשֵֽׁר׃and AsherveasherH836
1:5
וַֽיְהִ֗יand it wasvayhiH1961כָּל־everykol-H3605נֶ֛פֶשׁpersonnefeshH5315יֹצְאֵ֥י[who] came out ofyotzeeiH3318יֶֽרֶךְ־[the] thigh ofyerekh-H3409יַעֲקֹ֖בJacobyaakoH3290שִׁבְעִ֣יםseventyshivimH7657נָ֑פֶשׁperson[s]nafeshH5315וְיוֹסֵ֖ףand JosephveyosefH3130הָיָ֥הhe washayahH1961בְמִצְרָֽיִם׃in EgyptvemitzrayimH4714
1:6
וַיָּ֤מָתand he diedvaiyamotH4191יוֹסֵף֙JosephyosefH3130וְכָל־and allvekholH3605אֶחָ֔יוbrothers hisʾechavH251וְכֹ֖לand allvekholH3605הַדּ֥וֹרthe generationhadorH1755הַהֽוּא׃<the> thathahu'H1931
1:7
וּבְנֵ֣יand [the] people ofuveneiH1121יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לIsraelyisraelH3478פָּר֧וּthey were fruitfulparuH6509וַֽיִּשְׁרְצ֛וּand they swarmedvaiyishretzuH8317וַיִּרְבּ֥וּand they multipliedvaiyirbuH7235וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּand they became mightyvaiyaatzmuH6105בִּמְאֹ֣דwith muchnessbimodH3966מְאֹ֑דmuchnessmeodH3966וַתִּמָּלֵ֥אand it was filledvatimale'H4390הָאָ֖רֶץthe landhaaretzH776אֹתָֽם׃with themʾotamH854

A King Who Knew Not Joseph

1:8
וַיָּ֥קָםand he arosevaiyakomH6965מֶֽלֶךְ־a kingmelekh-H4428חָדָ֖שׁnewchadashH2319עַל־overʾal-H5921מִצְרָ֑יִםEgyptmitzrayimH4714אֲשֶׁ֥רwhoʾasherH834לֹֽא־notlo'-H3808יָדַ֖עhe knewyada'H3045אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853יוֹסֵֽף׃JosephyosefH3130
1:9
וַיֹּ֖אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559אֶל־toʾel-H413עַמּ֑וֹpeople hisamoH5971הִנֵּ֗הhere!hinehH2009עַ֚ם[the] people ofʾamH5971בְּנֵ֣י[the] people ofbeneiH1121יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelyisraelH3478רַ֥ב[is] numerousravH7227וְעָצ֖וּםand mightyveatzumH6099מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃more than usmimenuH4480
1:10
הָ֥בָהgive !havahH3051נִֽתְחַכְּמָ֖הlet us deal wiselynitchakemahH2449ל֑וֹto <the> itloפֶּן־lestpen-H6435יִרְבֶּ֗הit should increaseyirbehH7235וְהָיָ֞הand it will bevehayahH1961כִּֽי־thatki-H3588תִקְרֶ֤אנָהthey will happentikrenahH7122מִלְחָמָה֙warmilchamahH4421וְנוֹסַ֤ףand it will be addedvenosafH3254גַּם־alsogam-H1571הוּא֙ithu'H1931עַל־toʾal-H5921שֹׂ֣נְאֵ֔ינוּ[those who] hate ussoneeinuH8130וְנִלְחַם־and it will fightvenilcham-H3898בָּ֖נוּagainst <the> usbanuוְעָלָ֥הand it will go upvealahH5927מִן־frommin-H4480הָאָֽרֶץ׃the landhaaretzH776

Ramban on Exodus 1:10

RambanSpain, 1194–1270· Commentary
Pharaoh and his wise counsellors. See Isaiah:11. did not see fit to slay them by the sword, for it would have been a gross treachery to smite without reason a people that had come into the land by command of a former king.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976

