The Birth of Moses
Exodus 2:1-10
Exo.2.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לוי: PROPN,m,sg
- ויקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- בת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- לוי: PROPN,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod. 6:20 (verbal): Repeats and expands the same event: names the man (Amram) and the daughter (Jochebed) and records that she bore Aaron and Moses — direct restatement of the Levite marriage.
- Num. 26:59 (verbal): Genealogical recap that identifies Jochebed as ‘the daughter of Levi’ born in Egypt and as Amram’s wife — another direct reference to the same family connection.
- 1 Chron. 6:3-4 (structural): Levitical genealogy placing Amram and his sons (Aaron and Moses) in the household of Levi, providing genealogical context for the statement in Exod 2:1.
- Judg. 17:7 (thematic): Parallel motif of a Levite entering a domestic/familial relationship outside his immediate setting (a man taking a Levite as companion/guest) — echoes themes of Levites’ household arrangements and mobility among Israelite families.
Alternative generated candidates
- A man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a daughter of Levi.
- A man from the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi as his wife.
Exo.2.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותהר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- האשה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ותלד: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- כי: CONJ
- טוב: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- ותצפנהו: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- שלשה: NUM,m
- ירחים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Acts 7:20-22 (quotation): Stephen recounts Moses' birth story, echoing that he was a 'beautiful child' and was cared for by his parents and later exposed — directly retelling Exodus' infancy details.
- Hebrews 11:23 (quotation): Explicitly cites Moses' parents hiding him for three months out of faith, directly referencing the Exodus account and its motive (fearlessness toward the king).
- Matthew 2:13-15 (thematic): The infancy narratives of Moses and Jesus are paralleled typologically: both infants face royal danger and are preserved/removed (Moses hidden and later saved; Jesus flees to Egypt), framing deliverance motifs.
- Judges 13:2-5 (thematic): The birth of Samson — announced by an angel and marked as a specially appointed deliverer — parallels Moses as a divinely destined child whose birth and upbringing prepare him for deliverance.
Alternative generated candidates
- The woman conceived and bore a son; she saw that he was good, and she hid him three months.
- The woman conceived and bore a son; and she saw that he was good, and she hid him for three months.
Exo.2.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ולא: CONJ
- יכלה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- עוד: ADV
- הצפינו: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,pl
- ותקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- תבת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גמא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותחמרה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- בחמר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובזפת: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותשם: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הילד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ותשם: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- בסוף: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- שפת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- היאר: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Genesis 6:14 (verbal): Uses the same Hebrew noun tebah (’ark’/’basket’) and the detail of coating with pitch/slime — parallel language and imagery linking Moses’ basket to Noah’s ark.
- Exodus 1:22 (structural): Provides the immediate legal context — Pharaoh’s decree to cast Hebrew male infants into the river, which Moses’ mother’s action directly resists and responds to.
- Hebrews 11:23 (quotation): Explicitly cites the infancy episode — parents hid Moses for three months — and interprets their action as an act of faith, directly echoing Exod 2:2–3.
- Acts 7:20–22 (allusion): Stephen’s retelling of Moses’ birth and preservation reiterates the basket/river motif and frames Moses’ survival as divinely significant.
- Esther 2:7 (thematic): Parallels the motif of an orphaned child who is preserved and raised by a woman (background care leading to later elevation by those in power), highlighting themes of protection and providential reversal.
Alternative generated candidates
- When she could no longer hide him, she took for him a papyrus basket and coated it with bitumen and pitch; she placed the child in it and set it among the reeds on the bank of the Nile.
- But when she could no longer hide him, she took for him a basket of papyrus reeds and coated it with bitumen and pitch; she placed the child in it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.
Exo.2.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותתצב: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- אחתו: NOUN,f,sg,cons,3,m
- מרחק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לדעה: VERB,qal,inf
- מה: PRON,int
- יעשה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod.2.2 (verbal): Same immediate narrative: mother hides the baby and watches his welfare—shared vocabulary and purpose (care and concealment of the infant).
- Exod.2.5-8 (structural): Direct continuation: Pharaoh’s daughter discovers the basket, the sister approaches and arranges a nurse—shows how the sister’s watching leads to the child’s preservation.
- Exod.1.15-21 (thematic): Theme of preservation of Hebrew male infants in face of royal infanticide (midwives’ defiance and protection of children), paralleling the motive for hiding and watching Moses.
- Num.12:1-15 (allusion): Later tradition about Miriam (the sister) is invoked here: her prominent role and subsequent censure recall her earlier protective action and status as Moses’ sister.
- Matt.2:13-15 (thematic): New Testament parallel of a threatened infant preserved from a ruler (Herod) by flight/divine guidance—a recurring biblical motif of a threatened savior-child rescued from royal danger.
