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

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

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

3But 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.

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

5Soon 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.

6When 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.”

7Then 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.

9Pharaoh’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.

10When 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

-וַיֵּ֥לֶךְH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularNow a manאִ֖ישׁH376Noun - masculine singularof the houseמִבֵּ֣יתH1004Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructof Leviלֵוִ֑יH3878Noun - proper - masculine singularmarriedוַיִּקַּ֖חH3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markera Leviteלֵוִֽי׃H3878Noun - proper - masculine singularwomanבַּת־H1323Noun - feminine singular construct
Verse 2

Original words

and sheהָאִשָּׁ֖הH802Article | Noun - feminine singularconceivedוַתַּ֥הַרH2029Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularand gave birth toוַתֵּ֣לֶדH3205Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singulara sonבֵּ֑ןH1121Noun - masculine singularWhen she sawוַתֵּ֤רֶאH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular-אֹתוֹ֙H853Direct object marker | third person masculine singularthatכִּי־H3588Conjunctionhe [was a]ה֔וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularbeautiful [child]ט֣וֹבH2896Adjective - masculine singularshe hid himוַֽתִּצְפְּנֵ֖הוּH6845Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singularfor threeשְׁלֹשָׁ֥הH7969Number - masculine singularmonthsיְרָחִֽים׃H3391Noun - masculine plural
Verse 3

Original words

But when she couldיָכְלָ֣הH3201Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularnoוְלֹא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlelongerעוֹד֮H5750Adverbhide himהַצְּפִינוֹ֒H6845Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularshe gotוַתִּֽקַּֽח־H3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularhimלוֹ֙Preposition | third person masculine singulara papyrusגֹּ֔מֶאH1573Noun - masculine singularbasketתֵּ֣בַתH8392Noun - feminine singular constructand coated itוַתַּחְמְרָ֥הH2560Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person feminine singularwith tarבַחֵמָ֖רH2564Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularand pitchוּבַזָּ֑פֶתH2203Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularThen she placedוַתָּ֤שֶׂםH7760Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularthe childהַיֶּ֔לֶדH3206Article | Noun - masculine singularinבָּהּ֙Preposition | third person feminine singular[the basket]אֶת־H853Direct object markerand setוַתָּ֥שֶׂםH7760Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularit among the reedsבַּסּ֖וּףH5488Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularalongעַל־H5921Prepositionthe bankשְׂפַ֥תH8193Noun - feminine singular constructof the Nileהַיְאֹֽר׃H2975Article | 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 sisterאֲחֹת֖וֹH269Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularstoodוַתֵּתַצַּ֥בH3320Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularat a distanceמֵרָחֹ֑קH7350Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singularto seeלְדֵעָ֕הH3045Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singularwhatמַה־H4100Interrogativewould happenיֵּעָשֶׂ֖הH6213Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularto himלֽוֹ׃Preposition | third person masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

Soon the daughterבַּת־H1323Noun - feminine singular constructof Pharaohפַּרְעֹה֙H6547Noun - proper - masculine singularwent downוַתֵּ֤רֶדH3381Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularto batheלִרְחֹ֣ץH7364Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructinעַל־H5921Prepositionthe Nileהַיְאֹ֔רH2975Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularand her attendantsוְנַעֲרֹתֶ֥יהָH5291Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine singularwere walkingהֹלְכֹ֖תH1980Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine pluralalongעַל־H5921Prepositionthe riverbankיַ֣דH3027Noun - feminine singular construct. . .הַיְאֹ֑רH2975Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularAnd when she sawוַתֵּ֤רֶאH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe basketהַתֵּבָה֙H8392Article | Noun - feminine singularamongבְּת֣וֹךְH8432Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructthe reedsהַסּ֔וּףH5488Article | Noun - masculine singularshe sentוַתִּשְׁלַ֥חH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerher maidservantאֲמָתָ֖הּH519Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singularto retrieve itוַתִּקָּחֶֽהָH3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Verse 6

