Exodus Chapter 2
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
2
And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
3
And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch; and she put the child therein, and laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.
4
And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.
5
And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river-side; and she saw the ark among the flags, and sent her handmaid to fetch it.
6
And 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.
7
Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?
8
And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maiden went and called the child’s mother.
9
And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.
10
And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses, and said, Because I drew him out of the water.
11
And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown up, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren.
12
And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
13
And he went out the second day, and, behold, two men of the Hebrews were striving together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
14
And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? thinkest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely the thing is known.
15
Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
16
Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
17
And the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18
And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to-day?
19
And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock.
20
And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.
21
And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
22
And she bare a son, and he called his name Gershom; for he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.
23
And it came to pass in the course of those many days, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
24
And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
25
And God saw the children of Israel, and God took knowledge
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And a man of the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi.
2
And the woman conceived, and bore a son. And she saw him that he was fair, and hid him three months.
3
And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an ark of reeds, and plastered it with resin and with pitch, and put the child in it, and laid [it] in the sedge on the bank of the river.
4
And his sister stood afar off to see what would happen to him.
5
And the daughter of Pharaoh went down to bathe in the river; and her maids went along by the river's side. And she saw the ark in the midst of the sedge, and sent her handmaid and fetched it.
6
And 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.
7
And his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call thee a wet-nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?
8
And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the damsel went and called the child's mother.
9
And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Take this child away and nurse it for me, and I will give [thee] thy wages. And the woman took the child and nursed it.
10
And when the child was grown, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses, and said, Because I drew him out of the water.
11
And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their burdens; and he saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren.
12
And he turned this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
13
And he went out on the second day, and behold, two Hebrew men were quarrelling; and he said to him that was in the wrong, Why art thou smiting thy neighbour?
14
And he said, Who made thee ruler and judge over us? dost thou intend to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? Then Moses feared, and said, Surely the matter is known.
15
And Pharaoh heard of this matter, and sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from before Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian. And he sat by the well.
16
And the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came and drew [water], and filled the troughs, to water their father's flock.
17
And the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses rose and helped them, and watered their flock.
18
And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, Why are ye come so soon to-day?
19
And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew [water] abundantly for us, and watered the flock.
20
And he said to his daughters, And where is he? why then have ye left the man behind? Call him, that he may eat bread.
21
And Moses consented to remain with the man; and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
22
And she bore a son, and he called his name Gershom; for he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.
23
And it came to pass during those many days, that the king of Egypt died. And the children of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and cried; and their cry came up toGod because of the bondage;
24
andGod heard their groaning, andGod remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob;
25
andGod looked upon the children of Israel, andGod acknowledged [them].
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
And there was a certain man of the tribe of Levi, who took to wife one of the daughters of Levi.
2
And she conceived, and bore a male child; and having seen that he was fair, they hid him three months.
3
And when they could no longer hide him, his mother took for him an ark, and besmeared it with bitumen, and cast the child into it, and put it in the ooze by the river.
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And his sister was watching from a distance, to learn what would happen to him.
5
And the daughter of Pharao came down to the river to bathe; and her maids walked by the river's side, and having seen the ark in the ooze, she sent her maid, and took it up.
6
And having opened it, she sees the babe weeping in the ark: and the daughter of Pharao had compassion on it, and said, This [is one] of the Hebrews' children.
7
And his sister said to the daughter of Pharao, Wilt thou that I call to thee a nurse of the Hebrews, and shall she suckle the child for thee?
8
And the daughter of Pharao said, Go: and the young woman went, and called the mother of the child.
9
And the daughter of Pharao said to her, Take care of this child, and suckle it for me, and I will give thee the wages; and the woman took the child, and suckled it.
10
And when the boy was grown, she brought him to the daughter of Pharao, and he became her son; and she called his name, Moses, saying, I took him out of the water.
11
And it came to pass in that length of time, that Moses having grown, went out to his brethren the sons of Israel: and having noticed their distress, he sees an Egyptian smiting a certain Hebrew of his brethren the children of Israel.
12
And having looked round this way and that way, he sees no one; and he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
13
And having gone out the second day he sees two Hebrew men fighting; and he says to the injurer, Wherefore smitest thou thy neighbour?
14
And he said, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? wilt thou slay me as thou yesterday slewest the Egyptian? Then Moses was alarmed, and said, If [it be] thus, this matter has become known.
15
And Pharao heard this matter, and sought to slay Moses; and Moses departed from the presence of Pharao, and dwelt in the land of Madiam; and having come into the land of Madiam, he sat on the well.
