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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 1:7 but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/1-7.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/02_Exo_01_07.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 1:7 - The Israelites Multiply in Egypt" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/exodus/1-7.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/exodus/1-7.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/exodus/">Exodus</a> > <a href="/exodus/1.htm">Chapter 1</a> > Verse 7</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/1-6.htm" title="Exodus 1:6">◄</a> Exodus 1:7 <a href="/exodus/1-8.htm" title="Exodus 1:8">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/exodus/1.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/exodus/1.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/1.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/1.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/1.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/1.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/1.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased and multiplied and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />but the Israelites were prolific and increased greatly; they multiplied and became extremely strong, so that the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the Israelites were fruitful, increased rapidly, multiplied, and became extremely numerous so that the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the Israelites were fruitful, increased rapidly, multiplied, and became extremely numerous so that the land was filled with them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/1.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />the people of Israel became so numerous that the whole region of Goshen was full of them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/1.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />But the descendants of Israel had many children. They became so numerous and strong that the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/1.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />but their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and became so numerous and strong that Egypt was filled with them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/1.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/1.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The Israelites, however, were fruitful, increased greatly, multiplied, and became extremely strong, so that the land was filled with them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and became exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/1.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />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.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />the sons of Israel increased, and they multiplied like seedlings. And having been strengthened exceedingly, they filled the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/1.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But the Israelites were fruitful and prolific. They multiplied and became so very numerous that the land was filled with them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But the Israelites were fruitful and prolific; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, and multiplied and grew exceedingly strong; and the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/1.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />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.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/1.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/1.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the children of Israel increased and multiplied, and became numerous and grew exceedingly strong, and the land multiplied them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/1-7.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=29" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/1.htm">The Israelites Multiply in Egypt</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">6</span>Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, <span class="reftext">7</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ū·ḇə·nê (Conj-w:: N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">but the Israelites</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6509.htm" title="6509: pā·rū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To bear fruit, be fruitful. A primitive root; to bear fruit.">were fruitful</a> <a href="/hebrew/8317.htm" title="8317: way·yiš·rə·ṣū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To swarm, teem. A primitive root; to wriggle, i.e. swarm or abound.">and increased rapidly;</a> <a href="/hebrew/7235.htm" title="7235: way·yir·bū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To be or become much, many or great. A primitive root; to increase.">they multiplied</a> <a href="/hebrew/3966.htm" title="3966: bim·’ōḏ (Prep-b:: Adv) -- Muchness, force, abundance. From the same as 'uwd; properly, vehemence, i.e. vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc.">and became exceedingly</a> <a href="/hebrew/3966.htm" title="3966: mə·’ōḏ (Adv) -- Muchness, force, abundance. From the same as 'uwd; properly, vehemence, i.e. vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6105.htm" title="6105: way·ya·‘aṣ·mū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- A primitive root; to bind fast, i.e. Close; intransitively, to be powerful or numerous; denominatively to crunch the bones.">numerous,</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">so that the land</a> <a href="/hebrew/854.htm" title="854: ’ō·ṯām (Prep:: 3mp) -- With (denoting proximity). Probably from 'anah; properly, nearness, near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4390.htm" title="4390: wat·tim·mā·lê (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To be full, to fill. Or malae; a primitive root, to fill or be full of, in a wide application.">was filled with them.