Exodus 1:20

1:20 So God treated the midwives well, ¹  and the people multiplied and became very strong.

Exodus 1:7

1:7 The Israelites, ²  however, ³  were fruitful, increased greatly, multiplied, and became extremely strong, ⁴  so that the land was filled with them.

[1:20]  ¹ tn The verb וַיֵּיטֶב (vayyetev) is the Hiphil preterite of יָטַב (yatav). In this stem the word means “to cause good, treat well, treat favorably.” The vav (ו) consecutive shows that this favor from God was a result of their fearing and obeying him.

[1:7]  ² tn Heb “the sons of Israel.”

[1:7]  ³ tn The disjunctive vav marks a contrast with the note about the deaths of the first generation.

[1:7]  ⁴ tn Using מְאֹד (mÿ’od) twice intensifies the idea of their becoming strong (see GKC 431-32 §133.k).