Exodus 1:7

1:7 The Israelites, ¹  however, ²  were fruitful, increased greatly, multiplied, and became extremely strong, ³  so that the land was filled with them.

Exodus 1:12

1:12 But the more the Egyptians ⁴  oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread. ⁵  As a result the Egyptians loathed ⁶  the Israelites,

¹ tn Heb “the sons of Israel.”

² tn The disjunctive vav marks a contrast with the note about the deaths of the first generation.

³ tn Using מְאֹד (mÿ’od) twice intensifies the idea of their becoming strong (see GKC 431-32 §133.k).

⁴ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Egyptians) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn The imperfect tenses in this verse are customary uses, expressing continual action in past time (see GKC 315 §107.e). For other examples of כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka’asher) with כֵּן (ken) expressing a comparison (“just as…so”) see Gen 41:13; Judg 1:7; Isa 31:4.

⁶ tn Heb “they felt a loathing before/because of”; the referent (the Egyptians) has been specified in the translation for clarity.