The big picture
Exodus 1 opens in verse 1 with “Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And…”, and closes in verse 22 with “And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into…” Repeated or prominent terms include children, midwives, Egypt, Israel, king. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Exodus · King James Version · 22Exodus 1:1-8
1–8: These are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt…
Exodus 1:1–8 opens with “Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his…” and reaches “Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by Egypt, Joseph, children.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.” Naming Egypt and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Exodus 1:1-8
King James Version1Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.
2Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
4Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
5And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.
6And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
7And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
8Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
Exodus 1:9-16
9–16: He said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel…
Exodus 1:9–16 opens with “And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier…” and reaches “And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by children, Israel, Hebrew.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:” Naming Egyptians and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Exodus 1:9-16
King James Version9And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
10Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
11Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
12But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
13And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
14And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
15And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:
16And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
Exodus 1:17-22
17–22: The midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded…
Exodus 1:17–22 opens with “But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men…” and reaches “And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by midwives, alive, children.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Exodus 1:17-22
King James Version17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
18And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
19And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
20Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
21And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
22And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Exodus 1:1 begins with “Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.”
Where the chapter turns
Exodus 1:11 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.”
The final note
Exodus 1:22 leaves the reader with “And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words children, midwives, Egypt, Israel, king, people help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who receives the image and the blessing?
Both male and female in verses 27-28. Human worth precedes achievement.
What limits human dominion?
The world belongs to its Creator and is already declared good. Compare the charge to tend and keep in 2:15.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- spake
- spoke
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.