Exodus 1:22

1:22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “All sons ¹  that are born you must throw ²  into the river, but all daughters you may let live.” ³ 

Exodus 15:25

15:25 He cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him ⁴  a tree. ⁵  When Moses ⁶  threw it into the water, the water became safe to drink. There the Lord ⁷  made for them ⁸  a binding ordinance, ⁹  and there he tested ¹⁰  them.

Exodus 22:31

22:31 “You will be holy ¹¹  people to me; you must not eat any meat torn by animals in the field. ¹²  You must throw it to the dogs.

[1:22]  ¹ tn The substantive כֹּל (kol) followed by the article stresses the entirety – “all sons” or “all daughters” – even though the nouns are singular in Hebrew (see GKC 411 §127.b).

[1:22]  ² tn The form includes a pronominal suffix that reiterates the object of the verb: “every son…you will throw it.”

[1:22]  ³ tn The first imperfect has the force of a definite order, but the second, concerning the girls, could also have the nuance of permission, which may fit better. Pharaoh is simply allowing the girls to live.

[15:25]  ⁴ tn The verb is וַיּוֹרֵהוּ (vayyorehu, “and he showed him”). It is the Hiphil preterite from יָרָה (yarah), which has a basic meaning of “to point, show, direct.” It then came to mean “to teach”; it is the verb behind the noun “Law” (תּוֹרָה, torah).

[15:25]  ⁵ tn Or “a [piece of] wood” (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV, TEV, CEV); NLT “a branch.”

[15:25]  ⁶ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Moses) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[15:25]  ⁷ tn Heb “there he”; the referent (the Lord) is supplied for clarity.

[15:25]  ⁸ tn Heb “for him” (referring to Israel as a whole).

[15:25]  ⁹ tn This translation interprets the two nouns as a hendiadys: “a statute and an ordinance” becomes “a binding ordinance.”

[15:25]  ¹⁰ tn The verb נִסָּהוּ (nissahu, “and he tested him [them]”) is from the root נָסָה (nasah). The use of this word in the Bible indicates that there is question, doubt, or uncertainty about the object being tested.

[22:31]  ⁷ sn The use of this word here has to do with the laws of the sanctuary and not some advanced view of holiness. The ritual holiness at the sanctuary would prohibit eating anything torn to pieces.

[22:31]  ⁸ tn Or “by wild animals.”