Exodus 2 3

Exodus 2:3 kjv

And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.

Exodus 2:3 nkjv

But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank.

Exodus 2:3 niv

But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.

Exodus 2:3 esv

When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank.

Exodus 2:3 nlt

But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River.

Exodus 2 verses

Exodus 2 3 Meaning

Exodus 2:3 details the desperate yet faith-filled action of Moses' mother, Jochebed, when she could no longer hide her infant son from Pharaoh's decree to kill all male Israelite babies. She constructed a unique basket, referred to as an "ark," from bulrushes, meticulously sealing it with natural tar and pitch to make it watertight. Placing the child inside, she then laid this small ark among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River, entrusting him to divine providence amidst immense peril. This act highlights human ingenuity and trust in God's preservation against overwhelming odds.

Exodus 2 3 Context

Exodus 2:3 takes place amidst Pharaoh's brutal decree to eradicate the male infants of the rapidly growing Israelite population in Egypt (Exod 1:22). Moses' parents, Amram and Jochebed, defied this decree by hiding their newborn son for three months. However, as the infant grew, it became impossible to conceal him any longer from the Egyptian authorities. This verse describes their desperate act, born out of faith and necessity, to save their child. Historically, this highlights the ruthless oppression by the Egyptian Empire, whose power extended even to the control of life and death, set against the sovereign, protecting hand of God who would raise up a deliverer from the very people Pharaoh sought to destroy. The Nile River, revered by Egyptians and central to their life, paradoxically becomes the conduit of the deliverer's salvation.

Exodus 2 3 Word analysis

• And when she could no longer hide him:

  • She: Refers to Moses' mother, Jochebed (explicitly named later in Exod 6:20 and Num 26:59). Her agency, combined with Amram's, signifies active resistance through faith.
  • No longer hide him: Implies a period of desperate concealment, highlighting the increasing danger and the growth of the child, making secrecy impossible. This was after three months (Exod 2:2; Heb 11:23; Acts 7:20).

• she took for him an ark of bulrushes:

  • Took: An active, intentional preparation, not an impulsive act. It indicates forethought and meticulous planning driven by faith.
  • Ark: Hebrew: tevah (תֵּבָה). This is a critically significant word, used only twice in the entire Old Testament: here for Moses' vessel and consistently for Noah's ark (Gen 6-9). This linguistic choice immediately connects Moses' preservation to Noah's, signaling a divine act of salvation through water from impending judgment. It's a "box" or "chest," but specifically designed for floating.
  • Bulrushes: Hebrew: gome (גֹּמֶא). This refers to papyrus reeds, which grew abundantly along the Nile. It was a common, available material for crafting boats and baskets, showing the resourcefulness and ingenuity of Moses' parents within their constrained circumstances. It also highlights the apparent fragility of the vessel intended to save such a significant life.

• and daubed it with asphalt and pitch:

  • Daubed: An act of waterproofing, demonstrating careful craftsmanship and a determined effort to ensure the ark's efficacy.
  • Asphalt and pitch: Hebrew: chemar (חֵמָר, bitumen/tar) and zephet (זֶפֶת, pitch/resin). These natural materials, used extensively in the ancient Near East for waterproofing boats and construction, parallel Noah's ark (Gen 6:14, where Noah is commanded to "cover it inside and out with pitch," a similar Hebrew term, kofer, used generally for atonement or covering). This detail reinforces the parallel to Noah and signifies that, despite humble materials, the vessel was purposefully made to be impervious and protective.

• and she put the child in it and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank:

  • Put the child in it: The ultimate act of vulnerability and entrustment. Moses, the future deliverer, is first himself dependent on God's provision and the faith of his parents.
  • Laid it: Hebrew: sim (שִׂים), implying a careful, deliberate placement, not a haphazard abandonment. It was strategically placed, perhaps anticipating its discovery, reflecting Jochebed's prayerful intent and belief that God would intervene.
  • Reeds: Hebrew: sûph (סוּף). This word for "reeds" is also found in the phrase "Yam Suph," or "Red Sea," the body of water Israel would cross under Moses' leadership later (Exod 13:18). This linguistic echo might subtly foreshadow Moses' later role in a much grander salvation through water. Placing the ark "among the reeds" suggests an attempt to keep it somewhat hidden but also visible for discovery, buffering it against strong currents, and a location likely frequented by people, especially royal bathers.
  • River's bank: Specifically the Nile River. This is a point of poetic irony: the river into which Pharaoh commanded Israelite sons be cast becomes the very vehicle of their ultimate deliverer's salvation. It challenges the power of Pharaoh and his Egyptian gods (associated with the Nile) by showing God's providence operating through seemingly adverse circumstances.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him...": This phrase encapsulates a turning point born of crisis. It highlights the transition from hidden defiance to a visible act of desperate faith, emphasizing that human limits necessitated divine intervention.
  • "...an ark of bulrushes and daubed it with asphalt and pitch...": This segment details the humble yet meticulously prepared instrument of salvation. The deliberate choice of materials and the sealing process underscore the parents' prayerful diligence and foreshadow God's ability to use the simplest things for profound purposes.
  • "...and she put the child in it and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank.": This climactic phrase describes the act of entrustment. It's not abandonment but a calculated, faithful placement of the child into God's providential care, placing him both at risk and in the path of divine intervention, leading to his unique discovery by Pharaoh's daughter.

Exodus 2 3 Bonus section

• Ironic Reversal: Pharaoh commanded Israelite male children to be drowned in the Nile (Exod 1:22). This verse presents the striking irony where the very river meant for death becomes the means of salvation for the future deliverer of Israel. God's providential hand turned Pharaoh's intended evil into His instrument of good.
• The Power of Prayerful Action: While not explicitly stating prayer, the faith shown in making and placing the ark, coupled with the sister Miriam's watchful presence, speaks volumes of the family's deep trust in God. Their careful work suggests it was an act committed in hopeful anticipation of divine intervention, not a reckless gamble.
• Parallels to Christ: Just as Moses, a future deliverer, was targeted for death in infancy and preserved through divine means, so too was Jesus, the ultimate Deliverer, targeted by Herod's decree (Matt 2:16-18) and preserved by divine instruction (Matt 2:13-15). Both stories underscore God's unwavering commitment to His redemptive plan and His protection over His chosen servants.
• God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: The verse beautifully illustrates the balance between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Jochebed acts diligently and courageously, performing her utmost; yet, the ultimate outcome rests on God's intervention, underscoring that our faithful obedience provides the framework for God's miracles.

Exodus 2 3 Commentary

Exodus 2:3 is a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative of salvation. It beautifully intertwines themes of human faith, meticulous effort, and divine providence. Faced with an impossible choice, Moses' mother acts not out of despair but with resolute faith, meticulously crafting an "ark" that deliberately echoes Noah's ark, signaling a universal pattern of salvation through water facilitated by God's direct involvement. Her actions embody the paradox of extreme vulnerability leading to divine deliverance. The fragility of the "ark of bulrushes" against the mighty Nile symbolizes how God can use weak means to accomplish His mighty purposes. By placing Moses in the river from which Egyptian power flowed, Jochebed's act became a quiet but powerful act of defiance, demonstrating that God's plan would triumph over the greatest human tyranny. It is a testament to the fact that God hears the cries of His oppressed people and orchestrates unlikely solutions, using the "desperate prayer" of His children as instruments for His grand design of redemption.