King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Come, let's use wisdom in dealing with them. Otherwise, they'll continue to multiply; and in the event of war they might ally themselves with our enemies, fight against us and leave the land altogether."
Berean Standard Bible:
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”
American Standard Version:
come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Come on{H3051}, let us deal wisely{H2449} with them; lest they multiply{H7235}, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out{H7122} any war{H4421}, they{H1931} join{H3254} also unto our enemies{H8130}, and fight{H3898} against us, and so get them up{H5927} out of the land{H776}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Acts 7:19
- The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
Psalms 83:3
- They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
Psalms 83:4
- They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from [being] a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
Proverbs 1:11
- If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
Psalms 10:2
- The wicked in [his] pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
Psalms 105:25
- ¶ He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.
Proverbs 16:25
- ¶ There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 1:10
Theme: Oppression and Fear of the Israelites
Exodus 1:10 is set within the broader context of the Israelites' sojourn in Egypt, which began when Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel), rose to power under Pharaoh. The verse reflects the themes of fear, xenophobia, and political strategy.
Historical Context:
The book of Exodus opens with a new Pharaoh coming to power in Egypt, one who did not know Joseph and his contributions to Egypt's prosperity. As the Israelite population grew significantly, the Egyptians began to view them as a potential threat due to their numbers and distinct identity.
In Exodus 1:10, an unnamed Egyptian authority (likely Pharaoh or his advisors) proposes a strategy to suppress the Israelites. The verse captures the sentiment of the Egyptians, who fear that in the event of war, the Israelites might ally with Egypt's enemies, having no national loyalty to Egypt. This fear leads to the decision to oppress the Israelites through hard labor and other measures, hoping to curb their population growth and ability to rebel or assist enemies.
The verse sets the stage for the subsequent narrative of the Exodus, where the Israelites' oppression leads to Moses' birth, his eventual return to Egypt, and the series of plagues that culminate in the Israelites' liberation from slavery and their journey to the Promised Land. This oppression is also the backdrop for the emergence of Moses as a leader and the revealer of the divine name Yahweh, which is central to Israel's religious identity.
The themes here are profound, touching on issues of ethnic identity, demographic concerns, the dynamics of power and oppression, and the providential care of a people chosen by God, which are relevant both historically and in contemporary discussions of race, immigration, and national security.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3051
There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָהַב
Transliteration: yâhab
Pronunciation: yaw-hab'
Description: a primitive root; to give (whether literal or figurative); generally, to put; imperatively (reflexive) come; ascribe, bring, come on, give, go, set, take. - Strong's Number: H2449
There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָכַם
Transliteration: châkam
Pronunciation: khaw-kam'
Description: a primitive root,; to be wise (in mind, word or act); [idiom] exceeding, teach wisdom, be (make self, shew self) wise, deal (never so) wisely, make wiser. - Strong's Number: H7235
There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָבָה
Transliteration: râbâh
Pronunciation: raw-baw'
Description: a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect); (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for רָבַב), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), [idiom] process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very. - Strong's Number: H7122
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָרָא
Transliteration: qârâʼ
Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
Description: a primitive root; to encounter, whether accidentally or in a hostile manner; befall, (by) chance, (cause to) come (upon), fall out, happen, meet. - Strong's Number: H4421
There are 308 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִלְחָמָה
Transliteration: milchâmâh
Pronunciation: mil-khaw-maw'
Description: from לָחַם (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare); battle, fight(-ing), war(-rior). - Strong's Number: H1931
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הוּא
Transliteration: hûwʼ
Pronunciation: hoo
Description: of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is הִיא; a primitive word, the third person pronoun singular; he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are; he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. - Strong's Number: H3254
There are 207 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָסַף
Transliteration: yâçaph
Pronunciation: yaw-saf'
Description: a primitive root; to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing); add, [idiom] again, [idiom] any more, [idiom] cease, [idiom] come more, [phrase] conceive again, continue, exceed, [idiom] further, [idiom] gather together, get more, give more-over, [idiom] henceforth, increase (more and more), join, [idiom] longer (bring, do, make, much, put), [idiom] (the, much, yet) more (and more), proceed (further), prolong, put, be (strong-) er, [idiom] yet, yield. - Strong's Number: H8130
There are 139 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂנֵא
Transliteration: sânêʼ
Pronunciation: saw-nay'
Description: a primitive root; to hate (personally); enemy, foe, (be) hate(-ful, -r), odious, [idiom] utterly. - Strong's Number: H3898
There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָחַם
Transliteration: lâcham
Pronunciation: law-kham'
Description: a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction); devour, eat, [idiom] ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring). - Strong's Number: H5927
There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָלָה
Transliteration: ʻâlâh
Pronunciation: aw-law'
Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.