There are two kinds of paragraph divisions in the Hebrew text given by the inspiration of the Spirit. A p’tuchah marker {p} is a strong division and indicates completion of a topic or theme. A stumah marker {s} is a weak division and indicates a new facet of the same topic or theme. The Hebrew Bible in English includes the paragraph divisions which the English translators have discarded.
The topic themes following the divisions are my own; your study may come up with something different.
1:1-7 {p} The increase of the children of Israel
1:8-22 {p} Pharaoh tries to stop their increase
2:1-22 {p} Moses, born to be Israel’s deliverer
1:1-2:22 Strong Theme {px3} Israel’s increase / the enemy’s opposition / the deliverer born
2:23-25 {s} God acknowledged the children of Israel
3:1-4:17 {p} Call of Moses: words and signs of YHVH
4:18-26 {p} Return to Egypt with authority (rod of God) and obedience (circumcision)
2:23-4:26 Strong Theme {s+p+p} God’s call of Moses
4:27-6:1 {s} Pharaoh’s response to Moses and the children of Israel
6:2-9 {p} YHVH to reveal the meaning of His name by redeeming Israel from Egypt
4:27-6:9 Strong Theme {s+p} Pharaoh does not know YHVH, but YHVH will reveal who He is
6:10-12 {p} “Speak to Pharaoh” / “How shall he heed me?” (Moses’ question)
6:13 {s} YHVH commanded Israel and Pharaoh, through Moses and Aaron
6:14-28 {s} Moses and Aaron the seed of Levi
6:29-30 {p} “I am YHVH” (YHVH’s answer)
6:13-30 Strong Theme {s+s+p} “I have commanded you through Moses (through Levi); I am YHVH”
7:1-7 {p} Moses to tell the word of YHVH to Pharaoh, but Pharaoh will not heed
7:8-13 {s} Aaron’s rod becomes a serpent; magicians’ rods become serpents
7:14-18 {s} Warning re: the river will become blood
7:19-25 {p} The river becomes blood; magicians did also
7:8-25 Strong Theme {s+s+p} YHVH begins to reveal who He is (rod/ river becomes blood)
8:1-15 {s} The plague of frogs; magicians did also
8:16-19 {s} The plague of lice; magicians could not do also
8:20-32 {p} The plague of flies; no flies in Goshen
8:1-32 Strong Theme {s+s+p} YHVH shows Himself great (frogs + lice + flies)
9:1-7 {p} The plague of pestilence on the cattle
9:8-12 {s} The plague of boils
9:13-21 {p} Warning re: the plague of hail
9:8-21 Strong Theme {s+p} The plague of boils a warning to preserve human life
9:22-35 {p} The plague of hail
10:1-11 {s} warning re: plague of locusts
10:12-20 {p} plague of locusts
10:1-20 Strong Theme {s+p} The plague of locusts
10:21-29 {p} The plague of darkness
11:1-3 {s} One final plague / favor in the sight of the Egyptians
11:4-8 {s} One final plague/ distinction between Israel
11:9-10 {s} Pharaoh will/ did not heed, so that wonders multiplied in Egypt
12:1-20 {p} Passover and Unleavened Bread instruction
11:1-12:20 Strong Theme {sx3+p} Warning of the final plague for Pharaoh/ Passover instruction for Israel
12:21-28 {s} Israel observed the Passover as YHVH had commanded Moses
12:29-36 {p} Final plague: death of the firstborn
12:37-42 {p} Israel ceased their sojourn in Egypt
12:21-36 Strong Theme {s+p+p} Through the death of the firstborn, Israel ceased their sojourn in Egypt
12:43-50 {s} The ordinance of the Passover
12:51 {p} YHVH brought Israel out of Egypt
12:43-51 Strong Theme {s+p} Keep the Passover, for by it YHVH brought Israel out of Egypt
13:1-10 {p} Ordinance of the firstborn and Unleavened Bread
13:11-16 {p} Ordinance of the firstborn a sign to future generations
13:1-16 Strong Theme {p+p} Ordinance of the firstborn and Unleavened Bread a sign to future generations
13:17-22 {p} God led them Himself in a pillar of cloud and fire
14:1-14 {p} Pharaoh pursues Israel/ Israel complains/ YHVH’s assurance of deliverance
14:15-25 {p} The Red Sea divided; Israel goes through on dry ground
14:26-31 {p} YHVH overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea
13:17-14:31 Strong Theme {px4} God led them to a hemmed in place to miraculously deliver Israel and overthrow the Egyptians
15:1 {s} Song of Moses: Sing to YHVH, for He has triumphed gloriously!
