Old Testament · Exodus 1:22–2:10
Baby Moses — Bible Story for Kids
Pharaoh wanted to harm the Hebrew baby boys. Moses' mother hid him in a basket by the river, and Pharaoh's daughter found him.
This is a retelling for children, written by BibleKenya from the Bible passages shown on each picture. It is not a Bible translation.
The king of Egypt was unkind to God's people. A Hebrew mother had a baby boy, and she hid him to keep him safe.
, the king of Egypt, ordered that every Hebrew baby boy be thrown into the river Nile. A woman from the family of Levi had a baby son. She saw that he was a fine child, and she hid him for three months.
Bible explorer Moses' parents are named later as Amram and Jochebed (Exodus 6:20).
When she could not hide him any longer, she put him in a basket and set it among the reeds by the river. His sister watched.
When she could no longer hide him, she made a papyrus basket, coated it with tar and pitch, put the baby in it and laid it among the reeds by the river's bank. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
Bible explorer Exodus 2 does not name his sister. Numbers 26:59 names Miriam as the sister of Aaron and Moses.
's daughter came to the river. She found the basket, and the baby was crying. She felt sorry for him.
's daughter came down to bathe at the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant to get it. She opened it and saw the baby crying, and she had compassion on him. "This is one of the Hebrews' children," she said.
His sister asked, "Shall I find a Hebrew woman to look after the baby?" She ran and fetched the baby's own mother!
His sister asked 's daughter, "Should I go and get a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?" She said, "Go." The girl went and called the child's mother, and Pharaoh's daughter paid her to nurse him.
When the boy grew older, he became 's daughter's son. She named him .
When the child grew, his mother brought him to 's daughter, and he became her son. She named him , "because I drew him out of the water."
Bible explorer Acts 7:22 says Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians.
The end of the story
Read it in the Bible
This is the Bible text itself, from the version shown. Scripture in WEBWorld English Bible — Protestant Edition
Exodus 1:22–2:10 WEB
1:22Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”
2:1A man of the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi as his wife. 2The woman conceived and bore a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. 3When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. 4His sister stood far off, to see what would be done to him. 5Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe at the river. Her maidens walked along by the riverside. She saw the basket among the reeds, and sent her servant to get it. 6She opened it, and saw the child, and behold, the baby cried. She had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Should I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?” 8Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” The young woman went and called the child’s mother. 9Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away, and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” The woman took the child, and nursed him. 10The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”
Who is in the story?
- Moses The baby in the basket. God later chose him to lead Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 2:10, 3:10).
- Moses' mother She hid him for three months and later nursed him (Exodus 2:2, 2:9).
- Moses' sister She watched over the basket and fetched their mother (Exodus 2:4, 2:7-8).
- Pharaoh's daughter She found the baby, had compassion on him and named him Moses (Exodus 2:6, 2:10).
Words to learn
- Pharaoh
- Pharaoh was the name for the king of Egypt. In Moses' time, Pharaoh would not let God's people go free.
What can we learn from this passage?
A cruel king made a terrible law, but a mother, a sister and even the king's own daughter acted to protect a baby. This baby, Moses, would later lead God's people to freedom. Exodus 2:2–10Exodus 3:10