The Birth of Moses
Exodus 2
A Levite woman hides her infant son and then sets him adrift on the river in a basket, where he is found and adopted by Pharao's daughter, who names him Moses. After killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew, Moses flees to the land of Madiam, marries Sepphora, and the Lord hears the groaning of the enslaved Israelites.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonNOW there was a certain man of the tribe of Levi who had married one of the daughters of Levi
BrentonAnd there was a certain man of the tribe of Levi, who took to wife one of the daughters of Levi.
GreekἮν δέ τις ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς Λευὶ, ὃς ἔλαβεν τῶν θυγατέρων Λευί.
KJVAnd there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
JPSAnd there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
2
Thomsonand she conceived and bore a son. And when they saw that he was a beautiful child they hid him three months.
BrentonAnd she conceived, and bore a male child; and having seen that he was fair, they hid him three months.
GreekΚαὶ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔλαβε, καὶ ἔτεκεν ἄρσεν· ἰδόντες δὲ αὐτὸ ἀστεῖον, ἐσπέπασαν αὐτὸ μῆνας τρεῖς.
KJVAnd the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
JPSAnd the woman conceived, and bore a son; and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
3
ThomsonBut when they could not conceal him any longer, his mother provided for him a wicker basket and plastered it with bitumenous pitch and put the child into it and placed it in the stagnant water by the side of the river.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekἘπεὶ δὲ οὐκ ἐδύναντο αὐτὸ ἔτι κρύπτειν, ἔλαβεν αὐτῷ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ θῖβιν, καὶ κατέχρισεν αὐτὴν ἀσφαλτοπίσσῃ, καὶ ἐνέβαλε τὸ παιδίον εἰς αὐτήν, καὶ ἔθηκεν αὐτὴν εἰς τὸ ἕλος παρὰ τὸν ποταμόν.
KJVAnd when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.
JPSAnd 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
ThomsonAnd his sister watched it at a distance to see what would become of it.
BrentonAnd his sister was watching from a distance, to learn what would happen to him.
GreekΚαὶ κατεσκόπευεν ἡ ἀδελφὴ αὐτοῦ μακρόθεν, μαθεῖν τί τὸ ἀποβησόμενον αὐτῷ.
KJVAnd his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
JPSAnd his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.
5
ThomsonAnd the daughter of Pharao came to bathe herself at the river and her maids were walking with her along the bank. And seeing the basket in the stagnant water she sent her maid and had it brought to her.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekΚατέβη δὲ ἡ θυγάτηρ Φαραὼ λούσασθαι ἐπὶ τὸν ποταμὸν, καὶ αἱ ἅβραι αὐτῆς παρεπορεύοντο παρὰ τὸν ποταμόν· καὶ ἰδοῦσα τὴν θίβιν ἐν τῷ ἕλει, ἀποστείλασα τὴν ἅβραν, ἀνείλατο αὐτήν.
KJVAnd the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
JPSAnd the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe in 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
ThomsonAnd upon opening it she saw in the basket a child weeping. And the daughter of Pharao had compassion on it and said, This is one of the Hebrew children.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekἈνοίξασα δὲ ὁρᾷ παιδίον κλαῖον ἐν τῇ θίβει· καὶ ἐφείσατο αὐτοῦ ἡ θυγάτηρ Φαραὼ, καὶ ἔφη, ἀπὸ τῶν παιδίων τῶν Ἐβραίων τοῦτο.
KJVAnd when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.
JPSAnd she opened it, and saw it, even the child; and behold a boy that wept. And she had compassion on him, and said: ‘This is one of the Hebrews’children.’
7
ThomsonWhereupon his sister said to Pharao’s daughter, Shall I call for thee a nurse from among the Hebrews to suckle the child for thee?
BrentonAnd 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?
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ἡ ἀδελφὴ αὐτοῦ τῇ θυγατρὶ Φαραὼ, θέλεις καλέσω σοι γυναῖκα τροφεύουσαν ἐκ τῶν Ἐβραίων, καὶ θηλάσει σαι τὸ παιδὶον σοι τὸ παιδίον;
KJVThen said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?
JPSThen 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
ThomsonAnd the daughter of Pharao said, Go. Upon which the girl went and called the child’s mother.
BrentonAnd the daughter of Pharao said, Go: and the young woman went, and called the mother of the child.
GreekἩ δὲ εἶπεν ἡ θυγάτηρ Φαραὼ, πορεύου· ἐλθοῦσα δὲ νεᾶνις ἐκάλεσε τὴν μητέρα τοῦ παιδίου.
KJVAnd Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.
JPSAnd Pharaoh’s daughter said to her: ‘Go.’ And the maiden went and called the child’s mother.
