Exodus 2:7

Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

Then said {H559} his sister {H269} to Pharaoh's {H6547} daughter {H1323}, Shall I go {H3212} and call {H7121} to thee a nurse {H3243} of the Hebrew {H5680} women {H802}, that she may nurse {H3243} the child {H3206} for thee?

At this point, his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Would you like me to go and find you one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?"

Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call one of the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”

Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

Commentary

Exodus 2:7 (KJV)

Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

This verse is a pivotal moment in the early life of Moses. It follows the dramatic scene where Moses, placed in a basket (ark) in the Nile to escape Pharaoh's decree to kill all male Hebrew infants, is discovered by Pharaoh's daughter.

Context and Background

Pharaoh had ordered the extermination of male Israelite babies (Exodus 1:22). Moses' mother, Jochebed, hid him for three months before placing him in the ark. His sister, traditionally identified as Miriam (though not named here), watched from a distance to see what would happen. When Pharaoh's daughter took pity on the baby, Miriam seized the opportunity.

It was common practice in ancient times for royal children, or children of wealthy families, to be nursed by a wet nurse, often from outside the immediate family. Miriam's question plays on this custom.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Providence: This verse highlights God's intricate plan at work. Miriam's presence and quick thinking, though seemingly a simple act, are instrumental in ensuring Moses is not only saved but is returned to his own family for his crucial early years.
  • Human Agency in God's Plan: While God is sovereign, this shows human actions, even those of a young girl, are used by God to bring about His purposes.
  • The Role of Family: This clever suggestion allows Moses' own mother to nurse him, ensuring he is raised with knowledge of his heritage and faith before being brought into the Egyptian palace.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "nurse" is yanak (יָנַק), which simply means "to suckle" or "to give milk." The term "nurse" here refers to a wet nurse, someone who provides milk to a child not their own.

Reflection

This moment, facilitated by the boldness and quick thinking of a young girl, demonstrates how God can use unexpected people and seemingly small actions to accomplish great things. It shows God's care for the vulnerable and His ability to turn dire situations into opportunities for His plan to unfold.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 2:4

    And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

  • Numbers 26:59

    And the name of Amram's wife [was] Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom [her mother] bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.

  • Numbers 12:1

    ¶ And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

  • Exodus 15:20

    And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
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