ScriptureDepth's study of Exodus 1
“But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They were grieved because of the children of Israel.”
Exodus 1:12
The narrator states that the more the Egyptians afflicted the Israelites, the more they multiplied, setting in motion the continued growth of the people despite oppression.
What Exodus 1 is about
The names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt include Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher (vv. 1-4). In total, there are seventy souls from Jacob's line, and Joseph is already in Egypt. Joseph and his brothers die, but the Israelites grow exceedingly mighty (vv. 5-7). A new king arises in Egypt who does not know Joseph. He fears the strength of the Israelites and decides to oppress them to prevent them from joining enemies during war (vv. 8-10). Taskmasters are set over the Israelites to afflict them, and they build storage cities for Pharaoh (vv. 11-12). The Egyptians treat the Israelites harshly, making their lives bitter with hard service (vv. 13-14). Pharaoh orders midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill Hebrew boys at birth, but they defy him and save the boys (vv. 15-21). Pharaoh then commands his people to drown every newborn Hebrew son (v. 22).
Pharaoh commands that every son born to the Hebrews be cast into the river.
Exodus 1 at a glance
- Exodus 1:1–5The Names of the Sons of Israel
- Exodus 1:6–7The Death of Joseph and Growth of Israelites
- Exodus 1:8–12New Pharaoh's Concern and Oppression
- Exodus 1:13–14Harsh Treatment of Israelites
- Exodus 1:15–21The Midwives' Defiance
- Exodus 1:22Pharaoh's Final Decree
Key verse: Exodus 1:12
One thing to notice
A list of the sons of Israel is found in vv. 1-4, identifying each tribe. 'All the souls who came out of Jacob’s body were seventy souls' in v. 5. This records the continuity of the Israelites from Jacob's family into Egypt.
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Exodus 1 (WEB)
The Names of the Sons of Israel Exodus 1:1–5
1Verse 1. Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob): 2Verse 2. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3Verse 3. Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4Verse 4. Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5Verse 5. All the souls who came out of Jacob’s body were seventy souls, and Joseph was in Egypt already.
The Death of Joseph and Growth of Israelites Exodus 1:6–7
6Verse 6. Joseph died, as did all his brothers, and all that generation. 7Verse 7. The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.
New Pharaoh's Concern and Oppression Exodus 1:8–12
8Verse 8. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who didn’t know Joseph. 9Verse 9. He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. 10Verse 10. Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies, and fight against us, and escape out of the land.” 11Verse 11. Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses. 12Verse 12. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They were grieved because of the children of Israel.
Harsh Treatment of Israelites Exodus 1:13–14
13Verse 13. The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve, 14Verse 14. and they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all kinds of service in the field, all their service, in which they ruthlessly made them serve.
The Midwives' Defiance Exodus 1:15–21
15Verse 15. The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah, 16Verse 16. and he said, “When you perform the duty of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stool; if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” 17Verse 17. But the midwives feared God, and didn’t do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive. 18Verse 18. The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and have saved the boys alive?”
19Verse 19. The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women aren’t like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous, and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20Verse 20. God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty. 21Verse 21. Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
Pharaoh's Final Decree Exodus 1:22
22Verse 22. Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Exodus 1
oppression and resilience
In this chapter, oppression is prominent as the Israelites face harsh treatment under a new Pharaoh. In verses 13-14, it states that the Egyptians 'ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve' and made their lives 'bitter with hard service.' Despite this affliction, the Israelites continue to multiply, showing their resilience as the text notes in verse 12 that 'the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied.'
God's faithfulness
God's faithfulness emerges through the actions of the midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, who refuse to obey Pharaoh's decree. In verses 17-20, it is noted that 'the midwives feared God, and didn’t do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive.' Because of their faithfulness, God 'dealt well with the midwives,' granting them families in verse 21, showcasing His care amidst adversity.
the transition of power
The transition of power is evident as a new king arises who does not know Joseph, setting a new tone for the Israelites in Egypt. In verses 8-9, he expresses fear over the growth of the Israelites, stating they are 'more and mightier' than the Egyptians. This transition leads to fear-driven oppression, illustrating how a change in leadership can drastically affect a community's situation.
