Exodus 2:6
New International Version
She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.

New Living Translation
When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said.

English Standard Version
When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

Berean Standard Bible
When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the little boy was crying. So she had compassion on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrew children.”

King James Bible
And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.

New King James Version
And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

New American Standard Bible
When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

NASB 1995
When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

NASB 1977
When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then she opened it and saw the child. And behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

Amplified Bible
When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. And she took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

Christian Standard Bible
opened it, and saw him, the child—and there he was, a little boy, crying. She felt sorry for him and said, “This is one of the Hebrew boys.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When she opened it, she saw the child—a little boy, crying. She felt sorry for him and said, “This is one of the Hebrew boys.”

American Standard Version
And she opened it, and saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.

Contemporary English Version
When the king's daughter opened the basket, she saw the baby crying and felt sorry for him. She said, "This must be one of the Hebrew babies."

English Revised Version
And she opened it, and saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Pharaoh's daughter opened the basket, looked at the baby, and saw it was a boy. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. She said, "This is one of the Hebrew children."

Good News Translation
The princess opened it and saw a baby boy. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. "This is one of the Hebrew babies," she said.

International Standard Version
When she opened it and saw the child, the little boy suddenly began crying. Filled with compassion for him, she exclaimed, "This is one of the Hebrew children!"

Majority Standard Bible
When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the little boy was crying. So she had compassion on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrew children.”

NET Bible
opened it, and saw the child--a boy, crying!--and she felt compassion for him and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children."

New Heart English Bible
She opened it, and saw the child, and look, the baby cried. And she had compassion on him, and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children."

Webster's Bible Translation
And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.

World English Bible
She opened it, and saw the child, and behold, the baby cried. She had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and opens, and sees him—the boy, and behold, a child weeping! And she has pity on him and says, “This is [one] of the Hebrews’ children.”

Young's Literal Translation
and openeth, and seeth him -- the lad, and lo, a child weeping! and she hath pity on him, and saith, 'This is one of the Hebrews' children.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And she will open and will see the child: and behold, the boy weeping: And she will have pity upon him, and will say, This from the children of the Hebrews.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
She opened it and seeing within it an infant crying, having compassion on it she said: This is one of the babes of the Hebrews.

Catholic Public Domain Version
she opened it; and realizing that within it was a little one crying, she took pity on him, and she said: “This is one of the infants of the Hebrews.”

New American Bible
On opening it, she looked, and there was a baby boy crying! She was moved with pity for him and said, “It is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

New Revised Standard Version
When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him. “This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,” she said.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when she had opened it, she saw the child; and, behold, the babe was weeping. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And she opened it and she saw the boy and behold, the boy cried, and she had pity upon him, and she said, “This is from the children of the Hebrews.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And she opened it, and saw it, even the child; and behold a boy that wept. And she had compassion on him, and said: 'This is one of the Hebrews' children.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And having opened it, she sees the babe weeping in the ark: and the daughter of Pharao had compassion on it, and said, This is one of the Hebrew's children.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Pharaoh's Daughter Rescues Moses
5Soon the daughter of Pharaoh went down to bathe in the Nile, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. And when she saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maidservant to retrieve it. 6When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the little boy was crying. So she had compassion on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrew children.” 7Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call one of the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”…

Cross References
Acts 7:21
When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.

Hebrews 11:23
By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.

Exodus 1:22
Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every son born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you may allow to live.”

Isaiah 49:15
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!

1 Kings 3:26
Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she yearned with compassion for her son. “Please, my lord,” she said, “give her the living baby. Do not kill him!” But the other woman said, “He will be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two!”

Matthew 2:16
When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.

Genesis 21:16
Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I cannot bear to watch the boy die!” And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice and wept.

Genesis 37:28
So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

1 Samuel 1:20
So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

2 Kings 11:2
But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed.

Matthew 18:10
See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.

Luke 2:7
And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Genesis 44:18-34
Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh himself. / My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ / And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’ ...

1 Samuel 18:1-4
After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. / And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. / Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. ...

2 Samuel 4:4
And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to escape, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.


Treasury of Scripture

And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.

she had compassion.

1 Kings 8:50
And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:

Nehemiah 1:11
O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

Psalm 106:46
He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.

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Exodus 2
1. Moses is born, and placed in a basket in the reeds of Nile.
5. He is found, and brought up by Pharaoh's daughter;
7. who employs his mother to nurse him.
11. He kills an Egyptian.
13. He reproves a Hebrew.
15. He flees into Midian, and marries Zipporah.
22. Gershom is born.
23. God respects the Israelites' cry.