16
And the priest of Madiam had seven daughters, feeding the flock of their father Jothor; and they came and drew water until they filled their pitchers, to water the flock of their father Jothor.
17
And the shepherds came, and were driving them away; and Moses rose up and rescued them, and drew water for them, and watered their sheep.
18
And they came to Raguel their father; and he said to them, Why have ye come so quickly to-day?
19
And they said, An Egyptian delivered us from the shepherds, and drew water for us and watered our sheep.
20
And he said to his daughters, And where is he? and why have ye left the man? call him therefore, that he may eat bread.
21
And Moses was established with the man, and he gave Sepphora his daughter to Moses to wife.
22
And the woman conceived and bore a son, and Moses called his name Gersam, saying, I am a sojourner in a strange land.
23
And in those days after a length of time, the king of Egypt died; and the children of Israel groaned because of their tasks, and cried, and their cry because of their tasks went up to God.
24
And God heard their groanings, and God remembered his covenant made with Abraam and Isaac and Jacob.
25
And God looked upon the children of Israel, and was made known to them.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Egressus est post hæc vir de domo Levi: et accepit uxorem stirpis suæ.
2
quæ concepit, et peperit filium: et videns eum elegantem, abscondit tribus mensibus.
3
Cumque iam celare non posset, sumpsit fiscellam scirpeam, et linivit eam bitumine ac pice: posuitque intus infantulum, et exposuit eum in carecto ripæ fluminis,
4
stante procul sorore eius, et considerante eventum rei.
5
Ecce autem descendebat filia Pharaonis ut lavaretur in flumine: et puellæ eius gradiebantur per crepidinem alvei. Quæ cum vidisset fiscellam in papyrione, misit unam e famulabus suis: et allatam
6
aperiens, cernensque in ea parvulum vagientem, miserta eius, ait: De infantibus Hebræorum est hic.
7
Cui soror pueri: Vis, inquit, ut vadam, et vocem tibi mulierem Hebræam, quæ nutrire possit infantulum?
8
Respondit: Vade. Perrexit puella et vocavit matrem suam.
9
Ad quam locuta filia Pharaonis: Accipe, ait, puerum istum, et nutri mihi: ego dabo tibi mercedem tuam. Suscepit mulier, et nutrivit puerum: adultumque tradidit filiæ Pharaonis.
10
Quem illa adoptavit in locum filii, vocavitque nomen eius Moyses, dicens: Quia de aqua tuli eum.
11
In diebus illis postquam creverat Moyses, egressus est ad fratres suos: viditque afflictionem eorum, et virum Ægyptium percutientem quemdam de Hebræis fratribus suis.
12
Cumque circumspexisset huc atque illuc, et nullum adesse vidisset, percussum Ægyptium abscondit sabulo.
13
Et egressus die altero conspexit duos Hebræos rixantes: dixitque ei qui faciebat iniuriam: Quare percutis proximum tuum?
14
Qui respondit: Quis te constituit principem et iudicem super nos? num occidere me tu vis, sicut heri occidisti Ægyptium? Timuit Moyses, et ait: Quomodo palam factum est verbum istud?
15
Audivitque Pharao sermonem hunc, et quærebat occidere Moysen: qui fugiens de conspectu eius, moratus est in Terra Madian, et sedit iuxta puteum.
16
Erant autem sacerdoti Madian septem filiæ, quæ venerunt ad hauriendam aquam: et impletis canalibus adaquare cupiebant greges patris sui.
17
Supervenere pastores, et eiecerunt eas: surrexitque Moyses, et defensis puellis, adaquavit oves earum.
18
Quæ cum revertissent ad Raguel patrem suum, dixit ad eas: Cur velocius venistis solito?
19
Responderunt: Vir Ægyptius liberavit nos de manu pastorum: insuper et hausit aquam nobiscum, potumque dedit ovibus.
20
At ille: Ubi est? inquit, Quare dimisistis hominem? vocate eum ut comedat panem.
21
Iuravit ergo Moyses quod habitaret cum eo. Accepitque Sephoram filiam eius uxorem:
22
quæ peperit ei filium, quem vocavit Gersam, dicens: Advena fui in terra aliena. Alterum vero peperit, quem vocavit Eliezer, dicens: Deus enim patris mei adiutor meus eripuit me de manu Pharaonis.
23
Post multum vero tempore mortuus est rex Ægypti: et ingemiscentes filii Israel, propter opera vociferati sunt: ascenditque clamor eorum ad Deum ab operibus.
