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Exodus 2
Easy-to-Read Version
Exodus 2
Easy-to-Read Version
Baby Moses
2 There was a man from the family of Levi who decided to marry a woman from the tribe of Levi.[a] 2 She became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy. The mother saw how beautiful the baby was and hid him for three months. 3 She hid him for as long as she could. After three months she made a basket and covered it with tar so that it would float. Then she put the baby in the basket and put the basket in the river in the tall grass. 4 The baby’s sister stayed and watched to see what would happen to the baby.
5 Just then, Pharaoh’s daughter went to the river to bathe. She saw the basket in the tall grass. Her servants were walking beside the river, so she told one of them to go get the basket. 6 The king’s daughter opened the basket and saw a baby boy. The baby was crying and she felt sorry for him. Then she noticed that it was one of the Hebrew[b] babies.
7 The baby’s sister was still hiding. She stood and asked the king’s daughter, “Do you want me to go find a Hebrew woman who can nurse the baby and help you care for it?”
8 The king’s daughter said, “Yes, please.”
So the girl went and brought the baby’s own mother.
9 The king’s daughter said to the mother, “Take this baby and feed him for me. I’ll pay you to take care of him.”
So the woman took her baby and cared for him. 10 The baby grew, and after some time, the woman gave the baby to the king’s daughter. The king’s daughter accepted the baby as her own son. She named him Moses[c] because she had pulled him from the water.
Moses Helps His People
11 Moses grew and became a man. He saw that his own people, the Hebrews, were forced to work very hard. One day he saw an Egyptian man beating a Hebrew man. 12 Moses looked around and saw that no one was watching, so he killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand.
13 The next day Moses saw two Hebrew men fighting each other. He saw that one man was wrong and said to him, “Why are you hurting your neighbor?”
14 The man answered, “Did anyone say you could be our ruler and judge? Tell me, will you kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday[d]?”
Then Moses was afraid. He thought to himself, “Now everyone knows what I did.”
15 Pharaoh heard about what Moses did, so he decided to kill him. But Moses ran away from Pharaoh and went to the land of Midian.
Moses in Midian
Moses stopped near a well in Midian. 16 There was a priest there who had seven daughters. These girls came to that well to get water for their father’s sheep. They were trying to fill the water trough with water. 17 But there were some shepherds there who chased the girls away and would not let them get water. So Moses helped the girls and gave water to their animals.
18 Then they went back to their father, Reuel.[e] He asked them, “Why have you come home early today?”
19 The girls answered, “The shepherds chased us away, but an Egyptian rescued us. He got water for us and gave it to our animals.”
20 So Reuel said to his daughters, “Where is this man? Why did you leave him? Go invite him to eat with us.”
21 Moses was happy to stay with that man. Reuel let Moses marry his daughter, Zipporah. 22 Zipporah became pregnant and had a son. Moses named him Gershom[f] because Moses was a stranger in a land that was not his own.
God Decides to Help Israel
23 A long time passed and that king of Egypt died. But the Israelites were still forced to work very hard. They cried for help, and God heard them. 24 God heard their painful cries and remembered the agreement he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 God saw the troubles of the Israelites, and he knew that he would soon help them.
Footnotes
- Exodus 2:1 woman … Levi Literally, “the daughter of Levi.” See Ex. 6:20; Num. 26:59.
- Exodus 2:6 Hebrew Or “Israelite.” Also in verses 7, 11, 13.
- Exodus 2:10 Moses This name is like a Hebrew word meaning “to pull or draw out.”
- Exodus 2:14 yesterday This word is from the ancient Greek version.
- Exodus 2:18 Reuel He is also called Jethro.
- Exodus 2:22 Gershom This name is like the Hebrew words meaning “a stranger there.”
Exodus 2
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Exodus 2
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Moses’s Birth and Adoption
2 Now a man from the family of Levi married a Levite woman.(A) 2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son; when she saw that he was beautiful,[a] she hid him for three months.(B) 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with bitumen and pitch. She placed the child in it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. 4 Then his sister(C) stood at a distance in order to see what would happen to him.
5 Pharaoh’s daughter went down to bathe at the Nile while her servant girls walked along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds, sent her slave girl, took it, 6 opened it, and saw him, the child – and there he was, a little boy, crying. She felt sorry for him and said, ‘This is one of the Hebrew boys.’