1:11
וַיָּשִׂ֤ימוּand they appointedvaiyasimuH7760עָלָיו֙over itʾalavH5921שָׂרֵ֣יoverseers ofsareiH8269מִסִּ֔יםslave gangsmisimH4522לְמַ֥עַןso aslemaanH4616עַנֹּת֖וֹto afflict itanotoH6031בְּסִבְלֹתָ֑םwith forced labor theirbesivlotamH5450וַיִּ֜בֶןand it builtvaiyivenH1129עָרֵ֤יcities ofʾareiH5892מִסְכְּנוֹת֙storagemiskenotH4543לְפַרְעֹ֔הfor PharaohlefarohH6547אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853פִּתֹ֖םPithompitomH6619וְאֶת־and <obj.>veetH853רַעַמְסֵֽס׃RamesesraamsesH7486

Ramban on Exodus 1:11

RambanSpain, 1194–1270· Commentary
Pharaoh imposed a tribute upon the Israelite people to take men from them for the king’s projects.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976

1:12
וְכַאֲשֶׁר֙and just asvekhaasherH834יְעַנּ֣וּpeople afflictedyeanuH6031אֹת֔וֹ<obj.> itʾotoH853כֵּ֥ןsokenH3651יִרְבֶּ֖הit increasedyirbehH7235וְכֵ֣ןand sovekhenH3651יִפְרֹ֑ץit spreadyifrotzH6555וַיָּקֻ֕צוּand people felt dreadvaiyakutzuH6973מִפְּנֵ֖י<from> because ofmipeneiH6440בְּנֵ֥י[the] people ofbeneiH1121יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃IsraelyisraelH3478

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 1:12

Ibn EzraSpain, 1089–1167· Commentary
Even though they were afflicted. 118 The Hebrew literally reads, and as they (ve-kha’asher) afflicted them. I.E.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004

1:13
וַיַּעֲבִ֧דוּand they compelled to laborvaiyaaviduH5647מִצְרַ֛יִםEgyptmitzrayimH4713אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853בְּנֵ֥י[the] people ofbeneiH1121יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelyisraelH3478בְּפָֽרֶךְ׃with harshnessbefarekhH6531

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 1:13

Ibn EzraSpain, 1089–1167· Commentary
Pharaoh devised many evils with which to afflict the Israelites. First he ordered them to do his work.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004

1:14
וַיְמָרְר֨וּand they made bittervaymareruH4843אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853חַיֵּיהֶ֜םlives theirchaiyeihemH2416בַּעֲבֹדָ֣הwith laborbaavodahH5656קָשָׁ֗הhardkashahH7186בְּחֹ֙מֶר֙in mortarbechomerH2563וּבִלְבֵנִ֔יםand in bricksuvilvenimH3843וּבְכָל־and in alluvekhol-H3605עֲבֹדָ֖הlaborʾavodahH5656בַּשָּׂדֶ֑הin the fieldbasadehH7704אֵ֚ת<obj.>ʾetH853כָּל־allkol-H3605עֲבֹ֣דָתָ֔םlabor theirʾavodatamH5656אֲשֶׁר־whichʾasher-H834עָבְד֥וּthey laboredʾaveduH5647בָהֶ֖םby <the> themvahemבְּפָֽרֶךְ׃with harshnessbefarekhH6531

