Exodus 1:7

And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

And the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} were fruitful {H6509}, and increased abundantly {H8317}, and multiplied {H7235}, and waxed exceeding {H3966}{H3966} mighty {H6105}; and the land {H776} was filled {H4390} with them.

The descendants of Isra'el were fruitful, increased abundantly, multiplied and grew very powerful; the land became filled with them.

but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

Commentary

Exodus 1:7 KJV describes the remarkable demographic explosion of the Israelites in Egypt following Joseph's death. This verse is pivotal, setting the stage for the dramatic events of the Exodus narrative.

Context

This verse immediately follows the list of Jacob's descendants who came into Egypt, numbering just seventy souls (Genesis 46:27). After centuries in Egypt, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had grown exponentially. This rapid multiplication was a direct fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants would be numerous, like the stars of the heavens or the dust of the earth (Genesis 12:2, Genesis 17:6). The "land" mentioned here refers to the land of Goshen, the fertile region in Egypt where the Israelites were settled.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Faithfulness and Blessing: The extraordinary growth of the Israelites demonstrates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant with their patriarchs. Despite being in a foreign land, under changing political leadership, God actively blessed and prospered His people.
  • Demographic Power: The repetition of terms like "fruitful," "increased abundantly," "multiplied," and "waxed exceeding mighty" emphasizes an overwhelming, almost miraculous, population boom. This growth transformed a small family into a formidable nation within Egypt.
  • Seeds of Conflict: This verse foreshadows the coming oppression. The sheer numbers and strength of the Israelites, described as "filling the land," would soon be perceived as a threat by a new, insecure Pharaoh (Exodus 1:9), leading to their enslavement.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses four distinct verbs to convey the Israelites' growth, each carrying significant weight in the original Hebrew:

  • "fruitful" (Hebrew: parah) - to bear fruit, be productive, akin to the command given in Genesis 1:28.
  • "increased abundantly" (Hebrew: sharats) - to teem, swarm, or multiply profusely. This word is often used for rapidly multiplying creatures (e.g., insects, fish), emphasizing a vast, almost overwhelming number.
  • "multiplied" (Hebrew: rabah) - to become great, numerous, or abundant.
  • "waxed exceeding mighty" (Hebrew: 'atsam me'od) - to become exceedingly strong, mighty, or numerous. This signifies not just quantity but also power and influence.

The cumulative effect of these terms paints a vivid picture of a divinely orchestrated demographic explosion.

Practical Application

Exodus 1:7 reminds us of God's faithfulness to His promises, even when circumstances seem bleak or His people are in foreign lands. It highlights that God's plans are sovereign and unstoppable. Even the subsequent oppression by Pharaoh could not thwart God's ultimate purpose to deliver His people and bring them into the promised land. For believers today, it serves as an encouragement that God's word will always accomplish what He sets out to do, and His blessings can manifest in unexpected and overwhelming ways, even leading to challenges that ultimately serve His greater purpose.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 46:3 (9 votes)

    And he said, I [am] God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

  • Genesis 1:28 (6 votes)

    And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

  • Deuteronomy 26:5 (6 votes)

    And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish [was] my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:

  • Genesis 12:2 (5 votes)

    And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

  • Genesis 35:11 (5 votes)

    And God said unto him, I [am] God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

  • Genesis 47:27 (5 votes)

    ¶ And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.

  • Genesis 9:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.