Exodus 1:7

Translations

Modern

…but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

Traditional

And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

Literal

And the sons of Israel were fruitful and they swarmed, and they multiplied, and they grew mighty exceedingly, exceedingly, and the land was filled with them.

Latin

…filii Israël creverunt, et quasi germinantes multiplicati sunt: ac roborati nimis, impleverunt terram.

Original

Hebrew

English

…but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

Notes

Exodus 1:6–7

Jacob’s family stayed in Egypt for a long time as part of God's plan. God told Abraham that his descendants would not receive the land of Canaan for 400 years, until the Canaanites' sins were complete (Genesis 15:13–16).

Even in Egypt, God's promises were working. The descendants of the elderly Abraham and barren Sarah multiplied … exceedingly, just as God had said (Genesis 15:5). This was because God blessed them (Psalm 105:24).

Exodus 1:1–22

The need for rescue was clearly related to the Israelites' condition. The Egyptians forced the people of Israel to work without mercy (1:13). It was also related to promises God had made to the patriarchs years earlier.

The Lord had promised Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation, living freely in the land of Canaan. At this time, Abraham's descendants were slaves in Egypt under a pharaoh who wanted to destroy them as a people. God would have to rescue them to fulfill his promises.

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt

Related verses

Genesis 46:3
“I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.
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 and numerous.
Genesis 1:28
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”
Genesis 47:27
Now the Israelites settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and became fruitful and increased greatly in number.
Genesis 35:11
And God told him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you.
Genesis 9:1
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
Genesis 28:3–4
May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a company of peoples.
Genesis 12:2
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
Genesis 48:4
…and told me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you; I will make you a multitude of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’
Deuteronomy 10:22
Your fathers went down to Egypt, seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Nehemiah 9:23
You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven and brought them to the land You had told their fathers to enter and possess.
Genesis 17:4–6
“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.

Parallels

Genesis 46:7–27

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Aaron Book of Exodus Deuteronomy, Book of Moses

Topics

Egypt: Israel in Israel Increases and are Oppressed Israel: Number of, at the Time of the Exodus

Exodus 1:7

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

Parallels?