Bible Strands
Exodus 1:10
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Pharaoh speaks to his advisors and people immediately after noting that the Israelites have become too numerous and powerful for Egypt. He proposes a preemptive strategy to restrict their growth before a potential military conflict occurs.
The words — The Hebrew verb נִתְחַכְּמָה (nit.cha.ke.mah) literally means "let us deal wisely" or "act shrewdly," coupled with the conjunction פֶּן (pen) meaning "lest" or "or," which structures the proposal as a calculated preventive measure.
The thread — The text's description of exploiting a growing population to limit its numbers parallels the historical summary in Acts 7:19, while the conspiratorial posture mirrors the hostile plotting described in Psalms 83:3.
Why it lands — The passage records a ruler's fear-driven calculation to control demographic growth through coercion, requiring the reader to observe how political anxiety directly precedes institutionalized oppression.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
Cross-references
- Acts 7:19 He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.
- Psalms 83:3 With cunning they scheme against Your people and conspire against those You cherish,
- Proverbs 1:11 If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,
- Psalms 105:25 whose hearts He turned to hate His people, to conspire against His servants.
- Psalms 10:2 In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.
- Numbers 22:6 So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”
- Job 5:13 He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.
- Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
- Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
- Acts 23:12 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.