Exodus 1 · Verse 12

Exodus 1:12

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
Exodus 1:12, King James Version

Exodus 1:12 in other translations

BSBBut the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.
WEBBut the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They started to dread the children of Israel.
ASVBut the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
YLTand as they afflict it, so it multiplieth, and so it breaketh forth, and they are vexed because of the sons of Israel;
DARBYBut the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and spread; and they were distressed because of the children of Israel.
BBEBut the more cruel they were to them, the more their number increased, till all the land was full of them. And the children of Israel were hated by the Egyptians.
WebsterBut the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

What does Exodus 1:12 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 But the more they afflicted them - The margin has pretty nearly preserved the import of the original: And as they afflicted them, so they multiplied and so they grew That is, in proportion to their afflictions was their prosperity; and had their sufferings been greater, their increase would have been still more abundant.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 1:8-14

The land of Egypt became to Israel a house of bondage. The place where we have been happy, may soon become the place of our affliction; and that may prove the greatest cross to us, of which we said, This same shall comfort us. Cease from man, and say not of any place on this side heaven, This is my rest. All that knew Joseph, loved him, and were kind to his brethren for his sake; but the best and most useful…

Read the full comment on Exodus 1:8-14 →

Exodus 1:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְכַאֲשֶׁר֙ve.kha.'a.Sherand just asH834
יְעַנּ֣וּye.'a.Nupeople afflictedH6031
אֹת֔וֹ'o.To<obj.> itH853
כֵּ֥ןkensoH3651
יִרְבֶּ֖הyir.Behit increasedH7235
וְכֵ֣ןve.Khenand soH3651
יִפְרֹ֑ץyif.Rotzit spreadH6555
וַיָּקֻ֕צוּvai.ya.Ku.tzuand people felt dreadH6973
מִפְּנֵ֖יmi.pe.Nei<from> because ofH6440
בְּנֵ֥יbe.Nei[the] people ofH1121
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל\׃Yis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 1:12

  • Psalms 105:24

    And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.

  • Exodus 1:9

    And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:

  • Romans 8:28

    And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

  • Acts 5:28-33

    Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. …

  • Acts 4:2-4

    Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

  • John 12:19

    The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
But the more, etc. Heb. and as they afflicted them, so theymultiplied, etc.
Ps 105:24; Pr 21:30; Ro 8:28; Heb 12:6-11
grieved.
9; Job 5:2; Pr 27:4; Joh 12:19; Ac 4:2-4; 5:28-33

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Exodus 1:11

    Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

  • Exodus 1:12

    But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

  • Exodus 1:13

    And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:

Read all of Exodus 1

Exodus 1:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Empero cuanto más los oprimían, tanto más se multiplicaban y crecían: así que estaban ellos fastidiados de los hijos de Israel.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et selon qu’ils l’opprimaient, il multipliait et croissait; et ils eurent peur des fils d’Israël.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber so wie sie es drückten, also mehrte es sich, und also breitete es sich aus; und es graute ihnen vor den Kindern Israel.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quantoque opprimebant eos, tanto magis multiplicabantur, et crescebant: