King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
Complete Jewish Bible:
So they put slavemasters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built for Pharaoh the storage cities of Pitom and Ra'amses.
Berean Standard Bible:
So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
American Standard Version:
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and Raamses.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Therefore they did set{H7760} over them taskmasters{H4522}{H8269} to afflict{H6031} them with their burdens{H5450}. And they built{H1129} for Pharaoh{H6547} treasure{H4543} cities{H5892}, Pithom{H6619} and Raamses{H7486}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 15:13
- And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
Genesis 47:11
- And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.
Exodus 3:7
- ¶ And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
Exodus 2:11
- ¶ And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
Deuteronomy 26:6
- And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage:
Psalms 81:6
- I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
2 Chronicles 8:4
- And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 1:11
1. **Themes:**
- **Oppression and Slavery:** The verse reflects the theme of oppression, as the Israelites are subjected to forced labor and cruel treatment by the Egyptians.
- **Resilience and Survival:** Despite the harsh conditions, the Israelites demonstrate resilience by continuing to survive and grow in number.
- **Divine Plan:** The enslavement of the Israelites sets the stage for God's intervention and the eventual Exodus, highlighting the theme of divine providence and redemption.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Population Growth:** Exodus 1:11 is part of a narrative that begins with the Israelites, initially welcomed in Egypt, growing in number, which causes fear and concern among the Egyptian leadership.
- **Change in Dynasty:** The verse is set during a time when there was a change in the Egyptian dynasty, one that did not have a prior relationship with Joseph and his family. The new Pharaoh does not recognize the contributions of the Israelites and sees them as a potential threat.
- **Economic Expansion:** The mention of "treasure cities" indicates a period of economic growth and building projects in Egypt. Pithom and Raamses (also known as Pi-Ramesses) were real cities that have been identified by archaeologists, lending historical credibility to the biblical account. Raamses is associated with the reign of Ramesses II, which places the events during the 19th Dynasty of Egypt (circa 1279–1213 BCE).
- **Labor Practices:** The setting reflects ancient Near Eastern practices of using conquered or foreign populations for hard labor in state-sponsored construction projects.
The verse captures a pivotal moment in the history of ancient Israel, illustrating the transition from a favored people to an enslaved nation, which sets the stage for the pivotal events of the Exodus and the formation of Israel's national identity.
*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: H7760
There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׂוּם
Transliteration: sûwm
Pronunciation: soom
Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work. - Strong's Number: H4522
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַס
Transliteration: maç
Pronunciation: mas
Description: or מִס; from מָסַס; properly, a burden (as causing to faint), i.e. a tax in the form of forced labor; discomfited, levy, task(-master), tribute(-tary). - Strong's Number: H8269
There are 368 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שַׂר
Transliteration: sar
Pronunciation: sar
Description: from שָׂרַר; a head person (of any rank or class); captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward. - Strong's Number: H6031
There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָנָה
Transliteration: ʻânâh
Pronunciation: aw-naw'
Description: a primitive root (possibly rather identical with עָנָה through the idea of looking down or browbeating); to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows); abase self, afflict(-ion, self), answer (by mistake for עָנָה), chasten self, deal hardly with, defile, exercise, force, gentleness, humble (self), hurt, ravish, sing (by mistake for עָנָה), speak (by mistake for עָנָה), submit self, weaken, [idiom] in any wise. - Strong's Number: H5450
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סְבָלָה
Transliteration: çᵉbâlâh
Pronunciation: seb-aw-law'
Description: from סֵבֶל; porterage; burden. - Strong's Number: H1129
There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּנָה
Transliteration: bânâh
Pronunciation: baw-naw'
Description: a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively); (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely. - Strong's Number: H6547
There are 230 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פַּרְעֹה
Transliteration: Parʻôh
Pronunciation: par-o'
Description: of Egyptian derivation; Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings; Pharaoh. - Strong's Number: H4543
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִסְכְּנָה
Transliteration: miçkᵉnâh
Pronunciation: mis-ken-aw'
Description: by transp. from כָּנַס; a magazine; store(-house), treasure. - Strong's Number: H5892
There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עִיר
Transliteration: ʻîyr
Pronunciation: eer
Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. - Strong's Number: H6619
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פִּתֹם
Transliteration: Pithôm
Pronunciation: pee-thome'
Description: of Egyptian derivation; Pithom, a place in Egypt; Pithom. - Strong's Number: H7486
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רַעְמְסֵס
Transliteration: Raʻmᵉçêç
Pronunciation: rah-mes-ace'
Description: or רַעַמְסֵס; of Egyptian origin; Rameses or Raamses, a place in Egypt; Raamses, Rameses.