Exodus 2:3 (KJV)

What does Exodus 2:3 mean?

Exodus 2:3 describes how Moses’ mother, unable to hide him any longer from the Egyptians, made a small basket from reeds, coated it with waterproof materials, placed her baby inside, and set the basket among the plants at the edge of the Nile River. This was her desperate attempt to save his life from Pharaoh’s order to kill Hebrew baby boys.

The verse takes place in Egypt, where Pharaoh had commanded that all newborn Hebrew boys be thrown into the Nile. Moses’ mother, Jochebed, is acting to protect her son. The verse shows her careful effort: she uses an “ark” made of bulrushes, covers it with “slime and pitch” to keep water out, and places it in the reeds by the riverbank, hoping someone might find and rescue him.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 2:3

• The word for "ark" is תֵּבָה (tevah), the same word used for Noah’s ark. This suggests a vessel meant for survival and rescue, not just a simple basket.
• "Bulrushes" is גֹּמֶא (gome), referring to papyrus reeds common along the Nile, showing the basket was made from local, water-resistant plants.
• "Daubed" is חָמַר (chamar), meaning to smear or coat, and "slime" חֵמָר (chemar) and "pitch" זֶפֶת (zephet) both refer to sticky, waterproofing substances. This detail highlights the care and intention to make the basket safe and watertight.
• "Flags" is סוּף (suf), which means reeds or rushes, indicating the basket was hidden among thick river plants, not just left floating in open water.

Why Exodus 2:3 matters

• This verse clarifies that Moses’ mother did not simply abandon him; she took great care to protect him, using materials and methods meant to keep him alive and hidden.
• The use of the word "ark" connects Moses’ story to Noah’s, suggesting a theme of deliverance through water in both stories.
• The details about the materials and placement show the mother’s resourcefulness and hope, setting the stage for Moses’ rescue and the unfolding of his role in Israel’s history.