What does Exodus 1:8 mean?

This transitions from the growth of Jacob's family (Exodus 1:1) to the situation just prior to the birth of Moses. A new king, using the typical title of "Pharaoh," arose in Egypt who seems to have little concern for Joseph's contributions (Genesis 41:41–43, 56–57). Previous pharaohs respected Joseph's role in saving their nation, while this new ruler had either no knowledge of or no respect for this history.

Despite popular use of the name Raamses, the exact identity of this pharaoh is uncertain. Likely candidates are Thutmose I, Neferhotep I, or possibly Amenhoteph I. The capital city during these times was Zoan, known in Greek as Tanis.

Whoever this specific ruler was, he saw the Hebrew people as a threat to Egyptian rule. The Egyptians had recently struggled against a people group known as the Hyksos and were likely focused on establishing a greater nationalism. The pharaoh, or perhaps a succession of pharaohs, would focus on three different ways of decreasing the threat of the Hebrew people (Exodus 1:11, 16, 22). His rule was oppressive and violent, leading to God's intervention among the Hebrews and the midwives who served among them.