Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them. New Living Translation But their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and grandchildren. In fact, they multiplied so greatly that they became extremely powerful and filled the land. English Standard Version But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. Berean Standard Bible but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them. King James Bible And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. New King James Version But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. New American Standard Bible But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them. NASB 1995 But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them. NASB 1977 But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them. Legacy Standard Bible But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased and multiplied and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them. Amplified Bible but the Israelites were prolific and increased greatly; they multiplied and became extremely strong, so that the land was filled with them. Christian Standard Bible But the Israelites were fruitful, increased rapidly, multiplied, and became extremely numerous so that the land was filled with them. Holman Christian Standard Bible But the Israelites were fruitful, increased rapidly, multiplied, and became extremely numerous so that the land was filled with them. American Standard Version And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Contemporary English Version the people of Israel became so numerous that the whole region of Goshen was full of them. English Revised Version And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. GOD'S WORD® Translation But the descendants of Israel had many children. They became so numerous and strong that the land was filled with them. Good News Translation but their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and became so numerous and strong that Egypt was filled with them. International Standard Version But the Israelis were fruitful and increased abundantly. They multiplied in numbers and became very, very strong. As a result, the land was filled with them. Majority Standard Bible but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them. NET Bible The Israelites, however, were fruitful, increased greatly, multiplied, and became extremely strong, so that the land was filled with them. New Heart English Bible The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. Webster's Bible Translation And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and became exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. World English Bible The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand the sons of Israel have been fruitful, and they teem, and multiply, and are very, very mighty, and the land is filled with them. Young's Literal Translation and the sons of Israel have been fruitful, and they teem, and multiply, and are very very mighty, and the land is filled with them. Smith's Literal Translation And the sons of Israel were fruitful, and they will multiply abundantly, and they will increase, and will become strong with might exceedingly; and the land will be filled with them. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land. Catholic Public Domain Version the sons of Israel increased, and they multiplied like seedlings. And having been strengthened exceedingly, they filled the land. New American Bible But the Israelites were fruitful and prolific. They multiplied and became so very numerous that the land was filled with them. New Revised Standard Version But the Israelites were fruitful and prolific; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, and multiplied and grew exceedingly strong; and the land was filled with them. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the sons of Israel increased and they had children, and they multiplied and they grew very strong, and the land was filled by them. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the children of Israel increased and multiplied, and became numerous and grew exceedingly strong, and the land multiplied them. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Israelites Multiply in Egypt…6Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them. Cross References 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 15:5 And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.” Genesis 17:2 I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.” Genesis 22:17 I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. Genesis 26:4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, Genesis 28:14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 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 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. 