Exodus 2 · Verse 6

Exodus 2:6

And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.
Exodus 2:6, King James Version

Exodus 2:6 in other translations

BSBWhen she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the little boy was crying. So she had compassion on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrew children.”
WEBShe opened it, and saw the child, and behold, the baby cried. She had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”
ASVAnd she opened it, and saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.
YLTand openeth, and seeth him--the lad, and lo, a child weeping! and she hath pity on him, and saith, ‘This is one of the Hebrews' children.'
DARBYAnd she opened it, and saw the child, and behold, the boy wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.
BBEAnd opening it, she saw the child, and he was crying. And she had pity on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.
WebsterAnd when she had opened it, she saw the child: and behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.

What does Exodus 2:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 2:6-9
6-9. when she had opened it, she saw the child--The narrative is picturesque. No tale of romance ever described a plot more skilfully laid or more full of interest in the development. The expedient of the ark, the slime and pitch, the choice of the time and place, the appeal to the sensibilities of the female breast, the stationing of the sister as a watch of the proceedings, her timely suggestion of a nurse, and the engagement of the mother herself--all bespeak a more than ordinary measure of ingenuity as well as intense solicitude on the part of the parents. But the origin of the scheme was most probably owing to a divine suggestion, as its success was due to an overruling Providence, who not only preserved the child's life, but provided for his being trained in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Hence it is said to have been done by faith (He 11:23), either in the general promise of deliverance, or some special revelation made to Amram and Jochebed--and in this view, the pious couple gave a beautiful example of a firm reliance on the word of God, united with an active use of the most suitable means.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 She had compassion on him - The sight of a beautiful babe in distress could not fail to make the impression here mentioned; see Clarke on Exo 2:2 (note). It has already been conjectured that the cruel edict of the Egyptian king did not continue long in force; see Exo 1:22. And it will not appear unreasonable to suppose that the circumstance related here might have brought about its abolition. The daughter of Pharaoh, struck with the distressed state of the Hebrew children from what she had seen in the case of Moses, would probably implore her father to abolish this sanguinary edict.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 2:5-10

Come, see the place where that great man, Moses, lay, when he was a little child; it was in a bulrush basket by the river's side. Had he been left there long, he must have perished. But Providence brings Pharaoh's daughter to the place where this poor forlorn infant lay, and inclines her heart to pity it, which she dares do, when none else durst. God's care of us in our infancy ought to be often mentioned by us to…

Read the full comment on Exodus 2:5-10 →

Exodus 2:6 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.

וַתִּפְתַּח֙va.tif.Tachand she opened [it]H6605
וַתִּרְאֵ֣הוּva.tir.'E.huand she saw himH7200
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַיֶּ֔לֶדhai.Ye.ledthe childH3206
וְהִנֵּה\־ve.hi.neh-and there!H2009
נַ֖עַרNa.'ara ladH5288
בֹּכֶ֑הbo.Kheh[was] cryingH1058
וַתַּחְמֹ֣לva.tach.Moland she had compassionH2550
עָלָ֔יו'a.Lavon himH5921
וַתֹּ֕אמֶרva.To.merand she saidH559
מִיַּלְדֵ֥יmi.yal.Dei[is] one of [the] children ofH3206
הָֽעִבְרִ֖יםha.'iv.Rimthe HebrewsH5680
זֶֽה\׃ZehthisH2088

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

Cross references for Exodus 2:6

  • 1 Kings 8:50

    And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:

  • 1 Peter 3:8

    Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

  • Acts 7:21

    And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

  • Nehemiah 1:11

    O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.

  • Psalms 106:46

    He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.

  • Proverbs 21:1

    The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
she had compassion.
1Ki 8:50; Ne 1:11; Ps 106:46; Pr 21:1; Ac 7:21; 1Pe 3:8

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

Context

  • Exodus 2:5

    And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.

  • Exodus 2:6

    And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.

  • 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?

Read all of Exodus 2

Exodus 2:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y como la abrió, vió al niño; y he aquí que el niño lloraba. Y teniendo compasión de él, dijo: De los niños de los Hebreos es éste.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et elle l’ouvrit, et vit l’enfant; et voici, c’était un petit garçon qui pleurait. Et elle eut compassion de lui, et dit: C’est un des enfants des Hébreux.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie öffnete es und sah das Kind, und siehe, der Knabe weinte. Und es erbarmte sie seiner, und sie sprach: Von den Kindern der Hebräer ist dieses.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		aperiens, cernensque in ea parvulum vagientem, miserta ejus, ait: De infantibus Hebræorum est hic.