Exodus 1:7

7 But the sons of Israel ¹were fruitful and ^[a]increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly ^[b]mighty, so that the land was filled with them.

Exodus 1:7 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 1:7

And the children of Israel were fruitful
In their offspring; became like fruitful trees, as the word signifies:

and increased abundantly;
like creeping things, or rather like fishes, which increase very much, see ( Genesis 1:20 )

and multiplied;
became very numerous, whereby the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were fulfilled:

and waxed exceeding mighty;
were hale, and strong, of good constitutions, able bodied men, and so more dreaded by the Egyptians: a heap of words is here used to express the vast increase of the people of Israel in Egypt:

and the land was filled with them;
not the whole land of Egypt, but the land of Goshen: at first they were seated in a village in that country, but now they were spread throughout the towns and cities in it.

Exodus 1:7 In-Context

5 All the persons who came from the loins of Jacob were seventy in number, but Joseph was already in Egypt.

6 Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.

7 But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them.

8 Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.

9 He said to his people, "Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 12:2; Genesis 28:3; Genesis 35:11; Genesis 46:3; Genesis 47:27; Genesis 48:4; Deuteronomy 26:5; Psalms 105:24; Acts 7:17

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "swarmed"
• [b] Or "numerous"