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 50:24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” 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. Acts 7:17 As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number. Acts 7:14 Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five in all. Hebrews 11:12 And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalm 105:24 And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes, Treasury of Scripture And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. fruitful. Exodus 12:37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. Genesis 1:20,28 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven… Genesis 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. Jump to Previous Abundantly Children Descendants Exceeding Exceedingly Fertile Filled Fruitful Full Greatly Grew Increased Increasing Israel Israelites Mighty Multiplied Multiply Numbers Numerous Power Strong Swarmed Teem WaxedJump to Next Abundantly Children Descendants Exceeding Exceedingly Fertile Filled Fruitful Full Greatly Grew Increased Increasing Israel Israelites Mighty Multiplied Multiply Numbers Numerous Power Strong Swarmed Teem WaxedExodus 1 1. The children of Israel, after Joseph's death, increase.8. The more they are oppressed by a new king, the more they multiply. 15. The godliness of the midwives in saving the male children alive. 22. Pharaoh commands the male children to be cast into the river but the Israelites The term "Israelites" refers to the descendants of Jacob, who was also named Israel by God. This name signifies their identity as God's chosen people, a lineage that began with the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Hebrew root for Israel, "Yisra'el," means "God prevails," highlighting the divine favor and covenant relationship that God established with this nation. Historically, the Israelites' presence in Egypt began with Joseph, one of Jacob's sons, who rose to power in Egypt and brought his family there during a time of famine. were fruitful and increased abundantly they multiplied and became exceedingly strong so that the land was filled with them The land--i.e., where they dwelt--Goshen (Genesis 47:4-6)--which seems to have been the more eastern portion of the Delta. Verses 7-14. - Here the real narrative of Exodus begins. The history of the Israelites from and after the death of Joseph is entered on. The first point touched is their rapid multiplication. The next their falling under the dominion of a new king. The third, his mode of action under the circumstances. It is remarkable that the narrative contains no notes of time. How long the increase continued before the new king arose, how long it went on before he noticed it, how long the attempt was made to cheek it by mere severity of labour, we are not told. Some considerable duration of time is implied, both for the multiplication (ver. 7) and for the oppression (ver. 11-14); but the narrator is so absorbed in the matters which he has to communicate that the question what time these matters occupied does not seem even to occur to him. And so it is with the sacred narrative frequently - perhaps we should say, generally. The chronological element is regarded as of slight importance; "A thousand years in the Lord's sight are but as yesterday" - "one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." Where a profane writer would have been to the last degree definite and particular, a sacred writer is constantly vague and indeterminate. We have in the Bible nothing like an exact continuous chronology. Certain general Chronological ideas may be obtained from the Bible; but in order to construct anything like a complete chronological scheme, frequent reference has to be made to profane writers and monuments, and such a scheme must be mainly dependent on these references. Archbishop Ussher's dates, inserted into the margin of so many of our Bibles, are the private speculations of an individual on the subject of mundane chronology, and must not be regarded as in any way authoritative. Their primary basis is profane history; and, though taking into consideration all the Scriptural numbers, they do not consistently follow any single rule with respect to them. Sometimes the authority of the Septuagint, sometimes that of the Hebrew text, is preferred; and the result arrived at is in a high degree uncertain and arbitrary. Verse 7. - The multiplication of the Israelites in Egypt from "seventy souls" to "six hundred thousand that were men" (Genesis 12:37) - a number which may fairly be said to imply a total of at least two millions - has been declared to be "impossible," and to stamp the whole narrative of Exodus with the character of unreality and romance. Manifestly, the soundness of this criticism depends entirely on two things - first, the length of time- during which the stay in Egypt continued; and secondly, the sense in which the original number of the children of Israel in Egypt is said to have been "seventy souls." Now, as to the first point, there are two theories - one, basing itself on the Septuagint version of Exodus 12:40, would make the duration of the Egyptian sojourn 215 years only; the other, following the clear and repeated statement of the Hebrew text (Exodus 12:40, 41), literally rendered in our version, would extend the time to 430 years, or exactly double it. Much may be said on both sides of this question, and the best critics are divided with respect to it. The longer period is supported' by Kalisch, Kurtz, Knobel, Winer, Ewald, Delitzsch, and Canon Cook among moderns; by Koppe, Frank, Beer, Rosenmuller, Hofmann, Tiele, Reinke, Jahn, Vater, and J. D. Michaelis among earlier critics; the short period is approved by Calvin, Grotius, Buddeus, Morinus, Voss, Houbigant, Baumgarten; and