</a> </span><div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/17-2.htm">Genesis 17:2</a></span><br />I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/26-4.htm">Genesis 26:4</a></span><br />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,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/28-14.htm">Genesis 28:14</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/35-11.htm">Genesis 35:11</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/46-3.htm">Genesis 46:3</a></span><br />“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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Genesis 47:27</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/50-24.htm">Genesis 50:24</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/26-5.htm">Deuteronomy 26:5</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-17.htm">Acts 7:17</a></span><br />As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-14.htm">Acts 7:14</a></span><br />Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-12.htm">Hebrews 11:12</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/105-24.htm">Psalm 105:24</a></span><br />And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes,</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.</p><p class="hdg">fruitful.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/12-37.htm">Exodus 12:37</a></b></br> And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot <i>that were</i> men, beside children.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/1-20.htm">Genesis 1:20,28</a></b></br> And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl <i>that</i> may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/9-1.htm">Genesis 9:1</a></b></br> And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/41-47.htm">Abundantly</a> <a href="/exodus/1-1.htm">Children</a> <a href="/exodus/1-5.htm">Descendants</a> <a href="/genesis/27-34.htm">Exceeding</a> <a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Exceedingly</a> <a href="/genesis/49-25.htm">Fertile</a> <a href="/genesis/34-7.htm">Filled</a> <a href="/genesis/49-22.htm">Fruitful</a> <a href="/genesis/50-15.htm">Full</a> <a href="/genesis/48-16.htm">Greatly</a> <a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Grew</a> <a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Increased</a> <a href="/genesis/26-13.htm">Increasing</a> <a href="/exodus/1-1.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/genesis/49-26.htm">Mighty</a> <a href="/genesis/48-4.htm">Multiplied</a> <a href="/genesis/48-4.htm">Multiply</a> <a href="/genesis/50-20.htm">Numbers</a> <a href="/genesis/50-20.htm">Numerous</a> <a href="/genesis/49-3.htm">Power</a> <a href="/genesis/49-24.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/genesis/1-21.htm">Swarmed</a> <a href="/genesis/9-7.htm">Teem</a> <a href="/genesis/41-56.htm">Waxed</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/2-19.htm">Abundantly</a> <a href="/exodus/1-9.htm">Children</a> <a href="/exodus/12-24.htm">Descendants</a> <a href="/exodus/10-19.htm">Exceeding</a> <a href="/exodus/19-16.htm">Exceedingly</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-9.htm">Fertile</a> <a href="/exodus/2-16.htm">Filled</a> <a href="/exodus/23-30.htm">Fruitful</a> <a href="/exodus/1-12.htm">Full</a> <a href="/exodus/11-3.htm">Greatly</a> <a href="/exodus/1-12.htm">Grew</a> <a href="/exodus/1-12.htm">Increased</a> <a href="/exodus/5-5.htm">Increasing</a> <a href="/exodus/1-9.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/exodus/1-9.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/exodus/1-9.htm">Mighty</a> <a href="/exodus/1-12.htm">Multiplied</a> <a href="/exodus/1-10.htm">Multiply</a> <a href="/exodus/12-38.htm">Numbers</a> <a href="/exodus/1-9.htm">Numerous</a> <a href="/exodus/1-8.htm">Power</a> <a href="/exodus/1-19.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/psalms/105-30.htm">Swarmed</a> <a href="/exodus/8-3.htm">Teem</a> <a href="/exodus/1-20.htm">Waxed</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 1</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/1-1.htm">The children of Israel, after Joseph's death, increase.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/1-8.htm">The more they are oppressed by a new king, the more they multiply.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/1-15.htm">The godliness of the midwives in saving the male children alive.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/1-22.htm">Pharaoh commands the male children to be cast into the river</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/exodus/1.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>but the Israelites</b><br />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.<p><b>were fruitful</b><br />The phrase "were fruitful" echoes the blessing given by God in <a href="/genesis/1-28.htm">Genesis 1:28</a>, where He commands humanity to "be fruitful and multiply." The Hebrew word for "fruitful" is "parah," which conveys the idea of bearing fruit, thriving, and prospering. This fruitfulness is a sign of God's blessing and favor upon the Israelites, fulfilling His promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky (<a href="/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5</a>).<p><b>and increased abundantly</b><br />The Hebrew word for "increased abundantly" is "sharats," which means to swarm or teem. This word paints a vivid picture of the Israelites multiplying rapidly and filling the land, much like a swarm of insects. This abundance is a testament to God's providence and the fulfillment of His promise to make Israel a great nation. It also sets the stage for the subsequent narrative, where their growing numbers become a source of concern for the Egyptians.<p><b>they multiplied</b><br />The word "multiplied" in Hebrew is "rabah," which means to become many or great. This multiplication is not just in numbers but also in strength and influence. It signifies the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, where He promised that Abraham's descendants would be exceedingly numerous. This multiplication is a divine act, showing that despite being in a foreign land, God's promises remain steadfast and true.<p><b>and became exceedingly strong</b><br />The phrase "became exceedingly strong" uses the Hebrew word "atzam," which means to be mighty or powerful. This strength is not merely physical but also represents the growing influence and presence of the Israelites in Egypt. It reflects God's empowerment of His people, preparing them for the eventual exodus and the challenges they would face. This strength is a precursor to the deliverance that God would bring through Moses.<p><b>so that the land was filled with them</b><br />The phrase "the land was filled with them" indicates the vast presence of the Israelites throughout Egypt. The Hebrew word "male" means to fill or be full, suggesting that the Israelites were not confined to a small area but had spread throughout the land. This fulfillment is both a blessing and a source of tension, as it leads to the Egyptians' fear and subsequent oppression of the Israelites. It underscores the theme of God's faithfulness in multiplying His people, even in a foreign land, and sets the stage for the unfolding of His redemptive plan.