Exodus 1 in the early church

136 passages quote, allude to, or echo Exodus 1, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22

Exodus 1 as a whole

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1–Exod:40	Canon 60 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	ca. 343–381
Exod 1–Exod:40	Canon 47 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	397

Exodus 1:5

The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all, including Joseph, who was already in Egypt.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:5	Homilies on Exodus 1.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:5	Homilies on Exodus 1.3 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:5	Exposition of Psalm 118 4.7.2 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386-397
Exod 1:5	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 40.11.1 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 387-397

Exodus 1:6

Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:6	Homilies on Exodus 1.4 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:6	Book of Rules 5 · Tyconius	allusion, high confidence	ca. 380
Exod 1:6–11	Exodus, lines 1–21 · Cyprianus Gallus	allusion, high confidence	early 5th cent.

Exodus 1:7

but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:7	Miscellanies 7.16.100 · Clement of Alexandria	echo, low confidence	ca. 198–203
Exod 1:7	Homilies on Exodus 1.4 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:7	Against Celsus 7.26 · Origen	quotation, medium confidence	ca. 248
Exod 1:7	Divine Institutes 7.15.2 · Lactantius	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 303–311
Exod 1:7	Preparation for the Gospel 7.8.37 · Eusebius of Caesarea	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 313–324
Exod 1:7	Preparation for the Gospel 9.23.3 · Eusebius of Caesarea	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 313–324
Exod 1:7	Tractates 2.22.3 · Zeno of Verona	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 362-380
Exod 1:7	Question 127, section 2 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 370–384
Exod 1:7	Book of Rules 5 · Tyconius	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380
Exod 1:7	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 8.5.1 · Epiphanius of Salamis	quotation, high confidence	374-377
Exod 1:7	Letter 137.15 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 386–430
Exod 1:7	The Harmony of the Gospels 1.39 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 399–400
Exod 1:7	City of God 4.34 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	413–426
Exod 1:7	City of God 18.7 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	413–426
Exod 1:7	Part 1, chapter 32 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 445-450

Exodus 1:8

Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:8	Homilies on Exodus 1.5 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:8–14	Demonstration 14.23 · Aphrahat	allusion, high confidence	337-345
Exod 1:8	Book of Rules 5 · Tyconius	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380
Exod 1:8–22	City of God 16.43 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	413–426
Exod 1:8	City of God 18.7 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	413–426
Exod 1:8	Seven Books of History against the Pagans 1.8.13 · Orosius	allusion, high confidence	ca. 417–418

Exodus 1:9

“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:9	Miscellanies 1.23.151 · Clement of Alexandria	allusion, high confidence	ca. 198–203
Exod 1:9	Homilies on Exodus 1.5 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:9	Book of Rules 5 · Tyconius	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380

Exodus 1:10

Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:10	Homilies on Exodus 1.5 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:10	Homilies 20.1 · Basil of Caesarea	allusion, high confidence	ca. 363-378
Exod 1:10	Book of Rules 5 · Tyconius	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380

Exodus 1:11

So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:11	To Autolycus 3.20 · Theophilus of Antioch	allusion, high confidence	ca. 180–185
Exod 1:11	Against Heresies 4.30.2 · Irenaeus of Lyons	allusion, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Exod 1:11	Miscellanies 1.23.155 · Clement of Alexandria	allusion, high confidence	ca. 198–203
Exod 1:11	Homilies on Exodus 1.5 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:11	Against Celsus 3.5 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 248
Exod 1:11–14	Acta Archelai (Latin) 35 · Hegemonius	allusion, medium confidence	early to mid 4th century (Greek original)
Exod 1:11	Divine Institutes 4.10.5 · Lactantius	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 303–311
Exod 1:11	Preparation for the Gospel 9.27.2 · Eusebius of Caesarea	echo, medium confidence	ca. 313–324
Exod 1:11	Preparation for the Gospel 9.28.1 · Eusebius of Caesarea	allusion, high confidence	ca. 313–324
Exod 1:11	Oration 21.33 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 362–383
Exod 1:11–14	Tractates 2.54.1 · Zeno of Verona	allusion, high confidence	ca. 362-380
Exod 1:11	Pilgrimage (Itinerarium) 7.6 · Egeria	allusion, high confidence	ca. 381-395
Exod 1:11	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 61.12.2 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 387-397
Exod 1:11–22	Exodus, lines 22–45 · Cyprianus Gallus	allusion, high confidence	early 5th cent.
Exod 1:11	Seven Books of History against the Pagans 1.10.8 · Orosius	allusion, high confidence	ca. 417–418
Exod 1:11	Part 1, chapter 37 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	allusion, high confidence	ca. 445-450

Exodus 1:12

But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:12	Commentary on John 2.169 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 230–248
Exod 1:12	Homilies on Joshua 9.10 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:12	Homilies on Joshua 14.1 · Origen	allusion, low confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:12	To Fortunatus 10 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	253 or 257
Exod 1:12	Prophetic Extracts 1.13 · Eusebius of Caesarea	quotation, high confidence	before 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Exod 1:12	City of God 18.7 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	413–426

Exodus 1:13

They worked the Israelites ruthlessly
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:13	Against Heresies 4.30.2 · Irenaeus of Lyons	quotation, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Exod 1:13	Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 60 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century)
Exod 1:13	Commentary on Matthew 13.10 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 246–248
Exod 1:13–14	Acta Archelai (Latin) 47 · Hegemonius	allusion, medium confidence	early to mid 4th century (Greek original)
Exod 1:13–14	Tractates 2.57.1 · Zeno of Verona	allusion, high confidence	ca. 362-380
Exod 1:13	On Naboth 23 · Ambrose	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 386-390
Exod 1:13	Letter 93.6 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 386–430
Exod 1:13–14	Sermon 352.6 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Exod 1:13	City of God 18.7 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	413–426

