Exodus 1 · Verse 9

Exodus 1:9

And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
Exodus 1:9, King James Version

Exodus 1:9 in other translations

BSB“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us.
WEBHe said to his people, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.
ASVAnd he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
YLTand he saith unto his people, ‘Lo, the people of the sons of Israel is more numerous and mighty than we;
DARBYAnd he said to his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more numerous and stronger than we.
BBEAnd he said to his people, See, the people of Israel are greater in number and in power than we are:
WebsterAnd he said to his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.

What does Exodus 1:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 1:9-10
9-10. he said ... Behold, the ... children of Israel are more and mightier than we--They had risen to great prosperity--as during the lifetime of Joseph and his royal patron, they had, probably, enjoyed a free grant of the land. Their increase and prosperity were viewed with jealousy by the new government; and as Goshen lay between Egypt and Canaan, on the border of which latter country were a number of warlike tribes, it was perfectly conformable to the suggestions of worldly policy that they should enslave and maltreat them, through apprehension of their joining in any invasion by those foreign rovers. The new king, who neither knew the name nor cared for the services of Joseph, was either Amosis, or one of his immediate successors [Osburn].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 He said unto his people - He probably summoned a council of his nobles and elders to consider the subject; and the result was to persecute and destroy them, as is afterwards stated.

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 1:9 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.

וַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אֶל\־'el-toH413
עַמּ֑וֹa.Mopeople hisH5971
הִנֵּ֗הhi.Nehhere!H2009
עַ֚ם'am[the] people ofH5971
בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] people ofH1121
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
רַ֥בrav[is] numerousH7227
וְעָצ֖וּםve.'a.Tzumand mightyH6099
מִמֶּֽנּוּ\׃mi.Me.numore than usH4480

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

Cross references for Exodus 1:9

  • Psalms 105:24-25

    And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies. He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.

  • James 3:14-16

    But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:4

    Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Proverbs 14:28

    In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

  • Proverbs 27:4

    Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

  • Titus 3:3

    For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

  • Numbers 22:4-5

    And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

  • Job 5:2

    For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.

  • James 4:5

    Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the people.
Nu 22:4,5; Job 5:2; Ps 105:24,25; Pr 14:28; 27:4; Ec 4:4; Tit 3:3
Jas 3:14-16; 4:5

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

Context

  • Exodus 1:8

    Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

  • Exodus 1:9

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

  • Exodus 1:10

    Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

Read all of Exodus 1

Exodus 1:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		He aquí, el pueblo de los hijos de Israel es mayor y más fuerte que nosotros:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il dit à son peuple: Voici, le peuple des fils d’Israël est plus nombreux et plus fort que nous.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er sprach zu seinem Volke: Siehe, das Volk der Kinder Israel ist zahlreicher und stärker als wir.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ait ad populum suum: Ecce, populus filiorum Israël multus, et fortior nobis est.