9
ThomsonAnd the daughter of Pharao said to her, Take care of this child for me and suckle it for me; and I will pay thee the wages. So the woman took the child and suckled it;
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekΕἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτὴν ἡ θυγάτηρ Φαραὼ, διατήρησόν μοι τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο, καὶ θήλασόν μοι αὐτὸ, ἐγὼ δὲ δώσω σοι τὸν μισθόν· ἔλαβε δὲ ἡ γυνὴ τὸ παιδίον, καὶ ἐθήλαζεν αὐτό.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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
Thomsonand when the boy was grown up she brought him to Pharao’s daughter and he became her son. And she called his name Moses, saying, I drew him out of the water.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekἉδρυνθέντος δὲ τοῦ παιδίου, εἰσήγαγεν αὐτὸ πρὸς τὴν θυγατέρα Φαραὼ, καὶ ἐγενήθη αὐτῇ εἰς υἱόν· ἐπωνόμασε δὲ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Μωυσῆν, λέγουσα, ἐκ τοῦ ὕδατος αὐτὸν ἀνειλόμην.
KJVAnd the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
JPSAnd 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
ThomsonAnd after a course of many years, when Moses was become great he went out to his brethren the children of Israel. And as he was observing their distress, he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, who was one of his brethren the children of Israel.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekἘγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταῖς πολλαῖς ἐκείναις μέγας γενόμενος Μωυσῆς, ἐξῆλθε πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραήλ· κατανοήσας δὲ τὸν πόνον αὐτῶν, ὁρᾷ ἄνθρωπον Αἰγύπτιον τύπτοντα τινὰ Ἐβραῖον, τῶν ἑαυτοῦ ἀδελφῶν τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ.
KJVAnd it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
JPSAnd 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
ThomsonWhereupon looking about on every side and seeing nobody he smote the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
BrentonAnd having looked round this way and that way, he sees no one; and he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
GreekΠεριβλεψάμενος δὲ ὧδε καὶ ὧδε οὐχ ὁρᾷ οὐδένα, καὶ πατάξας τὸν Αἰγύπτιον, ἔκρυψεν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἄμμῳ.
KJVAnd he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
JPSAnd 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
ThomsonAnd going out the next day he saw two Hebrew men quarrelling and said to him who was in the wrong, Why dost thou beat thy neighbour?
BrentonAnd having gone out the second day he sees two Hebrew men fighting; and he says to the injurer, Wherefore smitest thou thy neighbour?
GreekἘξελθὼν δὲ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ δευτέρᾳ, ὁρᾷ δύο ἄνδρας Ἐβραίους διαπληκτιζομένους· καὶ λέγει τῷ ἀδικοῦντι, διὰ τί σὺ τύπτεις τὸν πλησίον;
KJVAnd when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
JPSAnd 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
ThomsonTo which he replied, Who made thee a ruler or a judge over us? Dost thou mean to kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? Thereupon Moses was alarmed and said, Is the thing become so public?
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekὉ δὲ εἶπε, τίς σε κατέστησεν ἄρχοντα καὶ δικαστὴν ἐφʼ ἡμῶν; μὴ ἀνελεῖν με σὺ θέλεις, ὃν τρόπον ἀνεῖλες χθὲς τὸν Αἰγύπτιον; ἐφοβήθη δὲ Μωυσῆς, καὶ εἶπεν, εἰ οὕτως ἐμφανὲς γέγονε τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο.
KJVAnd he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.
JPSAnd he said: ‘Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? thinkest thou to kill me, as thou didst kill the Egyptian?’ And Moses feared, and said: ‘Surely the thing is known.’
15
ThomsonNow when Pharao heard of this deed he sought to slay Moses, but he withdrew from the presence of Pharao and took up his abode in the land of Madiam. When he came to the land of Madiam he sat down by a well.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekἬκουσε δὲ Φαραὼ τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο, καὶ ἐζήτει ἀνελεῖν Μωυσῆν. Ἀνεχώρησε δὲ Μωυσῆς ἀπὸ προσώπου Φαραὼ, καὶ ᾤκησεν ἐν γῇ Μαδιάμ· ἐλθὼν δὲ εἰς γῆν Μαδιὰμ, ἐκάθισεν ἐπὶ τοῦ φρέατος.
KJVNow 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.
JPSNow 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
ThomsonNow the priest of Madiam had seven daughters who tended the flocks of their father Jothor. And they having come to the well began to draw water to fill the troughs that they might water the flocks of their father Jothor,
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekΤῷ δὲ ἱερεῖ Μαδιὰμ ἦσαν ἑπτὰ θυγατέρες, ποιμαίνουσαι τὰ πρόβατα τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν Ἰοθόρ· παραγενόμεναι δὲ ἤντλουν, ἕως ἔπλησαν τὰς δεξαμενάς, ποτίσαι τὰ πρόβατα τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν Ἰοθόρ.
