Exodus 1:10 kjv
Come 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.
Exodus 1:10 nkjv
come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land."
Exodus 1:10 niv
Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country."
Exodus 1:10 esv
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."
Exodus 1:10 nlt
We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don't, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country. "
Exodus 1 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:28 | And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply... | Divine command to multiply challenged |
| Gen 9:1 | And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply... | Reiterated divine blessing on humanity |
| Gen 12:2 | And I will make of thee a great nation... | Promise to Abraham to become a great nation |
| Gen 15:5 | Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them... | God's promise of innumerable descendants |
| Gen 22:17 | That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars... | Abrahamic promise of countless offspring |
| Gen 46:3 | And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt... | God's reassurance for going to Egypt |
| Exod 1:7 | And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly... | Fulfillment of God's multiplication promise |
| Exod 1:9 | And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we... | Pharaoh's specific fear of Israel's growth |
| Exod 1:12 | But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew... | God's sovereignty over oppression |
| Exod 3:7-10 | And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt... | God's awareness of their suffering and plan to deliver |
| Psa 105:23-25 | Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. And he increased his people greatly, and made them stronger than their enemies. He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants. | God allowed the growth, and Egyptians' hatred was directed by Him. |
| Prov 21:30 | There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord. | Human shrewdness is futile against God |
| Isa 43:1-2 | Fear not: for I have redeemed thee... When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee... | God's assurance to His people in tribulation |
| Jer 30:10 | Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Lord... | God's command not to fear despite oppression |
| Acts 7:17-19 | But when the time of the promise drew nigh... until another king arose... The same dealt subtilly with our kindred... | Stephen's summary highlighting the Egyptian cunning against Israel |
| Num 22:3-4 | And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many... | Fear of Israel's numbers by other nations |
| Deut 28:62 | And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude... | A warning contrasting Pharaoh's fear with a potential curse of fewness if disobedient. |
| Neh 9:9 | And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea... | God sees the oppression and hears His people |
| Rom 9:17 | For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee... | God's sovereign purpose even through oppressors |
| 1 Pet 2:19-20 | For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. | Suffering under unjust authorities |
| Psa 74:20 | Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. | God's awareness of places of oppression |
Exodus 1 verses
Exodus 1 10 Meaning
Exodus 1:10 records Pharaoh's proposal to his officials concerning the rapidly growing Israelite population in Egypt. Driven by fear, he suggests dealing cunningly or shrewdly with them. His rationale is two-fold: to prevent their further multiplication and to avoid a scenario where they might join Egypt's enemies during a war and subsequently escape from the land. This verse marks the beginning of official Egyptian oppression against the Israelites.
Exodus 1 10 Context
Exodus chapter 1 sets the critical stage for the entire book, detailing Israel's exponential growth in Egypt after Joseph's death. Following the passing of Joseph and his generation, a new pharaoh arose who "did not know Joseph" (Exod 1:8). This pharaoh, fearing the demographic power of the Israelites who had multiplied extensively according to God's blessing, presents his strategy in verse 10. This proposal transitions directly into the severe enslavement (Exod 1:11-14) and, subsequently, the horrific decree to kill all male Israelite infants (Exod 1:15-22). The verse establishes the foundational conflict between God's promise to make Israel a great nation and the human attempt to thwart divine purpose through political calculation and oppression. Historically, this period likely refers to the rise of a native Egyptian dynasty (possibly the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom) who harbored suspicion toward foreigners, particularly the Hyksos (who were of Semitic origin) and any related Semitic populations. Pharaoh's fear and "shrewd" policy highlight his belief in his own supreme power and wisdom, setting up the direct theological conflict with Yahweh's sovereignty that unfolds throughout Exodus.
Exodus 1 10 Word analysis
- Come (הָבָה - hava): An imperative or exhortation, signaling a proposal or call to action. It conveys a sense of urgency and invites collective agreement for the upcoming plan.
- let us deal shrewdly (נִתְחַכְּמָה - nitḥakkemah): Derived from the Hebrew root חָכַם (chakham), meaning "to be wise" or "skillful." Here, in the Hithpael conjugation, it carries the nuance of acting cleverly, cunningly, or craftily. It implies a deceptive or subtle strategy rather than open warfare. This human "wisdom" stands in stark contrast to God's ultimate and true wisdom.
- with them (לוֹ - lo): Refers to the Israelites. They are the objects of Pharaoh's strategic maneuver, seen as a problem to be managed.
- lest they multiply (פֶּן יִרְבֶּה - pen yirbeh): Pen means "lest" or "so that not." Yirbeh (from רָבָה, ravah) means "to multiply" or "increase." Despite the singular form grammatically, it refers collectively to the rapidly increasing Israelite population. This directly opposes God's repeated promise and blessing to Abraham and his descendants to multiply. Pharaoh perceives God's blessing as a threat.
- and if war breaks out (וְהָיָה כִּי תִקְרֶאנָה מִלְחָמָה - v'hayah ki tiqre'nah milchamah): Lit. "and it will be when war encounters." This phrase presents a hypothetical but anticipated future scenario—an external threat. It highlights Pharaoh's strategic and political fear. The Hebrew implies a possibility of future conflict with other nations.
- they join our enemies (וְנִלְחַם בָּנוּ - v'nilcham banu): The Hebrew literally means "and they fight against us." While some translations include "join our enemies," the meaning is clearly that the Israelites, if a war arose, would side against Egypt. Pharaoh feared an internal uprising or a 'fifth column' aligning with invaders due to their large numbers and foreign status.
- and escape from the land (וְעָלָה מִן הָאָרֶץ - v'alah min ha'aretz): Lit. "and ascend/go up from the land." This implies a definitive departure, losing control over them and potentially their valuable labor force. The irony is profound, as this is precisely what God ultimately achieves for His people.
Exodus 1 10 Bonus section
- The "new king" (Exod 1:8) could represent a new Egyptian dynasty after the Semitic Hyksos, viewing all Semitic people, including the Israelites, with suspicion due to past foreign rule.
- Pharaoh's concern highlights ancient political anxieties regarding foreign populations within borders, especially those with strong ethnic identities and large numbers. This theme echoes through history.
- The use of chakham ("wise/shrewd") is particularly poignant. In the Bible, true wisdom is from God, but here it's depicted as a deceptive, worldly craftiness intended for oppression.
- Pharaoh's desperate measures (slavery, infanticide) are responses to God's blessing. His plan to control them backfires, ultimately leading to a confrontation that glorifies God and humiliates Pharaoh.
Exodus 1 10 Commentary
Exodus 1:10 is the genesis of Israel's national tribulation in Egypt, marking the shift from peaceful residency to targeted oppression. Pharaoh's declaration exposes a potent mix of xenophobia, paranoia, and perceived geopolitical vulnerability. His "shrewdness" is a cunning human scheme aimed at preventing what God Himself had promised and set in motion—the vast multiplication of Abraham's seed. The very increase that Pharaoh seeks to curb is a direct fulfillment of the covenant (Gen 12:2, Gen 46:3). This verse encapsulates the foundational conflict between human will and divine purpose, between earthly wisdom and heavenly sovereignty. Pharaoh’s fear of an expanding minority group—seeing them as both an internal threat and potential economic loss—propels him towards extreme measures. Ultimately, his strategies, rooted in human wisdom and self-preservation, serve only to bring about God's powerful intervention and demonstrate that no human counsel can stand against the Lord's plans (Prov 21:30). The irony of Pharaoh's fear of them "escaping from the land" foreshadows the entire narrative of the Exodus, which sees God orchestrating the very escape Pharaoh sought to prevent.