Exodus 1

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1 These ben the names of the sones of Israel, that entriden into Egipt with Jacob; alle entriden with her housis; 2 Ruben, Symeon, 3 Leuy, Judas, Isachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin, 4 Dan, and Neptalim, Gad, and Aser. 5 Therfor alle the soules of hem that yeden out of the hipe of Jacob weren seuenti and fyue. 6 Forsothe Joseph was in Egipt; and whanne he was deed, and alle hise brithren, and al his kynrede, 7 the sones of Israel encreessiden, and weren multiplied as buriounnyng, and thei weren maad strong greetli, and filliden the lond. 8 A newe kyng, that knewe not Joseph, roos in the meene tyme on Egipt, and seide to his puple, Lo! 9 the puple of the sones of Israel is myche, and strongere than we; 10 come ye, wiseli oppresse we it, lest perauenture it be multiplied; and lest, if batel risith ayens vs, it be addid to oure enemyes, and go out of the lond, whanne we ben ouercomun. 11 And so he made maistris of werkis souereyns to hem, that thei schulden turmente hem with chargis. And thei maden citees of tabernaclis to Farao, Fiton, and Ramesses. 12 And bi hou myche thei oppressiden hem, bi so myche thei weren multiplied, and encreessiden more. 13 And Egipcians hatiden the sones of Israel, and turmentiden, and scorneden hem; 14 and brouyten her lijf to bitternesse bi hard werkis of cley and to tijl stoon, and bi al seruage, bi which thei weren oppressid in the werkis of erthe. 15 Forsothe the kyng of Egipt seide to the mydwyues of Ebrews, of whiche oon was clepid Sefora, the tother Fua; 16 and he commaundide to hem, Whanne ye schulen do the office of medewyues to Ebrew wymmen, and the tyme of childberyng schal come, if it is a knaue child, sle ye him; if it is a womman, kepe ye. 17 Forsothe the medewyues dredden God, and diden not bi the comaundement of the kyng of Egipt, but kepten knaue children. 18 To whiche clepid to hym the kyng seide, What is this thing which ye wolden do, that ye wolden kepe the children? 19 Whiche answeriden, Ebrew wymmen ben not as the wymmen of Egipt, for thei han kunnyng of the craft of medewijf, and childen bifore that we comen to hem. 20 Therfor God dide wel to medewyues; and the puple encreesside, and was coumfortid greetli. 21 And for the mydewyues dredden God, he bildide housis to hem. 22 Therfor Farao comaundide al his puple, and seide, What euer thing of male kynde is borun to Ebrewis, `caste ye into the flood; what euer thing of wymmen kynde, kepe ye.

What Is This Chapter About?

Theme: God's People in Bondage

Exodus chapter 1 sets the stage for the Israelites' deliverance from Egyptian bondage. The chapter describes the rapid growth of the Israelites, the Egyptians' fear of them, and the subsequent oppression they faced. This narrative highlights God's providence and care for His people, even in the midst of suffering.

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Key Verse

Christ in This Chapter

Holy Spirit

Key Words / Phrases

Names of God

Key Verse

Exodus 1:7 "But the Israelites were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them."

This verse is central to the chapter as it describes the Israelites' remarkable growth, which prompted the Egyptians' fear and subsequent oppression. The verse underscores God's promise to Abraham, as recorded in Genesis 12:2, that his descendants would become a great nation.

Key Words in Exodus 1

"Israelites"

The descendants of Jacob, who would become the nation of Israel, playing a central role in God's plan of redemption.

"Egyptians"

The people who oppressed the Israelites, symbolizing the world's hostility towards God's people.

"midwives"

The Hebrew women who disobeyed Pharaoh's decree, exemplifying faith and courage in the face of persecution.

"oppression"

The suffering and hardship inflicted upon the Israelites, foreshadowing the struggles believers face in a fallen world.

Christ in This Chapter

Although Christ is not directly mentioned in Exodus 1, the chapter's narrative is crucial to understanding the larger story of redemption, which ultimately points to Jesus Christ. The Israelites' bondage in Egypt serves as a type of humanity's bondage to sin, from which Christ delivers us through His death and resurrection (Romans 6:17-18). The midwives' disobedience to Pharaoh's decree, as seen in Exodus 1:17, also foreshadows the courageous acts of faith exhibited by believers in the New Testament, such as the apostles' refusal to stop preaching about Jesus (Acts 5:29). (Matthew 1:1 · Luke 3:34)

Names of Deity

Names and pronouns referring to God are marked throughout the text.

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‹ Chapter 0 Exodus — All Chapters Chapter 2 ›

Exodus 1

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