Alternative generated candidates
- His sister stationed herself at a distance to know what would be done to him.
- And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him.
Exo.2.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותרד: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לרחץ: PREP+INF,qal
- על: PREP
- היאר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ונערתיה: NOUN,f,pl,abs,3f
- הלכת: VERB,qal,perf,2,f,sg
- על: PREP
- יד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- היאר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ותרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- התבה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- בתוך: PREP
- הסוף: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ותשלח: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אמתה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,3f
- ותקחה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 24:10-21 (thematic): A woman by water (Rebekah at the well) meets a man/servant; attendants and a providential encounter at a water source—shared motif of discovery/meeting at water.
- Exodus 1:22 (structural): Pharaoh’s decree to throw Hebrew male infants into the Nile; Exodus 2:5 functions as the narrative counterpoint in which a found infant is rescued rather than destroyed.
- Esther 2:7-9 (structural): Orphaned Jewish girl taken into the royal household and elevated through the intervention of attendants—parallel pattern of a vulnerable child/woman being incorporated into palace life.
- 1 Samuel 1:24-28 (thematic): A mother dedicates/surrenders her child to another’s care (Hannah bringing Samuel to the temple); echoes themes of infant destiny, parental relinquishment, and divine providence.
Alternative generated candidates
- Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe at the Nile, while her maidens were walking along the bank of the Nile; she saw the basket among the reeds, and she sent her maidservant, who took it.
- Then Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe at the Nile, and her maidens were walking along the Nile; she saw the basket among the reeds, and she sent her maidservant and took it.
Exo.2.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותפתח: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- ותראהו: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הילד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והנה: ADV
- נער: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בכה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ותחמל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- מילדי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,const
- העברים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod.1.22 (structural): Pharaoh’s decree to throw Hebraic male infants into the Nile — the hostile context from which the infant in 2:6 is miraculously rescued.
- Exod.2.3-4 (verbal): Immediate narrative parallels: the mother places the child in a basket and the sister watches, preparing the scene in which Pharaoh’s daughter finds and has compassion on the boy.
- Acts 7:20-22 (quotation): Stephen’s retelling of Moses’ infancy closely echoes the Exodus account, mentioning the child’s rescue and subsequent upbringing in Pharaoh’s household.
- Hebrews 11:23 (allusion): Uses the tradition of Moses’ infancy (parents hiding him because he was a beautiful child) to praise the faith of his parents — directly tied to the concealment and rescue motif.
- Matt.2:13-15 (thematic): The flight of the infant Jesus to Egypt (escape from a ruler’s murderous intent) forms a typological parallel: threatened infants rescued and an Egypt/Israel connection echoing Moses’ story.
Alternative generated candidates
- She opened it and saw the child—and behold, a boy crying; she had compassion on him and said, 'This is one of the Hebrews' children.'
- She opened it and saw the child, and behold, the little boy was crying; she took pity on him and said, 'This is one of the Hebrews' children.'
Exo.2.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- אחתו: NOUN,f,sg,cons,3,m
- אל: NEG
- בת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- האלך: VERB,qal,impf,1,com,sg
- וקראתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,com,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- אשה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מינקת: NOUN,f,sg,cnst
- מן: PREP
- העברית: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ותינק: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הילד: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Exodus 2:4-10 (structural): Immediate narrative context: the same scene in which Moses’ sister (Miriam) offers to fetch a Hebrew nurse and Pharaoh’s daughter takes the child and later names him Moses.
- Exodus 1:22 (thematic): Sets the background motive for hiding and arranging a nurse: Pharaoh’s decree to throw Hebrew male infants into the Nile creates the crisis that makes Miriam’s intervention necessary.
- Hebrews 11:23 (allusion): New Testament retelling that alludes to the infancy episode—Moses was hidden by his parents and later cared for despite the king’s edict—echoing the faith and rescue themes of Exodus 2:7.
- Acts 7:20-22 (quotation): Stephen’s summary of Moses’ infancy recounts the finding and rearing of the child by Pharaoh’s household, reflecting the same details (rescue, upbringing, and Egyptian connection) found in Exodus 2:7–10.
Alternative generated candidates
- His sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, 'Shall I go and call for you a nursing woman from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?'
- Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, 'Shall I go and call for you a nursing woman from the Hebrews, that she may nurse the child for you?'
Exo.2.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- לה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- בת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לכי: VERB,qal,impv,2,f,sg
- ותלך: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- העלמה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ותקרא: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אם: CONJ
- הילד: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Exodus 2:5-6 (structural): Immediate narrative context: Pharaoh's daughter finds the baby and Miriam (the child's sister) stands nearby — sets up her command to summon a nurse/ mother.