7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Should I go and call a Hebrew woman who can breastfeed the boy for you? ’
8 ‘Go’, Pharaoh’s daughter told her. So the girl went and called the boy’s mother. 9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay your wages.’ So the woman took the boy and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses,[b] ‘Because,’ she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’
Moses in Midian
11 Years later,[c] after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people[d] and observed their forced labour.(D) He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 Looking all around and seeing no one, he struck the Egyptian dead 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 attacking your neighbour? ’[e]
14 ‘Who made you a commander and judge over us? ’ the man replied. ‘Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian? ’
Then Moses became afraid and thought, ‘What I did is certainly known.’
15 When Pharaoh heard about this, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian,(E) and sat down by a well.(F)
16 Now the priest of Midian(G) had seven daughters. They came to draw water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 Then some shepherds arrived and drove them away, but Moses came to their rescue and watered their flock. 18 When they returned to their father Reuel,[f](H) he asked, ‘Why have you come back so quickly today? ’
19 They answered, ‘An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock.’
20 ‘So where is he? ’ he asked his daughters. ‘Why then did you leave the man behind? Invite him to eat dinner.’
21 Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah(I) to Moses in marriage. 22 She gave birth to a son whom he named Gershom,[g] for he said, ‘I have been a resident foreigner(J) in a foreign land.’
23 After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned because of their difficult labour, they cried out,(K) and their cry for help because of the difficult labour ascended to God. 24 God heard their groaning, and God remembered(L) his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.(M) 25 God saw the Israelites, and God knew.(N)
Exodus 2
New King James Version
Exodus 2
New King James Version
Moses Is Born(A)
2 And (B)a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. 2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And (C)when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of (D)bulrushes for him, daubed it with (E)asphalt and (F)pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds (G)by the river’s bank. 4 (H)And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.
5 Then the (I)daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. 6 And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”
7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?”
8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the maiden went and called the child’s mother. 9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became (J)her son. So she called his name [a]Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”
Moses Flees to Midian(K)
11 Now it came to pass in those days, (L)when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he (M)killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 And (N)when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men (O)were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?”
14 Then he said, (P)“Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?”
So Moses (Q)feared and said, “Surely this thing is known!” 15 When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But (R)Moses fled from [b]the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of (S)Midian; and he sat down by (T)a well.
16 (U)Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. (V)And they came and drew water, and they filled the (W)troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 Then the (X)shepherds came and (Y)drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and (Z)watered their flock.
18 When they came to (AA)Reuel[c] their father, (AB)he said, “How is it that you have come so soon today?”
19 And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.”
20 So he said to his daughters, “And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may (AC)eat bread.”
21 Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave (AD)Zipporah his daughter to Moses. 22 And she bore him a son. He called his name (AE)Gershom,[d] for he said, “I have been (AF)a [e]stranger in a foreign land.”
23 Now it happened (AG)in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel (AH)groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and (AI)their cry came up to God because of the bondage. 24 So God (AJ)heard their groaning, and God (AK)remembered His (AL)covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God (AM)looked upon the children of Israel, and God (AN)acknowledged them.
Footnotes
- Exodus 2:10 Heb. Mosheh, lit. Drawn Out
- Exodus 2:15 the presence of Pharaoh
- Exodus 2:18 Jethro, Ex. 3:1
- Exodus 2:22 Lit. Stranger There
- Exodus 2:22 sojourner, temporary resident
Exodus 2
New International Version
Exodus 2
New International Version
The Birth of Moses
2 Now a man of the tribe of Levi(A) married a Levite woman,(B) 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine(C) child, she hid him for three months.(D) 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus(E) basket[a] for him and coated it with tar and pitch.(F) Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds(G) along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister(H) 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.(I) 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(J) him Moses,[b] saying, “I drew(K) 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(L) were and watched them at their hard labor.(M) 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?”(N)
14 The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us?(O) 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(P) Moses, but Moses fled(Q) from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian,(R) where he sat down by a well. 16 Now a priest of Midian(S) had seven daughters, and they came to draw water(T) and fill the troughs(U) to water their father’s flock. 17 Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue(V) and watered their flock.(W)
18 When the girls returned to Reuel(X) 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.”(Y)
21 Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah(Z) to Moses in marriage. 22 Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom,[c](AA) saying, “I have become a foreigner(AB) in a foreign land.”
23 During that long period,(AC) the king of Egypt died.(AD) The Israelites groaned in their slavery(AE) and cried out, and their cry(AF) for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered(AG) his covenant(AH) with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned(AI) about them.
Footnotes
- Exodus 2:3 The Hebrew can also mean ark, as in Gen. 6:14.
- Exodus 2:10 Moses sounds like the Hebrew for draw out.
- Exodus 2:22 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for a foreigner there.
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised (CSBA)
Copyright © 2024 by Holman Bible Publishers.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.