Focused Passage

Exodus 2:1-10

The Birth, Preservation, and Exile of Moses

Moses is born under a death decree, preserved through providence, raised in Pharaoh's household, exiled after failed intervention, and positioned in Midian while God hears Israel's groaning and remembers His covenant.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman,

2 and she conceived and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months.

3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got him a papyrus basket and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in the basket and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.

4 And his sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

5 Soon the daughter of Pharaoh went down to bathe in the Nile, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. And when she saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maidservant to retrieve it.

6 When 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.”

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

8 “Go ahead,” Pharaoh’s daughter told her. And the girl went and called the boy’s mother.

9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay your wages.” So the woman took the boy and nursed him.

10 When the child had grown older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses and explained, “I drew him out of the water.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

- וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Now a man אִ֖ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular of the house מִבֵּ֣ית H1004 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of Levi לֵוִ֑י H3878 Noun - proper - masculine singular married וַיִּקַּ֖ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker a Levite לֵוִֽי׃ H3878 Noun - proper - masculine singular woman בַּת־ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct
Verse 2

Original words

and she הָאִשָּׁ֖ה H802 Article | Noun - feminine singular conceived וַתַּ֥הַר H2029 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular and gave birth to וַתֵּ֣לֶד H3205 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular a son בֵּ֑ן H1121 Noun - masculine singular When she saw וַתֵּ֤רֶא H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular - אֹתוֹ֙ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular that כִּי־ H3588 Conjunction he [was a] ה֔וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular beautiful [child] ט֣וֹב H2896 Adjective - masculine singular she hid him וַֽתִּצְפְּנֵ֖הוּ H6845 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular for three שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה H7969 Number - masculine singular months יְרָחִֽים׃ H3391 Noun - masculine plural
Verse 3

Original words

But when she could יָכְלָ֣ה H3201 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular no וְלֹא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle longer עוֹד֮ H5750 Adverb hide him הַצְּפִינוֹ֒ H6845 Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular she got וַתִּֽקַּֽח־ H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular him לוֹ֙ Preposition | third person masculine singular a papyrus גֹּ֔מֶא H1573 Noun - masculine singular basket תֵּ֣בַת H8392 Noun - feminine singular construct and coated it וַתַּחְמְרָ֥ה H2560 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person feminine singular with tar בַחֵמָ֖ר H2564 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular and pitch וּבַזָּ֑פֶת H2203 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Then she placed וַתָּ֤שֶׂם H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular the child הַיֶּ֔לֶד H3206 Article | Noun - masculine singular in בָּהּ֙ Preposition | third person feminine singular [the basket] אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker and set וַתָּ֥שֶׂם H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular it among the reeds בַּסּ֖וּף H5488 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular along עַל־ H5921 Preposition the bank שְׂפַ֥ת H8193 Noun - feminine singular construct of the Nile הַיְאֹֽר׃ H2975 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • The Hebrew can also mean ark; also in verse 5; see Genesis 6:14.
Verse 4

Original words

And his sister אֲחֹת֖וֹ H269 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular stood וַתֵּתַצַּ֥ב H3320 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular at a distance מֵרָחֹ֑ק H7350 Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular to see לְדֵעָ֕ה H3045 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular what מַה־ H4100 Interrogative would happen יֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה H6213 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular to him לֽוֹ׃ Preposition | third person masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

Soon the daughter בַּת־ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct of Pharaoh פַּרְעֹה֙ H6547 Noun - proper - masculine singular went down וַתֵּ֤רֶד H3381 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular to bathe לִרְחֹ֣ץ H7364 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct in עַל־ H5921 Preposition the Nile הַיְאֹ֔ר H2975 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular and her attendants וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֥יהָ H5291 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine singular were walking הֹלְכֹ֖ת H1980 Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural along עַל־ H5921 Preposition the riverbank יַ֣ד H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct . . . הַיְאֹ֑ר H2975 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular And when she saw וַתֵּ֤רֶא H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the basket הַתֵּבָה֙ H8392 Article | Noun - feminine singular among בְּת֣וֹךְ H8432 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct the reeds הַסּ֔וּף H5488 Article | Noun - masculine singular she sent וַתִּשְׁלַ֥ח H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker her maidservant אֲמָתָ֖הּ H519 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular to retrieve it וַתִּקָּחֶֽהָ H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Verse 6

