Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
The children of Israel were fruitful - paru , a general term, signifying that they were like healthy trees, bringing forth an abundance of fruit.
And increased - yishretsu , they increased like fishes, as the original word implies. See Genesis 1:20 (note), and the note there.
Abundantly - yirbu , they multiplied; this is a separate term, and should not have been used as an adverb by our translators.
And waxed exceeding mighty - vaiyaatsmu bimod meod , and they became strong beyond measure - superlatively, superlatively - so that the land (Goshen) was filled with them. This astonishing increase was, under the providence of God, chiefly owing to two causes:
1.The Hebrew women were exceedingly fruitful, suffered very little in parturition, and probably often brought forth twins.
2.There appear to have been no premature deaths among them. Thus in about two hundred and fifteen years they were multiplied to upwards of 600,000, independently of old men, women, and children.
Other Adam Clarke entries containing Exodus 1:7:
Exodus 3:8
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