Exodus Sections 3 and 4: vocabulary

Section 3

Vocabulary and notes for Exodus 2:1-10

Verse 2: “That he was… fine…” – This is the same Hebrew phrase as we see in the creation story, translated “that it was good.”  (Hebrew word tōv). See Gen 1:10, 12, 18.

Verse 3: “basket” – The Hebrew word occurs only in this story and in the Flood story (Noah), where it is used for “ark” (See Gen 6:14).

Verse 3: “reeds” – Hebrew suf.  The name “Yam Suf” (referred to later in the story, in Exod 10:19) is rendered “Sea of Reeds” rather than the traditional “Red Sea.” 

Verse 4: “his sister” – Hebrew akhoto – generally assumed to be Miriam.  If, however, Miriam was younger than Moses, akhoto could mean “his relative.”

Verse 10: “Moses”  – Moshe in Hebrew means “the one who draws out,” not, as the punning princess implies, the one she has drawn out.  Some rabbis suggest that he was given the name prophetically, in that Moses would draw out Israel from Egypt, or that Moses drew himself out, so to speak, because of his merits.

Section 4

Vocabulary and notes for Exodus 2:11-25

Verse 12 “killed” or “struck down” – the text does not reveal whether Moses killed the man deliberately or whether he beat him so severely that he died.

Verse 23: “cried out… rose up to God.” The text does not say “They cried to God,” suggesting they had forgotten God or did not know God fully.