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(7) <span class= "bld">The children of Israel were fruitful.</span>--A <span class= "ital">great </span>multiplication is evidently intended. Egypt was a particularly healthy country, and both men and animals were abnormally prolific there. Grain was so plentiful that want, which is the ordinary check on population, was almost unknown. The Egyptian kings for many years would look favourably on the growth of the Hebrew people, which strengthened their eastern frontier, the quarter on which they were most open to attack. God's blessing was, moreover, upon the people, which he had promised to make "as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea-shore, for multitude" (see <a href="/genesis/22-17.htm" title="That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is on the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;">Genesis 22:17</a>). On the actual extent of the multiplication and the time that it occupied, see the comment on <a href="/context/exodus/12-37.htm" title="And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.">Exodus 12:37-41</a>.<p><span class= "bld">The land</span>--i.e., where they dwelt--Goshen (<a href="/context/genesis/47-4.htm" title="They said morever to Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for your servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray you, let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.">Genesis 47:4-6</a>)--which seems to have been the more eastern portion of the Delta.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 7-14.</span> - 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 <span class="cmt_word">their rapid multiplication</span>. The next their falling under the dominion of a <span class="cmt_word">new king</span>. The third, <span class="cmt_word">his mode of action under the circumstances</span>. 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. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 7.</span> - 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 <a href="/exodus/12-40.htm">Exodus 12:40</a>, would make the duration of the Egyptian sojourn 215 years only; the other, following the clear <span class="accented">and repeated</span> statement of the Hebrew text (<a href="/exodus/12-40.htm">Exodus 12:40, 41</a>), 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 (<a href="/genesis/47-6.htm">Genesis 47:6</a>), it is important to bear in mind, first of all, that the "seventy souls" enumerated in <a href="/genesis/46-8.htm">Genesis 46:8-27</a> comprised only two females, and that "Jacob's sons' wives" are expressly mentioned as not included among them (<span class="accented">ib</span>. 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" (<a href="/exodus/1-1.htm">Exodus 1:1</a>), 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 (<a href="/genesis/14-14.htm">Genesis 14:14</a>), 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 <span class="accented">do</span>, 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 <span class="hebrew">עצרים</span>, "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 ("<span class="cmt_word">were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed-mighty"</span>), adding to the last a duplicated adverb, <span class="accented">bim'od m'od</span>, "much, much." Clearly, an astonishing increase is intended. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/1-7.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">but the Israelites</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבְנֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇə·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">were fruitful</span><br /><span class="heb">פָּר֧וּ</span> <span class="translit">(pā·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6509.htm">Strong's 6509: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bear fruit, be fruitful</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and increased abundantly;</span><br /><span class="heb">וַֽיִּשְׁרְצ֛וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiš·rə·ṣū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8317.htm">Strong's 8317: </a> </span><span class="str2">To wriggle, swarm, abound</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they multiplied</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּרְבּ֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yir·bū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7235.htm">Strong's 7235: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become much, many or great</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and became exceedingly</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּמְאֹ֣ד</span> <span class="translit">(bim·’ōḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3966.htm">Strong's 3966: </a> </span><span class="str2">Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily</span><br /><br /><span class="word">strong,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·ya·‘aṣ·mū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6105.htm">Strong's 6105: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bind fast, close, powerful, numerous, to crunch the bones</span><br /><br /><span class="word">so that the land</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאָ֖רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ā·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was filled with them.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tim·mā·lê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4390.htm">Strong's 4390: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fill, be full of</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/1-7.htm">Exodus 1:7 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/1-7.htm">Exodus 1:7 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/1-7.htm">Exodus 1:7 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/1-7.htm">Exodus 1:7 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/1-7.htm">Exodus 1:7 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/1-7.htm">Exodus 1:7 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/1-7.htm">Exodus 1:7 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/1-7.htm">Exodus 1:7 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/1-7.htm">Exodus 1:7 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/1-7.htm">Exodus 1:7 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/1-7.htm">OT Law: Exodus 1:7 The children of Israel were fruitful (Exo. 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