Pharaoh פַּרְעֹה
Egyptian Pharaoh during Moses' birth and early life
Biography
This Pharaoh was the Egyptian ruler during the time of Moses' birth and early life (Exodus 1-2). Fearing the growing Hebrew population, Pharaoh enslaved the Israelites and subjected them to hard labor. He ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill any male infants born to the Israelites, but they disobeyed, claiming that Hebrew women gave birth too quickly. Pharaoh then commanded that all Hebrew male infants be thrown into the Nile River.
During this time, Moses was born and hidden by his mother for three months. When she could no longer hide him, she placed him in a basket among the reeds of the Nile. Pharaoh's daughter discovered the baby and decided to adopt him, unknowingly hiring Moses' mother as his nurse. Moses grew up in Pharaoh's court, but he later fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian who was mistreating a Hebrew (Exo.2.11-15; Act.7.21-29; Heb.11.24-27).
The Bible does not provide the specific name or historical identity of this Pharaoh, as the term "Pharaoh" was used as a title for Egyptian kings. Some scholars suggest that this Pharaoh may have been from the 18th or 19th Dynasty of the New Kingdom period, possibly Thutmose I, Thutmose II, or Amenhotep I, based on the historical and archaeological evidence of the Israelites' presence in Egypt.
Family
In Scripture
3 biblical books ; 3 with study contentExodus 5 verses
- Exodus 1:11
"Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 1:19
"The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women aren’t like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 1:22
"Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 2:5
"Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe at the river. Her maidens walked along by the riverside. She saw the basket among the reeds, and sent her servant to get it."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 2:7
"Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Should I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?”"
Study Exodus →
Acts 1 verse
- Acts 7:21
"When he was thrown out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up and reared him as her own son."
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Hebrews 1 verse
- Hebrews 11:24
"By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,"
Study Hebrews →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | פַּרְעֹה | H6547I |
| Greek | Greek | Φαραώ | G5328H |