- Exodus 2:9 (verbal): Direct continuation: Pharaoh's daughter instructs, 'Take this child away and nurse him for me,' echoing verse 8's act of calling the mother/nurse and formalizing the arrangement.
- Exodus 2:10 (structural): Outcome of the interaction: the child is named Moses and is established in Pharaoh's household — shows the result of summoning the mother/nurse in v.8.
- 2 Samuel 4:4 (thematic): Mentions a nurse protecting/fleeing with a child (Jonathan's son); highlights the recurring role of nurses/attendants and the vulnerability of infants in Israelite narratives.
- Isaiah 49:15 (thematic): Uses the image of a nursing mother ('Can a woman forget her nursing child?') — thematically resonates with the emphasis on mother/ nurse and the bond seen when Moses' mother is called to care for him.
Alternative generated candidates
- Pharaoh's daughter said to her, 'Go.' So the young woman went and called the child's mother.
- Pharaoh's daughter said to her, 'Go.' So the young woman went and called the child's mother.
Exo.2.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- לה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- בת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- היליכי: VERB,qal,impv,2,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הילד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- והינקהו: VERB,qal,impv,2,f,sg+obj:3,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ואני: PRON,1,sg
- אתן: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- שכרך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
- ותקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- האשה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הילד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ותניקהו: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg+obj:3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 2:3-5 (structural): Immediate narrative context: Moses' mother places him in the ark and Pharaoh’s daughter finds him — these verses set up the very nursing/adoption arrangement described in 2:9.
- Exodus 1:22 (structural): Pharaoh’s decree to kill Hebrew male infants provides the background motive for hiding Moses and for the subsequent rescue and nursing arrangement.
- Esther 2:7-9 (thematic): An orphaned Israelite (Esther) is taken into the royal household and cared for; parallels the motif of a vulnerable Israelite brought into the palace and raised under royal protection.
- Daniel 1:3-6 (thematic): Young Israelites taken into a foreign ruler’s service and nurtured in the royal court — a parallel situation of Israelites sustained and formed within a royal household.
- 1 Samuel 1:24-28 (thematic): Hannah brings Samuel from her care to be raised in the sanctuary — a related theme of a mother’s relinquishing/transfer of a child into another’s care for a larger providential purpose.
Alternative generated candidates
- Pharaoh's daughter said to her, 'Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.' So the woman took the child and nursed him.
- Pharaoh's daughter said to her, 'Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.' So the woman took the child and nursed him.
Exo.2.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויגדל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- הילד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ותבאהו: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,f,sg
- לבת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- לבן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותקרא: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- שמו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- כי: CONJ
- מן: PREP
- המים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- משיתהו: VERB,qal,perf,1,f,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 1:22 (structural): Pharaoh’s decree to cast Hebrew male infants into the Nile provides the immediate background and motive for Moses being placed in the water and later discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter.
- Exodus 2:3-6 (verbal): Immediate narrative parallel within the same episode: the basket set among the reeds, the discovery by Pharaoh’s daughter, and her adoption of the child are recounted with overlapping vocabulary and detail.
- Acts 7:20-22 (quotation): Stephen’s retelling of Israel’s history echoes the Exodus infancy story—he describes Moses as a beautiful child, nourished, and brought up in Pharaoh’s household, directly alluding to the scene of adoption and naming.
- Hebrews 11:23 (thematic): This New Testament reference highlights the faith of Moses’ parents who hid him and links to the infancy tradition that culminates in his preservation and adoption despite Pharaoh’s decree.
- Judges 13:24-25 (thematic): The birth and naming of Samson shares motifs with Moses’ infancy: a divinely significant birth, parental wonder, and a child set apart whose naming is tied to the circumstances surrounding his arrival.
Alternative generated candidates
- The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became to her as a son; she called his name Moses, saying, 'For from the water I drew him out.'
- When the child grew, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She called his name Moses, and said, 'Because I drew him out of the water.'
A man from the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi as his wife.
The woman conceived and bore a son; when she saw that he was good, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she took for him a papyrus basket and smeared it with bitumen and pitch; she placed the child in it and set it among the reeds on the bank of the Nile.
His sister stood at a distance, to know what would be done to him.
Then Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe at the Nile, while her maidens were walking along by the Nile; she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maidservant, who took it.
She opened it and saw him—the child; and behold, the boy was crying. She had compassion on him and said, 'This is one of the Hebrews' children.'
Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, 'Shall I go and call for you a nursing woman from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?'
Pharaoh's daughter said to her, 'Go.' So the young woman went and called the child's mother. And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, 'Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.' So the woman took the child and nursed him. And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became a son to her. She called his name Moses, for she said, 'I drew him out of the water.'