Providence and deliverance
Providence and deliverance are seen through God's protection of the Hebrew children despite Pharaoh's orders. The midwives' actions in verses 17-19 prevent the systematic killing of sons, as they 'saved the baby boys alive.' God's providence is further affirmed in verse 20, where it states that 'the people multiplied, and grew very mighty,' suggesting an underlying divine purpose at work.
Chapter outline
How Exodus 1 unfolds
Exodus 1:1–5 The Names of the Sons of Israel
The names of the sons of Israel are listed as they came into Egypt with Jacob, totaling seventy souls, with Joseph already present (vv. 1-5). This provides the names and number of the Israelites entering Egypt.
Exodus 1:6–7 The Death of Joseph and Growth of Israelites
Joseph and his brothers die, and the Israelites grow exceedingly mighty in number, filling the land (vv. 6-7). This accounts for the demise of the previous generation and the population increase of the Israelites.
Exodus 1:8–12 New Pharaoh's Concern and Oppression
A new king arises in Egypt who does not recognize Joseph and fears the growing Israelite population, leading him to propose a strategy to suppress them (vv. 8-10). This marks the beginning of state-sponsored oppression.
Exodus 1:13–14 Harsh Treatment of Israelites
The Egyptians impose harsh labor on the Israelites, forcing them to build cities for Pharaoh and making their lives bitter through hard service (vv. 13-14). This illustrates the severity of the oppression faced by the Israelites.
Exodus 1:15–21 The Midwives' Defiance
The Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, defy Pharaoh's command to kill newborn sons, choosing instead to save them, driven by reverent fear of God (vv. 15-21). Their actions reveal a resistance to the oppressive regime.
Exodus 1:22 Pharaoh's Final Decree
Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, 'You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive' (v. 22). This decree reveals the severity of Pharaoh's actions against the Israelites.
Key verses
Exodus 1:12The narrator states that the more the Egyptians afflicted the Israelites, the more they multiplied, setting in motion the continued growth of the people despite oppression.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Exodus 1
- observeIn v5, how many souls came out of Jacob's body?
- observeIn v14, what kind of service did the Egyptians impose on the Israelites?
- interpretPharaoh's statement in vv. 9-10: what do his concerns about the Israelites indicate?
- interpretThe midwives' actions in vv. 17-19: how do they challenge Pharaoh's authority?
- applyWhen have you faced pressure to conform to unfair demands like the Israelites did?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Exodus 1
- Psalm 33Exodus 1:10 and Psalm 33:10Both bring counsel to nothing: Exodus 1:10 says, 'Come, let us deal wisely with them,' while Psalm 33:10 says, 'Yahweh brings the counsel of the nations to nothing.'
- Acts 7Exodus 1:8 and Acts 7:18Both depict a new king: Exodus 1:8 states, 'who didn’t know Joseph,' while Acts 7:18 echoes this with 'who didn’t know Joseph.'
- Exodus 3Exodus 1:11 and Exodus 3:7Both describe affliction: Exodus 1:11 mentions 'taskmasters over them to afflict them,' while Exodus 3:7 states, 'I have surely seen the affliction of my people.'
- Genesis 46Exodus 1:7 and Genesis 46:3Both highlight growth: Exodus 1:7 states, 'increased abundantly,' while Genesis 46:3 mentions, 'I will make of you a great nation.'
- Psalm 105Exodus 1:12 and Psalm 105:24Both show increased strength: Exodus 1:12 states, 'the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied,' while Psalm 105:24 says, 'He increased his people greatly.'
- Deuteronomy 26Exodus 1:7 and Deuteronomy 26:5Both describe becoming a great nation: Exodus 1:7 says, 'the land was filled with them,' while Deuteronomy 26:5 states, 'there he became a great, mighty, and populous nation.'
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