Exodus Chapter 1

¹ These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: ² Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, ³ Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, ⁴ Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. ⁵ All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. ⁶ Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. ⁷ But the people of Israel were fruitful and multiplied greatly; they increased and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

Notes on the Translation

Verse 1–4: The LXX’s onomata tōn huiōn Israēl (names of the sons of Israel) aligns with the KJV’s “names of the children of Israel.” The list of tribes matches the LXX and KJV, with “household” reflecting the collective oikos. The DSS are limited but support the tribal list.

Verse 5: The LXX’s pasai psuchai (all souls, seventy) aligns with the KJV’s “seventy souls.” “Descendants” modernizes “souls” for clarity. The DSS (e.g., 4QGen-Exod^a) confirm the number seventy.

Verse 6–7: The LXX’s etelesen (died) and ēuxēthēsan (multiplied) align with the KJV’s “died” and “increased abundantly.” “Exceedingly numerous” modernizes “waxed exceeding mighty,” with the DSS supporting Israel’s growth.

⁸ Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. ⁹ And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. ¹⁰ Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” ¹¹ Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. ¹² But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the people of Israel. ¹³ So the Egyptians made the people of Israel serve with rigor, ¹⁴ and made their lives bitter with hard labor, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them serve.

Notes on the Translation

Verse 8: The LXX’s anestē basileus heteros (another king arose) aligns with the KJV’s “new king.” “Who did not know Joseph” reflects hos ouk ēdei ton Iōsēph, preserving the KJV’s historical shift.

Verse 9–10: The LXX’s laos tōn huiōn Israēl (people of the sons of Israel) and kakōsōmen autous (deal shrewdly) align with the KJV. “Too many and too mighty” modernizes “more and mightier,” with “escape” clarifying exelthōsin.

Verse 11–12: The LXX’s epistatas ergōn (taskmasters) and kataponein (afflict) align with the KJV’s “taskmasters” and “afflict.” “Pithom and Raamses” retain the KJV’s place names. The DSS support the oppression narrative.

Verse 13–14: The LXX’s meta bias (with rigor) and pikrainontes (made bitter) align with the KJV’s “rigour” and “made their lives bitter.” “Ruthlessly” modernizes “cruelty,” with the DSS consistent where preserved.

¹⁵ Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, ¹⁶ “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” ¹⁷ But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. ¹⁸ So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” ¹⁹ The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” ²⁰ So God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very strong. ²¹ And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families. ²² Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but every daughter you shall let live.”

Notes on the Translation

Verse 15–16: The LXX’s maiais tōn Ebraiōn (Hebrew midwives) and epi tōn lithōn (on the birthstool) align with the KJV. “Shiphrah and Puah” retain the names, with “kill him” reflecting apokteinate auton. The DSS are fragmentary but support the midwives’ role.

Verse 17–19: The LXX’s ephobēthēsan ton Theon (feared God) and zōogonousin (give birth) align with the KJV’s “feared God” and “lively.” “Vigorous” modernizes “lively” for clarity, with the DSS consistent.

Verse 20–22: The LXX’s eulogēsen ho Theos (God blessed) and eis ton potamon (into the Nile) align with the KJV. “Dealt well” and “cast into the Nile” modernize the phrasing, with “Hebrews” specified for clarity. The DSS support the narrative progression.