The Meaning of Exodus 1:12 Explained

Exodus 1:12

KJV: But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

YLT: and as they afflict it, so it multiplieth, and so it breaketh forth, and they are vexed because of the sons of Israel;

Darby: But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and spread; and they were distressed because of the children of Israel.

ASV: But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But the more they afflicted  them, the more  they multiplied  and grew.  And they were grieved  because  of the children  of Israel. 

What does Exodus 1:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 1:1-14 - The Children Of Israel Afflicted
The buried seed began to bear an abundant harvest, notwithstanding the efforts of Pharaoh and his people. The kings of the earth take counsel together to thwart the divine purpose. They might as well seek to arrest the incoming tide. The days of persecution and opposition have always been the growing days of the Church.
The new king probably belonged to a great dynasty, intent on preventing the recurrence of shepherd domination. The first move of the new policy was to embitter Israel's existence by cruel bondage. The pictured walls of the Pyramids bear witness to sufferings inflicted on slaves of a Hebrew cast of face by taskmasters armed with whips. Pharaoh and his counselors had to learn that they were not only dealing with a subject nation, but with the Eternal God. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 1

1  The children of Israel, after Joseph's death, increase
8  The more they are oppressed by a new king, the more they multiply
15  The godliness of the midwives in saving the male children alive
22  Pharaoh commands the male children to be cast into the river

What do the individual words in Exodus 1:12 mean?

But the more they afflicted them the more they multiplied and grew And they were in dread of the sons of Israel
וְכַאֲשֶׁר֙ יְעַנּ֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ כֵּ֥ן יִרְבֶּ֖ה וְכֵ֣ן יִפְרֹ֑ץ וַיָּקֻ֕צוּ מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

וְכַאֲשֶׁר֙  But  the  more 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יְעַנּ֣וּ  they  afflicted 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָנָה 
Sense: (Qal) to be occupied, be busied with.
כֵּ֥ן  the  more 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
יִרְבֶּ֖ה  they  multiplied 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
יִפְרֹ֑ץ  grew 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּרַץ  
Sense: to break through or down or over, burst, breach.
וַיָּקֻ֕צוּ  And  they  were  in  dread 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קוּץ  
Sense: to be grieved, loathe, abhor, feel a loathing or abhorrence or sickening dread.
בְּנֵ֥י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.