Exodus 1:14

and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:14	Against Heresies 4.30.2 · Irenaeus of Lyons	quotation, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Exod 1:14	Against Marcion 2.20 · Tertullian	allusion, high confidence	207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Exod 1:14	Homilies on Judges 3.6 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:14	Homilies on Numbers 27.2 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:14	Commentary on the Song of Songs 2.128 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Exod 1:14	Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 60 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century)
Exod 1:14	Commentary on Matthew 13.10 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 246–248
Exod 1:14	Commentary on Romans 5.6 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Exod 1:14	Fragment E II (on Job) · Dionysius of Alexandria	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 248–265
Exod 1:14	Prophetic Extracts 1.15 · Eusebius of Caesarea	allusion, medium confidence	before 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Exod 1:14	Letter 215 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 360–390
Exod 1:14	Oration 1.3 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 362–383
Exod 1:14	Oration 42.5 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, high confidence	ca. 362–383
Exod 1:14	Oration 43.7 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 362–383
Exod 1:14	Oration 45.15 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, high confidence	ca. 362–383
Exod 1:14	Oration 45.20 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 362–383
Exod 1:14	Letter 78.19 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Exod 1:14	Letter 121.8 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Exod 1:14	On Cain and Abel 2.10 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 375-378
Exod 1:14	Apostolic Constitutions 7.36.3 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	ca. 380
Exod 1:14	Exposition of Psalm 118 22.5.3 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386-397
Exod 1:14	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 61.12.2 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 387-397
Exod 1:14	Homily 3 · Gregory of Nyssa	allusion, high confidence	ca. 390–394
Exod 1:14	Sermon 363.2 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Exod 1:14	Tractates 1 · Gaudentius of Brescia	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 397-410
Exod 1:14	Tractates 9 · Gaudentius of Brescia	allusion, high confidence	ca. 397-410
Exod 1:14	Tractates on the Gospel of John 28.9 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 406–420
Exod 1:14	Tractates on the Gospel of John 41.2 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 406–420
Exod 1:14	City of God 18.7 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	413–426
Exod 1:14	Sermon on the Life of Honoratus 17 · Hilary of Arles	echo, low confidence	ca. 430

Exodus 1:15

Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:15–21	Against Marcion 4.23 · Tertullian	allusion, high confidence	207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Exod 1:15	Homilies on Exodus 2.1 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:15	City of God 4.34 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	413–426

Exodus 1:16

“When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:16	Miscellanies 1.23.151 · Clement of Alexandria	allusion, high confidence	ca. 198–203
Exod 1:16	Against Marcion 1.29 · Tertullian	allusion, high confidence	207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Exod 1:16	Homilies on Exodus 2.1 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:16	On the Life of Moses 327 · Gregory of Nyssa	allusion, high confidence	ca. 385–395

Exodus 1:17

The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:17	Homilies on Exodus 2.1 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:17	Homilies on Exodus 2.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:17	Homilies 12.12 · Basil of Caesarea	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 363-378
Exod 1:17	Against Lying 34 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 420

Exodus 1:19

The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:19	On Fleeing the World 47 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 387-391
Exod 1:19	On Lying 5 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 395
Exod 1:19	On Lying 7 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 395
Exod 1:19	On Lying 34 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 395

Exodus 1:20

So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:20	On Lying 5 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 395
Exod 1:20	On Lying 7 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 395
Exod 1:20	Against Lying 32 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 420

Exodus 1:21

And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:21	Homilies on Exodus 2.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:21	Homilies on Leviticus 15.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:21	Commentary on Jeremiah 5.63 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 414-419
Exod 1:21	Against Lying 33 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 420

Exodus 1:22

Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every son born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you may allow to live.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Exod 1:22	Miscellanies 1.23.155 · Clement of Alexandria	allusion, high confidence	ca. 198–203
Exod 1:22	Commentary on Daniel 2.32 · Hippolytus of Rome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 202-204
Exod 1:22	Against Marcion 2.20 · Tertullian	allusion, medium confidence	207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Exod 1:22	Commentary on John 6.249 · Origen	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 230–248
Exod 1:22	Homilies on Exodus 2.3 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:22	Homilies on Exodus 4.6 · Origen	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Exod 1:22	Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 37 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century)
Exod 1:22	Commentary on Romans 5.6 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Exod 1:22	Symposium 4.2 · Methodius of Olympus	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Exod 1:22	Preparation for the Gospel 9.28.1 · Eusebius of Caesarea	allusion, high confidence	ca. 313–324
Exod 1:22	Demonstration 9.8 · Aphrahat	allusion, high confidence	337-345
Exod 1:22	Demonstration 11.8 · Aphrahat	quotation, high confidence	337-345
Exod 1:22	Treatise on the Mysteries 1.28.1 · Hilary of Poitiers	allusion, high confidence	ca. 360–366
Exod 1:22	On the Life of Moses 327 · Gregory of Nyssa	allusion, high confidence	ca. 385–395
Exod 1:22	Homilies on Matthew 9.1 · John Chrysostom	allusion, high confidence	ca. 390
Exod 1:22	Seven Books of History against the Pagans 1.10.8 · Orosius	allusion, high confidence	ca. 417–418
Exod 1:22	Part 1, chapter 32 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	allusion, high confidence	ca. 445-450