15:2 {s} YHVH has become my salvation
15:3 {s} YHVH is a man of war
15:4 {s} He has cast Pharaoh’s army into the sea
15:5 {s} The depths of the sea have covered them
15:6 {s} YHVH’s right hand glorious in power has dashed the enemy in pieces
15:7 {s} YHVH overthrew His enemy by the greatness of His power
15:8 {s} YHVH made the waters stand upright
15:9 {s} The enemy said I will pursue and destroy them
15:10 {s} YHVH made the waters cover them
15:11 {s} Who is like YHVH glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders
15:12 {s} YHVH’s right hand caused the earth to swallow them
15:13 {s} in mercy YHVH has led forth His people whom He has redeemed
15:14 {s} Philistia will be in anguish
15:15 {s} Edom, Moab and Canaan will be dismayed
15:16 {s} They will be in dread till the redeemed of Israel pass over
15:17 {s} YHVH will plant Israel in His established place
15:18 {s} YHVH shall reign forever and ever
15:19 {p} Egyptians drowned in the sea, but Israel went on dry land in the sea
15:1-19 Strong Theme {sx18+p} Song of Moses: praise for what YHVH has done
15:20-21 {s} Dance of Miriam: Sing to YHVH, for He has triumphed gloriously!
15:22-26 {s} Israel complained of no water; waters of Marah (bitterness) made sweet
15:27-16:3 {s} Israel complained of no bread
16:4-10 {p} YHVH answered that He will provide bread from heaven
15:20-16:10 Strong Theme {sx3+p} Dance of Miriam, and+ complaints for what YHVH has not done
16:11-27 {s} In providing manna, YHVH teaches Sabbath rest
16:28-36 {p} The Sabbath rest is YHVH’s commandment / memorial of manna
16:11-36 Strong Theme {s+p} YHVH teaches the Sabbath commandment with manna (bread from heaven)
17:1-7 {p} YHVH provides water from the rock at Massah and Meribah
17:8-13 {p} Amalek fought with Israel, but Joshua defeated Amalek
17:14-16 {p} YHVH will have war with Amalek from generation to generation
18:1-27 {p} YHVH is greater than all the gods
19:1-25 {s} YHVH descended upon Mt Sinai in fire, to enact the marriage covenant with Israel
20:1 {s} And God spoke all these words, saying
20:2-6 {s} Israel shall have no gods before YHVH
20:7 {p} Israel shall not take the name of YHVH in vain
19:1-20:7 Strong Theme {sx3+p} Marriage covenant: how YHVH has loved us, and how we love YHVH
20:8-11 {s} Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart
20:12 {s} Honor your father and mother
20:13 {s} You shall not murder
20:14 {s} You shall not commit adultery
20:15 {s} You shall not steal
20:16 {s} You shall not bear false witness
20:17a {s} You shall not covet your neighbor’s house
20:17b {p} You shall not covet anything that is your neighbor’s
20:8-17 Strong Theme {sx7+p} How we love ourselves and others
20:18-21 {s} The fear of God prevents us from sinning (breaking commandment)
20:22-26 {p} Explanation of ‘Have no gods before Me.’
