Exodus 1:12
in Exodus 1But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
KJV
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
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This verse in Exodus 1
Commentary
8 notes on this verseBut the more they afflicted them - The margin has pretty nearly preserved the import of the original: And as they afflicted them, so they multiplied and so they grew That is, in proportion to their afflictions was their prosperity; and had their sufferings been greater, their increase would have been still more abundant.
This site's exposition
they did set over them taskmasters
on Exodus 1:11-12
The first measure is economic, taskmasters set over them and burdens laid on, and the labour produces two store cities, Pithom and Raamses. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown place both in the eastern delta near the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, which is the district Genesis 47:11 calls the land of Rameses, where Joseph had settled the family. Genesis 15:13 told Abram his seed would be a stranger in a land that is not theirs and would be afflicted there, and the affliction begins in this verse. The result runs against the intention, since the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
And it is to be feared that the oppression they were under had this bad effect upon them, that it brought over many of them to join with the Egyptians in their idolatrous worship; for we read ( Josh. xxiv. 14 ) that they served other gods in Egypt; and, though it is not mentioned here in this history, yet we find ( Ezek. xx.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied - To the grief and vexation of the Egyptians. Times of affliction, have oft been the church's growing times: Christianity spread most when it was persecuted.
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew,....
It was strange that they did not rather pick quarrels with the grown men, against whom they might perhaps find some occasion: to be thus bloody towards the infants, whom all must own to be innocents, was a sin which they had to cloak for. There is more cruelty in the corrupt heart of man than one would imagine, Rom. iii.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
THE children of this world are wise in their generation. Their policy may be short-sighted and their stratagems crooked, nevertheless the world admires the wisdom of their counsels, and makes light of the craftiness of their projects. In their opposition to the Christian church, the men of the world might certainly have been as well able to outwit her by the variety of their manoeuvres as to overwhelm her by the force of their numbers, were it not that there is an unseen One in her midst, who is more than a match for the guile of their hearts and the might of their hosts. Looking back at the early struggles of the Hebrew race to gain a footing among the nations, it is very clear that had the contest been merely between Pharaoh and Israel, the Egyptian king could exercise power and policy enough to defeat the sons of Jacob and reduce them to serfdom; but when a new name is brought in, and the contest appears to be truly between Pharaoh and Jehovah the God of Israel, it is quite another matter, and a far different issue may be counted upon. There is one behind the curtain that takes Israel’s part. He sees through all Pharaoh’s plots. Or ever his thoughts have ripened into plans they are forestalled; fast as they are set up they are upset; for every intrigue there is a reprisal. Thus he taketh the wise in their own craftiness. The whole history of the long feud between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent illustrates the subtlety of the serpent’s seed, and the simplicity of the woman’s seed; but still more does it bring to light the infinite wisdom of him who rules the seed of the woman; and who will in the end bruise the serpent’s head, and give unto his people and the cause they have espoused a complete triumph. Whatever has been done by the enemies in rage or in recklessness, God has always met it calmly and quietly.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
THE children of this world are wise in their generation. Their policy may be short-sighted and their stratagems crooked, nevertheless the world admires the wisdom of their counsels, and makes light of the craftiness of their projects.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Even though they were afflicted. 118 The Hebrew literally reads, and as they (ve-kha’asher) afflicted them. I.E.
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Pharaoh imposed a tribute upon the Israelite people to take men from them for the king’s projects.
Pharaoh devised many evils with which to afflict the Israelites. First he ordered them to do his work.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְכַאֲשֶׁר֙ | vekhaasher | and just as | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יְעַנּ֣וּ | yeanu | people afflicted | H6031 → | 82 times |
| אֹת֔וֹ | ʾoto | <obj.> it | H853 → | 10935 times |
| כֵּ֥ן | ken | so | H3651 → | 771 times |
| יִרְבֶּ֖ה | yirbeh | it increased | H7235 → | 227 times |
| וְכֵ֣ן | vekhen | and so | H3651 → | 771 times |
| יִפְרֹ֑ץ | yifrotz | it spread | H6555 → | 49 times |
| וַיָּקֻ֕צוּ | vaiyakutzu | and people felt dread | H6973 → | |
| מִפְּנֵ֖י | mipenei | <from> because of | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| בְּנֵ֥י | benei | [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
וְכַאֲשֶׁר֙and just as
vekhaasherH834 →5497 times
יְעַנּ֣וּpeople afflicted
yeanuH6031 →82 times
אֹת֔וֹ<obj.> it
ʾotoH853 →10935 times
כֵּ֥ןso
kenH3651 →771 times
יִרְבֶּ֖הit increased
yirbehH7235 →227 times
וְכֵ֣ןand so
vekhenH3651 →771 times
יִפְרֹ֑ץit spread
yifrotzH6555 →49 times
וַיָּקֻ֕צוּand people felt dread
vaiyakutzuH6973 →
מִפְּנֵ֖י<from> because of
mipeneiH6440 →2123 times
בְּנֵ֥י[the] people of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Israel
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 8:28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- Genesis 50:20
As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.
- Romans 5:3–5
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
- 1 Peter 5:10
Through
Exodus 1:9“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us.
it leads to
- Psalms 105:24–25
And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes,
- Psalms 105:24–25
Through
Psalms 105:24And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes,
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 26:5
and you are to declare before the LORD your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt few in number and lived there and became a great nation, mighty…
- Acts 7:17
As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.
- Deuteronomy 26:5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About Exodus
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 997: “Prosperity Under Persecution” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.