What does Exodus 1:12 mean?

God's plan continues to advance despite human efforts to stop it. Even under Pharaoh's purposefully harsh slave labor, the Israelites grow and grow. The rapid expansion of the Hebrew people continues to concern Pharaoh. In fact, he adds further slave work to stop them (Exodus 1:13). Moses uses this verse to show how God's efforts are more powerful than those of the Egyptian king. In addition, God continues to fulfill His promise to make Abraham's descendants a nation (Genesis 12:1–3).

The idea that the Hebrews "spread abroad" is often overlooked. Some have wrongly viewed this term to mean Hebrews were moving to other nations. However, the context is clear that the rapid growth of the Jewish people involved a tremendous population change. The land of Goshen was considered "abroad" to the native Egyptians, and there the Jews continued to grow more densely populated, raising concern among Pharaoh and the Egyptians. However, the Jews were brutalized slaves at this time and lacked freedom to move to other lands.

The Egyptians feared the rapid growth of the Jews. The Egyptians were a superstitious and polytheistic people. They saw the explosive growth of the Hebrews as a threat to their security as well as a spiritual omen. This was also an issue of racism: the Hebrew phrase yā'qu-su mi pene, seems to imply fear, but also disgust and hatred. Egypt's attitude towards the people of Israel involves anxiety and loathing.