24
Et audivit gemitum eorum, ac recordatus est fœderis quod pepigit cum Abraham, Isaac, et Iacob.
25
Et respexit Dominus filios Israel et cognovit eos.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
A man of the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi as his wife.
2
The woman conceived and bore a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.
3
When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.
4
His sister stood far off, to see what would be done to him.
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.
6
She 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.”
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?”
8
Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” The young woman went and called the child’s mother.
9
Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away, and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” The woman took the child, and nursed it.
10
The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”
11
In those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers and saw their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers.
12
He looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no one, he killed the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
13
He went out the second day, and behold, two men of the Hebrews were fighting with each other. He said to him who did the wrong, “Why do you strike your fellow?”
14
He said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?” Moses was afraid, and said, “Surely this thing is known.”
15
Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and lived in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well.
16
Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
17
The shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18
When they came to Reuel, their father, he said, “How is it that you have returned so early today?”
19
They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock.”
20
He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.”
21
Moses was content to dwell with the man. He gave Moses Zipporah, his daughter.
22
She bore a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land.”
23
In the course of those many days, the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.
24
God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
25
God saw the children of Israel, and God understood.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And there goeth a man of the house of Levi, and he taketh the daughter of Levi,
2
and the woman conceiveth, and beareth a son, and she seeth him that he <FI>is<Fi> fair, and she hideth him three months,
3
and she hath not been able any more to hide him, and she taketh for him an ark of rushes, and daubeth it with bitumen and with pitch, and putteth the lad in it, and putteth <FI>it<Fi> in the weeds by the edge of the River;
4
and his sister stationeth herself afar off, to know what is done to him.
5
And a daughter of Pharaoh cometh down to bathe at the River, and her damsels are walking by the side of the River, and she seeth the ark in the midst of the weeds, and sendeth her handmaid, and she taketh it,
6
and openeth, and seeth him--the lad, and lo, a child weeping! and she hath pity on him, and saith, `This is <FI>one<Fi> of the Hebrews' children.'
7
And his sister saith unto the daughter of Pharaoh, `Do I go? when I have called for thee a suckling woman of the Hebrews, then she doth suckle the lad for thee;'
8
and the daughter of Pharaoh saith to her, `Go;' and the virgin goeth, and calleth the mother of the lad,
9
and the daughter of Pharaoh saith to her, `Take this lad away, and suckle him for me, and I--I give thy hire;' and the woman taketh the lad, and suckleth him.
10
And the lad groweth, and she bringeth him in to the daughter of Pharaoh, and he is to her for a son, and she calleth his name Moses, and saith, `Because--from the water I have drawn him.'
11
And it cometh to pass, in those days, that Moses is grown, and he goeth out unto his brethren, and looketh on their burdens, and seeth a man, an Egyptian, smiting a man, a Hebrew, <FI>one<Fi> of his brethren,
12
and he turneth hither and thither, and seeth that there is no man, and smiteth the Egyptian, and hideth him in the sand.
13
And he goeth out on the second day, and lo, two men, Hebrews, striving! and he saith to the wrong-doer, `Why dost thou smite thy neighbour?'
14
and he saith, `Who set thee for a head and a judge over us? to slay me art thou saying <FI>it<Fi> , as thou hast slain the Egyptian?' and Moses feareth, and saith, `Surely the thing hath been known.'
15
And Pharaoh heareth of this thing, and seeketh to slay Moses, and Moses fleeth from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelleth in the land of Midian, and dwelleth by the well.
16
And to a priest of Midian <FI>are<Fi> seven daughters, and they come and draw, and fill the troughs, to water the flock of their father,
17
and the shepherds come and drive them away, and Moses ariseth, and saveth them, and watereth their flock.
18
And they come in to Reuel their father, and he saith, `Wherefore have ye hastened to come in to-day?'
19
and they say, `A man, an Egyptian, hath delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also hath diligently drawn for us, and watereth the flock;'
20
and he saith unto his daughters, `And where <FI>is<Fi> he? why <FI>is<Fi> this? --ye left the man! call for him, and he doth eat bread.'
21
And Moses is willing to dwell with the man, and he giveth Zipporah his daughter to Moses,
22
and she beareth a son, and he calleth his name Gershom, for he said, `A sojourner I have been in a strange land.'
23
And it cometh to pass during these many days, that the king of Egypt dieth, and the sons of Israel sigh because of the service, and cry, and their cry goeth up unto God, because of the service;
24
and God heareth their groaning, and God remembereth His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob;
25
and God seeth the sons of Israel, and God knoweth.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).