among our own countrymen, by Ussher, Marsham, Geddes, and Kennicott. The point cannot be properly argued in an "exposition" like the present; but it may be remarked that both reason and authority are in favour of the simple acceptance of the words of the Hebrew text, which assign 430 years as the interval between Jacob's descent into Egypt and the deliverance under Moses. With respect to the number of those who accompanied Jacob into Egypt, and were assigned the land of Goshen for a habitation (Genesis 47:6), it is important to bear in mind, first of all, that the "seventy souls" enumerated in Genesis 46:8-27 comprised only two females, and that "Jacob's sons' wives" are expressly mentioned as not included among them (ib. ver. 26). If we add the wives of 67 males, we shall have, for the actual family of Jacob, 137 persons. Further, it is to be borne in mind that each Israelite family which went down into Egypt was accompanied by its "household" (Exodus 1:1), consisting of at least some scores of dependants. If each son of Jacob had even 50 such retainers, and if Jacob himself had a household like that of Abraham (Genesis 14:14), the entire number which "went down into Egypt" would have amounted to at least 2000 persons. According to Malthus, population tends to double itself, if there be no artificial check restraining it, every twenty-five years. At this rate, 2000 persons would expand into 2,048,000 in 250 years, 1000 would reach the same amount in 275 years, and 500 in 300 years; so that, even supposing the "seventy souls" with their "households" to have numbered no more than 500 persons when they went down into Egypt, the people would, unless artificially checked, have exceeded two millions at the expiration of three centuries - that is to say, 130 years before the Exodus! No doubt, the artificial checks which keep down the natural tendency of population to increase began to tell upon them considerably before that time. The "land of Goshen."a broad tract of very fertile country, became tolerably thickly peopled, and the rate of increase gradually subsided. Still, as the Delta was a space of from 7000 to 8000 square miles, and the land of Goshen was probably about half of it, a population of two millions is very much what we should expect, being at the rate of from 500 to 600 persons to the square mile. It is an interesting question whether the Egyptian remains do, or do not, contain any mention of the Hebrew sojourn; and if they do, whether any light is thereby thrown on these numbers. Now it is admitted on all hands that, about the time of the Hebrew sojourn, there was in Egypt a subject race, often employed in forced labours, called Aperu or Aperiu, and it seems impossible to deny that this word is a very fair Egyptian equivalent for the Biblical עצרים, "Hebrews." We are forced, therefore, either to suppose that there were in Egypt, at one and the same time, two subject races with names almost identical, or to admit the identification of the Aperu with the descendants of Jacob. The exact numbers of the Aperu are nowhere mentioned; but it is a calculation of Dr. Brugsch that under Rameses II., a little before the Exodus, the foreign races in Egypt, of whom the Aperu were beyond all doubt the chief, "amounted certainly to a third, and probably still more," of the whole population ('History of Egypt,' vol. 2. p. 100, E.T.), which is usually reckoned at from 7,000,000 to 8,000,000, One-third of this number would be from 2,300,000 to 2,600,000. The writer of Exodus does not, however, as yet, make anything like a definite calculation. He is merely bent on having it understood that there had been a great multiplication, and that the "family" had grown into a "nation." To emphasise his statement, he uses four nearly synonymous verbs ("were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed-mighty"), adding to the last a duplicated adverb, bim'od m'od, "much, much." Clearly, an astonishing increase is intended.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew but the Israelitesוּבְנֵ֣י (ū·ḇə·nê) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son were fruitful פָּר֧וּ (pā·rū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6509: To bear fruit, be fruitful and increased abundantly; וַֽיִּשְׁרְצ֛וּ (way·yiš·rə·ṣū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 8317: To wriggle, swarm, abound they multiplied וַיִּרְבּ֥וּ (way·yir·bū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great and became exceedingly בִּמְאֹ֣ד (bim·’ōḏ) Preposition-b | Adverb Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily strong, וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ (way·ya·‘aṣ·mū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 6105: To bind fast, close, powerful, numerous, to crunch the bones so that the land הָאָ֖רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land was filled with them. וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א (wat·tim·mā·lê) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of Links Exodus 1:7 NIVExodus 1:7 NLT Exodus 1:7 ESV Exodus 1:7 NASB Exodus 1:7 KJV Exodus 1:7 BibleApps.com Exodus 1:7 Biblia Paralela Exodus 1:7 Chinese Bible Exodus 1:7 French Bible Exodus 1:7 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 1:7 The children of Israel were fruitful (Exo. Ex) |