Original words

When she opened itוַתִּפְתַּח֙H6605Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularshe sawוַתִּרְאֵ֣הוּH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe childהַיֶּ֔לֶדH3206Article | Noun - masculine singularand beholdוְהִנֵּה־H2009Conjunctive waw | Interjectionthe little boyנַ֖עַרH5288Noun - masculine singularwas cryingבֹּכֶ֑הH1058Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularSo she had compassionוַתַּחְמֹ֣לH2550Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularon himעָלָ֔יוH5921Preposition | third person masculine singularand saidוַתֹּ֕אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularThis is one ofזֶֽה׃H2088Pronoun - masculine singularthe Hebrewהָֽעִבְרִ֖יםH5680Article | Noun - proper - masculine pluralchildrenמִיַּלְדֵ֥יH3206Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Verse 7

Original words

Then his sisterאֲחֹתוֹ֮H269Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularsaidוַתֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionPharaoh’sפַּרְעֹה֒H6547Noun - proper - masculine singulardaughterבַּת־H1323Noun - feminine singular constructShall I goהַאֵלֵ֗ךְH1980Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularand callוְקָרָ֤אתִיH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularone ofמִ֖ןH4480Prepositionthe Hebrewהָעִבְרִיֹּ֑תH5680Article | Noun - proper - feminine pluralwomenאִשָּׁ֣הH802Noun - feminine singularמֵינֶ֔קֶתמֵינֶ֔קֶתH3243Verb - Hifil - Participle - feminine singularto nurseוְתֵינִ֥קH3243Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singularthe childהַיָּֽלֶד׃H3206Article | Noun - masculine singularfor youלָ֖ךְPreposition | second person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object marker
Verse 8

Original words

Go aheadלֵ֑כִיH1980Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singularPharaoh’sפַּרְעֹ֖הH6547Noun - proper - masculine singulardaughterבַּת־H1323Noun - feminine singular constructtoldוַתֹּֽאמֶר־H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularherלָ֥הּPreposition | third person feminine singularAnd the girlהָֽעַלְמָ֔הH5959Article | Noun - feminine singularwentוַתֵּ֙לֶךְ֙H1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularand calledוַתִּקְרָ֖אH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe boy’sהַיָּֽלֶד׃H3206Article | Noun - masculine singularmotherאֵ֥םH517Noun - feminine singular construct
Verse 9

Original words

Pharaoh’sפַּרְעֹ֗הH6547Noun - proper - masculine singulardaughterבַּת־H1323Noun - feminine singular constructsaidוַתֹּ֧אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularto herלָ֣הּPreposition | third person feminine singularTakeהֵילִ֜יכִיH1980Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthisהַזֶּה֙H2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularchildהַיֶּ֤לֶדH3206Article | Noun - masculine singularand nurse himוְהֵינִקִ֣הוּH3243Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular | third person masculine singularfor meלִ֔יPreposition | first person common singularand Iוַאֲנִ֖יH589Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singularwill payאֶתֵּ֣ןH5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeryour wagesשְׂכָרֵ֑ךְH7939Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singularSo the womanהָאִשָּׁ֛הH802Article | Noun - feminine singulartookוַתִּקַּ֧חH3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularthe boyהַיֶּ֖לֶדH3206Article | Noun - masculine singularand nursed himוַתְּנִיקֵֽהוּ׃H5134Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

When the childהַיֶּ֗לֶדH3206Article | Noun - masculine singularhad grown olderוַיִגְדַּ֣לH1431Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularshe brought himוַתְּבִאֵ֙הוּ֙H935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singularto Pharaoh’sפַּרְעֹ֔הH6547Noun - proper - masculine singulardaughterלְבַת־H1323Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular constructand he becameוַֽיְהִי־H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularherלָ֖הּPreposition | third person feminine singularsonלְבֵ֑ןH1121Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularShe named himוַתִּקְרָ֤אH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular. . .שְׁמוֹ֙H8034Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularMosesמֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularand explainedוַתֹּ֕אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular. . .כִּ֥יH3588ConjunctionI drew him outמְשִׁיתִֽהוּ׃H4871Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singularofמִן־H4480Prepositionthe waterהַמַּ֖יִםH4325Article | 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.