Exodus 2 is the 2nd Chapter in the Book of Exodus (NIV and KJV included) also known as the second book of the Bible.
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- Exodus 2 NIV Version in the Bible
- Exodus 2 KJV Version in the Bible
Exodus 2 NIV Version in the Bible
This is the New International Version (NIV) of Exodus 2 in the Bible i.e. named as The Birth of Moses.
2.1 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months.
3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
Moses Flees to Midian
11 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people.
12 Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?”
14 The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.”
15 When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well.
16 Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue and watered their flock.
18 When the girls returned to Reuel their father, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?”
19 They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock.”
20 “And where is he?” Reuel asked his daughters. “Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat.”
21 Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. 22 Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.”
23 During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.
Exodus 2 KJV Version in the Bible
This is the King James Version (KJV) of Exodus 2 in the Bible i.e. named as The Birth of Moses.
2.1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
3 And when she could no 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.
4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
5 And 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.
6 And 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.
7 Then 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?
8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.
9 And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the women took the child, and nursed it.
10 And 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.
11 And 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.
12 And 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.
13 And 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?
14 And 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.
15 Now 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 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, how is it that ye are come so soon to day?
19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
20 And 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 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
22 And she bares him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.
23 And 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.
24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
Read More about Exodus 1 (The Israelites Oppressed)
As an enthusiast and expert in biblical studies, let me delve into the profound narrative of Exodus 2, which is the second chapter in the Book of Exodus. I will draw from my extensive knowledge of both the New International Version (NIV) and the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, showcasing the nuances and insights embedded in this pivotal chapter.
The NIV version, titled "The Birth of Moses," begins with the introduction of a man from the tribe of Levi who marries a Levite woman. This couple gives birth to a son, whom the mother hides for three months due to his exceptional qualities. To protect him, she places the child in a basket coated with tar and pitch, positioning it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. The daughter of Pharaoh discovers the baby, leading to a series of events that ultimately result in Moses being raised in the royal household. The chapter unfolds with Moses fleeing to Midian after an incident where he intervenes in the mistreatment of a Hebrew by an Egyptian. The narrative then follows Moses' life in Midian, including his marriage to Zipporah and the birth of their son.
The KJV version, also titled "The Birth of Moses," parallels the NIV narrative with slight linguistic differences. It describes the birth of Moses, his concealment by his mother, and the intervention of Pharaoh's daughter. The chapter continues with Moses' observance of the hardships faced by his fellow Hebrews, his altercation with an Egyptian, and his subsequent flight to Midian. The KJV version provides additional details, such as the naming of Moses by Pharaoh's daughter and Moses' marriage to Zipporah, resulting in the birth of their son Gershom.
Both versions share the common thread of Moses' early life, his identification with the Hebrews, and his eventual flight to Midian. The significance of divine intervention and the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are evident in both narratives. The NIV and KJV versions offer complementary perspectives, with the former providing a contemporary language rendition and the latter maintaining the classical and poetic style characteristic of the King James Bible.
In conclusion, Exodus 2 serves as a crucial chapter in the biblical narrative, laying the foundation for the life of Moses, a central figure in the history of the Israelites. The intricate details and narrative elements found in both the NIV and KJV versions contribute to a rich and multifaceted understanding of this significant biblical text.
