Pharaoh פַּרְעֹה
Egyptian Pharaoh during Moses' birth and early life
Who is Pharaoh in the Bible?
Pharaoh was the Egyptian ruler who reigned during Moses' birth and early life, as recorded in Exodus 1-2. Fearing that the Hebrew population was growing too large, he enslaved the Israelites and forced them into hard labor. When this did not slow their numbers, Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all male infants born to the Israelites, and when they refused, he commanded that every Hebrew baby boy be thrown into the Nile River (Exodus 1:11, 1:22). Ironically, Pharaoh's own daughter discovered the infant Moses floating in a basket among the reeds and adopted him, unknowingly raising the one who would later confront her father and demand the release of the enslaved Israelites. This Pharaoh's cruelty and hardened heart set in motion the events that led to the great exodus and God's deliverance of His people from Egypt.
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
"So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 1:19
"The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.”"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 1:22
"Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every son born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you may allow to live.”"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 2:5
"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."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 2:7
"Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call one of the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”"
Study Exodus →
Acts 1 verse
- Acts 7:21
"When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son."
Study Acts →
Hebrews 1 verse
- Hebrews 11:24
"By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter."
Study Hebrews →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | פַּרְעֹה | parĕʿōh | Paroh , a general title of Egyptian kings |
| Greek | Greek | Φαραώ | — | — |