When she opened it
This phrase refers to Pharaoh's daughter opening the basket in which the infant Moses was placed. The act of opening signifies a moment of revelation and discovery. In the Hebrew context, the word for "opened" (פָּתַח, patach) often implies an unveiling or a new beginning. This moment marks the beginning of Moses' journey from a hidden Hebrew child to a future leader of Israel. It is a divine orchestration, where God uses unexpected people and circumstances to fulfill His purposes.

she saw the child
The sight of the child is pivotal. The Hebrew word for "saw" (רָאָה, ra'ah) implies more than just physical sight; it often denotes perception and understanding. Pharaoh's daughter perceives the significance of the child, even if she does not fully understand it. This moment of seeing is a divine appointment, where God softens her heart towards Moses, setting the stage for his adoption into Egyptian royalty.

and behold
The word "behold" (הִנֵּה, hinneh) is an interjection used frequently in the Bible to draw attention to something significant. It is a call to pause and consider the importance of what is being revealed. In this context, it emphasizes the unexpected and miraculous nature of the discovery of Moses. It invites the reader to recognize God's hand in the unfolding events.

the boy was crying
The crying of the boy is a natural human response, yet it carries deeper significance. The Hebrew word for "crying" (בָּכָה, bakah) can also imply a call for help or an expression of need. This cry evokes compassion in Pharaoh's daughter, demonstrating how God uses the vulnerability of a child to move the heart of a powerful figure. It is a reminder of God's providence and His ability to use the simplest of actions to achieve His divine plans.

She took pity on him
The phrase "took pity" (חָמַל, chamal) indicates a deep sense of compassion and mercy. In the ancient Near Eastern context, this kind of compassion was often seen as a divine attribute. Pharaoh's daughter's response is not just a human emotion but is portrayed as part of God's intervention. Her pity leads to action, showing how God can use the compassion of individuals to bring about His purposes.

and said, 'This is one of the Hebrew children.'
This statement acknowledges the identity of the child. The term "Hebrew" (עִבְרִי, Ivri) is significant as it connects Moses to the covenant people of God. Despite the potential danger of harboring a Hebrew child, Pharaoh's daughter recognizes and accepts Moses' identity. This acknowledgment is crucial, as it sets the stage for Moses' future role in leading the Hebrews out of Egypt. It highlights the theme of identity and God's faithfulness to His covenant people throughout the narrative.

(6) When she had opened it.--The princess opened the ark herself, perhaps suspecting what was inside, perhaps out of mere curiosity.

The babe (rather, the boy) wept. Through hunger, or cold, or perhaps general discomfort. An ark of bulrushes could not have been a very pleasant cradle.

She had compassion on him.--The babe's tears moved her to pity; and her pity prompted her to save it. She must have shown some sign of her intention--perhaps by taking the child from the ark and fondling it--before Miriam could have ventured to make her suggestion. (See the next verse.)

This is one of the Hebrews' children.--The circumstances spoke for themselves. No mother would have exposed such a "goodly child" (Exodus 2:2) to so sad a death but one with whom it was a necessity.

Verse 6. - The princess herself opened the "ark," which was a sort of covered basket. Perhaps she suspected what she would find inside; but would it be a living or a dead child? This she could not know. She opened, and looked. It was a living babe, and it wept. At once her woman's heart, heathen as she was, went out to the child - its tears reached the common humanity that lies below all differences of race and creed - and she pitied it. "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." This is one of the Hebrews' children. Hebrew characteristics were perhaps stamped even upon the infant visage. Or she formed her conclusion merely from the circumstances. No Egyptian woman had any need to expose her child, or would be likely to do so; but it was just what a Hebrew mother, under the cruel circumstances of the time, might have felt herself forced to do. So she drew her conclusion, rapidly and decidedly, as is the way of woman.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When she opened it,
וַתִּפְתַּח֙ (wat·tip̄·taḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

she saw
וַתִּרְאֵ֣הוּ (wat·tir·’ê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

the child,
הַיֶּ֔לֶד (hay·ye·leḏ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3206: Something born, a lad, offspring

and behold,
וְהִנֵּה־ (wə·hin·nêh-)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

the little boy
נַ֖עַר (na·‘ar)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

was crying.
בֹּכֶ֑ה (bō·ḵeh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1058: To weep, to bemoan

So she had compassion
וַתַּחְמֹ֣ל (wat·taḥ·mōl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2550: To commiserate, to spare

on him
עָלָ֔יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and said,
וַתֹּ֕אמֶר (wat·tō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“This is one of
זֶֽה׃ (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

the Hebrew
הָֽעִבְרִ֖ים (hā·‘iḇ·rîm)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 5680: Hebrews -- perhaps descendant of Eber, also another name for an Israelite

children.”
מִיַּלְדֵ֥י (mî·yal·ḏê)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3206: Something born, a lad, offspring


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OT Law: Exodus 2:6 She opened it and saw the child (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 2:5
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