Exodus 2:3
And when she could not 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.
Original Language Analysis
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 20
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָכְלָ֣ה
And when she could
H3201
יָכְלָ֣ה
And when she could
Strong's:
H3201
Word #:
2 of 20
to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)
עוֹד֮
not longer
H5750
עוֹד֮
not longer
Strong's:
H5750
Word #:
3 of 20
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
הַצְּפִינוֹ֒
hide
H6845
הַצְּפִינוֹ֒
hide
Strong's:
H6845
Word #:
4 of 20
to hide (by covering over); by implication, to hoard or reserve; figuratively to deny; specifically (favorably) to protect, (unfavorably) to lurk
וַתִּֽקַּֽח
him she took
H3947
וַתִּֽקַּֽח
him she took
Strong's:
H3947
Word #:
5 of 20
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
גֹּ֔מֶא
of bulrushes
H1573
גֹּ֔מֶא
of bulrushes
Strong's:
H1573
Word #:
8 of 20
properly, an absorbent, i.e., the bulrush (from its porosity); specifically the papyrus
וַתַּחְמְרָ֥ה
and daubed
H2560
וַתַּחְמְרָ֥ה
and daubed
Strong's:
H2560
Word #:
9 of 20
properly, to boil up; hence, to glow (with redness)
וּבַזָּ֑פֶת
and with pitch
H2203
וּבַזָּ֑פֶת
and with pitch
Strong's:
H2203
Word #:
11 of 20
asphalt (from its tendency to soften in the sun)
וַתָּ֥שֶׂם
and put
H7760
וַתָּ֥שֶׂם
and put
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
12 of 20
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
14 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וַתָּ֥שֶׂם
and put
H7760
וַתָּ֥שֶׂם
and put
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
16 of 20
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
18 of 20
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
Acts 7:19The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.Exodus 1:22And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.Genesis 6:14Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.Isaiah 18:2That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!Matthew 2:16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.Matthew 2:13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.Genesis 11:3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
Historical Context
Papyrus reeds (Cyperus papyrus) grew abundantly in the Nile Delta. Egyptian nobility bathed in secluded river spots with attendants. Jochebed's plan relied on Egyptian custom and maternal compassion—principles transcending culture. The ark's construction shows resourcefulness and courage under genocide's threat.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the "ark" imagery connect Moses' salvation to Noah's and anticipate Israel's Red Sea deliverance?
- What does Jochebed's strategic faith—acting wisely while trusting God for results—teach about balancing human responsibility and divine providence?
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Analysis & Commentary
And when she could not 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 (וַתִּקַּח־לוֹ תֵּבַת גֹּמֶא, vatiqach-lo tevat gome)—Ark (תֵּבָה, tevah) is the same word used only for Noah's ark (Genesis 6-9), deliberately evoking salvation through water by God's providence. Bulrushes (גֹּמֶא, gome, papyrus reeds) and waterproofing (חֵמָר וָזֶפֶת, chemar vazafet, "pitch and bitumen") show careful preparation. Jochebed doesn't abandon Moses—she strategically places him where Pharaoh's daughter bathes (v. 5), a calculated act of faith. The flags (סוּף, suf, reeds) will later name the Red Sea (yam suf), linking Moses' salvation to Israel's deliverance.