The Midwives Who Feared God

1:15
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he saidvaiyomerH559מֶ֣לֶךְ[the] king ofmelekhH4428מִצְרַ֔יִםEgyptmitzrayimH4714לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖תto the midwiveslamyaledotH3205הָֽעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת<the> HebrewhaivriyotH5680אֲשֶׁ֨רwhoʾasherH834שֵׁ֤ם[the] name ofshemH8034הָֽאַחַת֙the onehaachatH259שִׁפְרָ֔ה[was] ShiphrahshifrahH8236וְשֵׁ֥םand [the] name ofveshemH8034הַשֵּׁנִ֖יתthe secondhashenitH8145פּוּעָֽה׃[was] PuahpuahH6326
1:16
וַיֹּ֗אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559בְּיַלֶּדְכֶן֙when assist as midwife youbeyaledkhenH3205אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853הָֽעִבְרִיּ֔וֹתthe Hebrew [women]haivriyotH5680וּרְאִיתֶ֖ןand you will lookureitenH7200עַל־atʾal-H5921הָאָבְנָ֑יִםthe stoneshaavenayimH70אִם־ifʾim-H518בֵּ֥ן[is] a sonbenH1121הוּא֙hehu'H1931וַהֲמִתֶּ֣ןand you will killvahamitenH4191אֹת֔וֹ<obj.> himʾotoH853וְאִם־and ifveim-H518בַּ֥ת[is] a daughterbatH1323הִ֖יאshehi'H1931וָחָֽיָה׃and she will livevachayahH2421
1:17
וַתִּירֶ֤אןָand they fearedvatirenaH3372הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙the midwiveshamyaledotH3205אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים<the> GodhaelohimH430וְלֹ֣אand notvelo'H3808עָשׂ֔וּthey didʾasuH6213כַּאֲשֶׁ֛רjust askaasherH834דִּבֶּ֥רhe had spokendiberH1696אֲלֵיהֶ֖ןto themʾaleihenH413מֶ֣לֶךְ[the] king ofmelekhH4428מִצְרָ֑יִםEgyptmitzrayimH4714וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָand they let livevatechaiyeinaH2421אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853הַיְלָדִֽים׃the [male] childrenhayladimH3206
1:18
וַיִּקְרָ֤אand he summonedvaiyikra'H7121מֶֽלֶךְ־[the] king ofmelekh-H4428מִצְרַ֙יִם֙EgyptmitzrayimH4714לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֔ת<to> the midwiveslamyaledotH3205וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559לָהֶ֔ןto <the> themlahenמַדּ֥וּעַwhy?madua'H4069עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ןhave you doneʾasitenH6213הַדָּבָ֣רthe thinghadavarH1697הַזֶּ֑ה<the> thishazehH2088וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָand have you let live?vatechaiyeinaH2421אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853הַיְלָדִֽים׃the [male] childrenhayladimH3206
1:19
וַתֹּאמַ֤רְןָand they saidvatomarnaH559הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙the midwiveshamyaledotH3205אֶל־toʾel-H413פַּרְעֹ֔הPharaohparohH6547כִּ֣יforkiH3588לֹ֧אnotlo'H3808כַנָּשִׁ֛ים[are] like the womenkhanashimH802הַמִּצְרִיֹּ֖ת<the> EgyptianhamitzriyotH4713הָֽעִבְרִיֹּ֑תthe Hebrew [women]haivriyotH5680כִּֽי־thatki-H3588חָי֣וֹת[are] vigorouschayotH2422הֵ֔נָּהtheyhenahH2007בְּטֶ֨רֶם<in> beforebeteremH2962תָּב֧וֹאshe comestavo'H935אֲלֵהֶ֛ןto themʾalehenH413הַמְיַלֶּ֖דֶתthe midwifehamyaledetH3205וְיָלָֽדוּ׃and they give birthveyaladuH3205
1:20
וַיֵּ֥יטֶבand he did goodvaiyeitevH3190אֱלֹהִ֖יםGodʾelohimH430לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֑תto the midwiveslamyaledotH3205וַיִּ֧רֶבand it increasedvaiyirevH7235הָעָ֛םthe peoplehaamH5971וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּand they became mightyvaiyaatzmuH6105מְאֹֽד׃exceedinglymeodH3966
1:21
וַיְהִ֕יand it wasvayhiH1961כִּֽי־thatki-H3588יָֽרְא֥וּthey fearedyareuH3372הַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖תthe midwiveshamyaledotH3205אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים<the> GodhaelohimH430וַיַּ֥עַשׂand he appointedvaiyaasH6213לָהֶ֖םfor <the> themlahemבָּתִּֽים׃householdsbatimH1004
1:22
וַיְצַ֣וand he commandedvaytzavH6680פַּרְעֹ֔הPharaohparohH6547לְכָל־to alllekholH3605עַמּ֖וֹpeople hisamoH5971לֵאמֹ֑ר<to> sayinglemorH559כָּל־everykol-H3605הַבֵּ֣ן<the> sonhabenH1121הַיִּלּ֗וֹד<the> bornhaiyilodH3209הַיְאֹ֙רָה֙the River towardshayorahH2975תַּשְׁלִיכֻ֔הוּyou will throw himtashlikhuhuH7993וְכָל־and everyvekholH3605הַבַּ֖ת<the> daughterhabatH1323תְּחַיּֽוּן׃you will let live !techaiyunH2421