Original words

When she opened it וַתִּפְתַּח֙ H6605 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular she saw וַתִּרְאֵ֣הוּ H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the child הַיֶּ֔לֶד H3206 Article | Noun - masculine singular and behold וְהִנֵּה־ H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection the little boy נַ֖עַר H5288 Noun - masculine singular was crying בֹּכֶ֑ה H1058 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular So she had compassion וַתַּחְמֹ֣ל H2550 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular on him עָלָ֔יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular and said וַתֹּ֕אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular This is one of זֶֽה׃ H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular the Hebrew הָֽעִבְרִ֖ים H5680 Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural children מִיַּלְדֵ֥י H3206 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Verse 7

Original words

Then his sister אֲחֹתוֹ֮ H269 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular said וַתֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Pharaoh’s פַּרְעֹה֒ H6547 Noun - proper - masculine singular daughter בַּת־ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct Shall I go הַאֵלֵ֗ךְ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular and call וְקָרָ֤אתִי H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular one of מִ֖ן H4480 Preposition the Hebrew הָעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת H5680 Article | Noun - proper - feminine plural women אִשָּׁ֣ה H802 Noun - feminine singular מֵינֶ֔קֶת מֵינֶ֔קֶת H3243 Verb - Hifil - Participle - feminine singular to nurse וְתֵינִ֥ק H3243 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular the child הַיָּֽלֶד׃ H3206 Article | Noun - masculine singular for you לָ֖ךְ Preposition | second person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker
Verse 8

Original words

Go ahead לֵ֑כִי H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular Pharaoh’s פַּרְעֹ֖ה H6547 Noun - proper - masculine singular daughter בַּת־ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct told וַתֹּֽאמֶר־ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular her לָ֥הּ Preposition | third person feminine singular And the girl הָֽעַלְמָ֔ה H5959 Article | Noun - feminine singular went וַתֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular and called וַתִּקְרָ֖א H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the boy’s הַיָּֽלֶד׃ H3206 Article | Noun - masculine singular mother אֵ֥ם H517 Noun - feminine singular construct
Verse 9

Original words

Pharaoh’s פַּרְעֹ֗ה H6547 Noun - proper - masculine singular daughter בַּת־ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct said וַתֹּ֧אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular to her לָ֣הּ Preposition | third person feminine singular Take הֵילִ֜יכִי H1980 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker this הַזֶּה֙ H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular child הַיֶּ֤לֶד H3206 Article | Noun - masculine singular and nurse him וְהֵינִקִ֣הוּ H3243 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular | third person masculine singular for me לִ֔י Preposition | first person common singular and I וַאֲנִ֖י H589 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular will pay אֶתֵּ֣ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker your wages שְׂכָרֵ֑ךְ H7939 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular So the woman הָאִשָּׁ֛ה H802 Article | Noun - feminine singular took וַתִּקַּ֧ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular the boy הַיֶּ֖לֶד H3206 Article | Noun - masculine singular and nursed him וַתְּנִיקֵֽהוּ׃ H5134 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

When the child הַיֶּ֗לֶד H3206 Article | Noun - masculine singular had grown older וַיִגְדַּ֣ל H1431 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular she brought him וַתְּבִאֵ֙הוּ֙ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular to Pharaoh’s פַּרְעֹ֔ה H6547 Noun - proper - masculine singular daughter לְבַת־ H1323 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct and he became וַֽיְהִי־ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular her לָ֖הּ Preposition | third person feminine singular son לְבֵ֑ן H1121 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular She named him וַתִּקְרָ֤א H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular . . . שְׁמוֹ֙ H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Moses מֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular and explained וַתֹּ֕אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular . . . כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction I drew him out מְשִׁיתִֽהוּ׃ H4871 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular of מִן־ H4480 Preposition the water הַמַּ֖יִם H4325 Article | Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Moses sounds like a Hebrew term that means to lift out.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.