KJVNow the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
JPSNow the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
17
Thomsonand the shepherds came and drove them away. Upon which Moses arose and protected them and drew water for them and watered their flocks.
BrentonAnd the shepherds came, and were driving them away; and Moses rose up and rescued them, and drew water for them, and watered their sheep.
GreekΠαραγενόμενοι δὲ οἱ ποιμένες ἐξέβαλλον αὐτάς· ἀναστὰς δὲ Μωυσῆς ἐῤῥύσατο αὐτὰς, καὶ ἤντλησεν αὐταῖς, καὶ ἐπότισε τὰ πρόβατα αὐτῶν.
KJVAnd the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
JPSAnd the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18
ThomsonAnd when they came to their father Raguel, he said to them, Why have you come so soon to-day?
BrentonAnd they came to Raguel their father; and he said to them, Why have ye come so quickly to-day?
GreekΠαρεγένοντο δὲ πρὸς Ῥαγουὴλ τὸν πατέρα αὐτῶν· ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐταῖς, διατί ἐταχύνατε τοῦ παραγενέσθαι σήμερον;
KJVAnd when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
JPSAnd when they came to Reuel their father, he said: ‘How is it that ye are come so soon to-day?’
19
ThomsonTo which they replied, An Egyptian protected us from the shepherds and drew for us and watered our flocks.
BrentonAnd they said, An Egyptian delivered us from the shepherds, and drew water for us and watered our sheep.
GreekΑἱ δὲ εἶπαν, ἄνθρωπος Αἰγύπτιος ἐῤῥύσατο ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τῶν ποιμένων, καὶ ἤντλησεν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐπότισε τὰ πρόβατα ἡμῶν.
KJVAnd they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
JPSAnd 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
ThomsonAnd he said to his daughters, And where is he? Why did you leave the man behind? Therefore call him that he may eat bread.
BrentonAnd he said to his daughters, And where is he? and why have ye left the man? call him therefore, that he may eat bread.
GreekὉ δὲ εἶπε ταῖς θυγατράσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ποῦ ἐστιν; καὶ ἱνατί καταλελοίπατε τὸν ἄνθρωπον; καλέσατε οὖν αὐτὸν, ὅπως φάγῃ ἄρτον.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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
ThomsonSo Moses dwelt with the man; and he gave him his daughter Sepphora to be his wife.
BrentonAnd Moses was established with the man, and he gave Sepphora his daughter to Moses to wife.
GreekΚατῳκίσθη δὲ Μωυσῆς παρὰ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ· καὶ ἐξέδοτο Σεπφώραν τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτοῦ Μωυσῇ γυναῖκα.
KJVAnd Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
JPSAnd Moses was content to dwell with the man; and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
22
ThomsonAnd his wife conceived and bore him a son; and Moses called his name Gersam, saying, Because I am a sojourner in a strange land.
BrentonAnd the woman conceived and bore a son, and Moses called his name Gersam, saying, I am a sojourner in a strange land.
GreekἘν γαστρὶ δὲ λαβοῦσα ἡ γυνὴ ἔτεκεν υἱόν· καὶ ἐπωνόμασε Μωυσῆς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Γηρσάμ, λέγων, ὅτι παροικός εἰμι ἐν γῇ ἀλλοτρίᾳ.
KJVAnd she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.
JPSAnd she bore a son, and he called his name Gershom; for he said: ‘I have been a stranger in a strange land.’
23
ThomsonAnd after those many years the king of Egypt died and the Israelites groaned under their labours and raised a loud outcry; and their cry on account of their labours ascended up to God.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekΜετὰ δὲ τὰς ἡμέρας τὰς πολλὰς ἐκείνας, ἐτελεύτησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου, καὶ κατεστέναξαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων, καὶ ἀνεβόησαν· καὶ ἀνέβη ἡ βοὴ αὐτῶν πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων.
KJVAnd it came to pass in process of time, 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.
JPSAnd 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
ThomsonAnd God heard their groans. And God remembered His covenant which He had made with Abraham, Isaak and Jacob.
BrentonAnd God heard their groanings, and God remembered his covenant made with Abraam and Isaac and Jacob.
GreekΚαὶ εἰσήκουσεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν στεναγμὸν αὐτῶν· καὶ ἐμνήσθη ὁ Θεὸς τῆς διαθήκης αὐτοῦ τῆς πρὸς Ἀβραὰμ, καὶ Ἰσαὰκ, καὶ Ἰακώβ.
KJVAnd God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
JPSAnd God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
25
ThomsonAnd God looked upon the Israelites and was made known to them.
BrentonAnd God looked upon the children of Israel, and was made known to them.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπεῖδεν ὁ Θεὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἐγνώσθη αὐτοῖς.
KJVAnd God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
JPSAnd God saw the children of Israel, and God took cognizance of them.