Hebrew words in this chapter

The 40 most used Hebrew words of the chapter, counted by lemma. The article, the object marker, the negatives and the common prepositions are left out.

WordSense hereUsesStrong’s
יָלַדyâladto the midwives9H3205
בֵּןbênson7H1121
מִצְרַיִםMitsrayimEgypt6H4714
אָמַרʼâmarto say6H559
יִשְׂרָאֵלYisrâʼêlIsrael5H3478
רָבָהrâbâhand they multiplied4H7235
מֶלֶךְmeleka king4H4428
עַםʻampeople4H5971
חָיָהchâyâhto live4H2421
שֵׁםshêmname3H8034
בּוֹאbôwʼwho went3H935
יוֹסֵףYôwçêphJoseph3H3130
מְאֹדmᵉʼôdwith muchness3H3966
פַּרְעֹהParʻôhPharaoh3H6547
עֲבֹדָהʻăbôdâhwith labor3H5656
עִבְרִיʻIbrîyHebrew3H5680
אֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîymGod3H430
עָשָׂהʻâsâhthey did3H6213
יַעֲקֹבYaʻăqôbJacob2H3290
בַּיִתbayithand household his2H1004
WordSense hereUsesStrong’s
נֶפֶשׁnepheshperson2H5315
מוּתmûwthand he died2H4191
עָצַםʻâtsamand they became mighty2H6105
אֶרֶץʼeretsland2H776
עָנָהʻânâhto afflict it2H6031
עָבַדʻâbadand they compelled to labor2H5647
מִצְרִיMitsrîyEgyptian2H4713
פֶּרֶךְperekwith harshness2H6531
בַּתbathdaughter2H1323
יָרֵאyârêʼto fear2H3372
יֶלֶדyeledthe children2H3206
אִישׁʼîysheveryone1H376
רְאוּבֵןRᵉʼûwbênReuben1H7205
שִׁמְעוֹןShimʻôwnSimeon1H8095
לֵוִיLêvîyLevi1H3878
יְהוּדָהYᵉhûwdâhJudah1H3063
יִשָּׂשכָרYissâˢkârIssachar1H3485
זְבוּלוּןZᵉbûwlûwnZebulun1H2074
בִּנְיָמִיןBinyâmîynBenjamin1H1144
דָּןDânDan1H1835

Keep studying

Sources for this chapter

The Hebrew text

STEP Bible, the tagged Hebrew text and its English glosses and James Strong, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance.

In Jewish life

Rashi, Rashi on Exodus 1:7:1, the Sefaria Community Translation (CC0); Rashi, Rashi on Exodus 1:17:1 and 1:19:1, Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A. M. Silbermann, 1929 to 1934 (public domain); Ibn Ezra, Ibn Ezra on Exodus 1:9:1 and 1:14:1, cited by ref alone under the corpus licence rule; The Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 53a:10 and Kiddushin 13a:13, cited by ref and The Midrash, Kohelet Rabbah 7:1:3, Midrash Aggadah, Exodus 1:15:1, and Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, Tractate Pischa 5:6 and Tractate Shirah 5:5, cited by ref.

The rabbinic texts

Ramban, Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976; Ibn Ezra, Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004 and Sefaria, texts and citation data.

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