20:18-26 Strong Theme {s+p} The fear of God helps us keep His commandments
21:1-6 {s} Conditions for a Hebrew male slave to go out free
21:7-11 {s} Conditions for a Hebrew female slave to go out free
21:12-13 {s} Manslaughter is not murder
21:14 {s} Murder receives the death penalty
21:15 {s} Striking father or mother receives the death penalty
21:16 {s} Kidnapping receives the death penalty
21:17 {s} Cursing father or mother receives the death penalty
21:18-19 {s} Assault of a neighbor when he does not die
21:20-21 {s} Assault of a male or female slave when he does or does not die
21: 22-25 {s} Assault of a woman with child when the child does or does not die
21:26-27 {p} Conditions for male or female slaves to go out free
21:1-27 Strong Theme {sx10+p} Restitution in cases of slavery, or when a person causes injury or death (‘You shall not commit murder’)
21:28-32 {s} Restitution when an ox gores a person to death
21:33-34 {s} Restitution when a pit causes the death of an animal
21:35-36 {s} Restitution when an ox causes the death of an animal
22:1-4 {s} Restitution when a theft is discovered
22:5 {s} Restitution when an animal feeds in another man’s field
22:6 {s} Restitution when fire destroys a harvest
22:7-9 {s} Restitution when goods are lost from a neighbor’s safe- keeping
22:10-13 {p} Restitution when goods are destroyed from a neighbor’s safe- keeping
21:28-22:13 Strong Theme {sx7+p} Restitution when a thing causes injury, death, or loss of property (‘You shall not steal’)
22:14-15 {s} Restitution when goods are borrowed
22:16-17 {s} Restitution when a virgin is seduced
22:18-19 {s} Sorcery and bestiality receive the death penalty
22:20-24 {p} Idolaters and afflicters of strangers, widows, orphans shall be utterly destroyed
22:14-24 Strong Theme {sx3+p} When restitution is not to be made (‘You shall not commit adultery’)
22:25-27 {s} Not coveting interest or collateral from your neighbor
22:28-31 {s} Not coveting what belongs to God
23:1-3 {s} Not bearing false witness
23:4 {s} Return your enemy’s ox or donkey
23:5 {s} Relieve your enemy’s donkey’s burden
23:6-19 {p} Perversions of justice/ oppression of strangers/ Sabbath rest/ not naming other gods/ harvest feasts
22:25-23:19 Strong Theme {sx5+p} Not injuring your neighbor, strangers, or God (‘Do not covet/’ ‘bear false witness,’ ‘Honor the Sabbath’)
23:20-25 {s} The Angel of YHVH will go before them in the way to Canaan
23:26-33 {p} What YHVH will do to bring them in
23:20-33 Strong Theme {s+p} Israel shall make no covenant with the Canaanites or their gods to learn their ways
24:1-11 {s} Moses ratified the covenant between God and His people
24:12-18 {p} Moses went into the cloud to receive the Torah
24:1-18 Strong Theme {s+p} Israel made a covenant with YHVH to walk in His ways, encoded in Torah
25:1-9 {s} The offering commanded to build the Tabernacle
25:10-22 {p} The pattern for the ark of the covenant
25:1-22 Strong Theme {s+p} YHVH’s sacred place is the Most Holy Place
25:23-30 {p} The pattern for the table of showbread
25:31-40 {s} The pattern for the golden lampstand
26:1-14 {p} The pattern for the curtains and coverings of the Tabernacle
25:23-26:14 Strong Theme {p+s+p} The patterns for the Holy Place
26:15-30 {s} The pattern for the frame of the Tabernacle
26:31-37 {s} The pattern for the veil/ placement of ark, table, lampstand/ screen
27:1-8 {s} The pattern for the altar
27:9-19 {s} The pattern for the outer court
27:20-21 {s} Oil for the lampstand to tend the lampstand’s light
28:1-5 {p} Aaron and his sons as priests, and their holy garments
26:15-28:5 Strong Theme {sx5+p} The form of the tabernacle and the function of the priesthood
28:6-12 {s} The pattern for the ephod
28:13-14 {s} The pattern for the chain and settings of gold
28:15-30 {s} The pattern for the breastplate
28:31-35 {s} The pattern for the robe of blue
28:36-43 {s} The pattern for the remaining garments
29:1-37 {s} Instructions for the service of consecration
29:38-46 {p} Continual burnt offerings for the altar
28:6-29:46 Strong Theme {sx6+p} Priestly garments / consecration / the continual offerings
30:1-10 {p} The pattern for the altar of incense
30:11-16 {p} The atonement money for the Tabernacle
30:17-21 {p} The pattern for the laver of bronze
30:1-21 Strong Theme {px3} Continual prayer and washing surround atonement
30:22-33 {s} The pattern for the holy anointing oil
30:34-38 {s} The pattern for the holy incense
31:1-11 {p} Bezalel and Aholiab called and gifted to make the Tabernacle
30:22-31:11 Strong Theme {s+s+p} Continual prayer at the heart of anointing to minister being filled with the Spirit in all wisdom
31:12-17 {s} The Sabbath commandment
31:18-32:6 {p} Aaron and the people make the golden calf
31:12-32:6 Strong Theme {s+p} Sabbath reminded, however Israel set aside a feast day of their own making to worship an idol of YHVH
32:7-14 {p} The sin of Israel, but the mediation of Moses (Messiah type) appeases of YHVH’s wrath
32:15-35 {s} Moses and the Levites restrained the sin of the people/ the mediation of Moses
33:1-11 {p} The bad news: YHVH will not go up with them/ Moses made his personal tent the tabernacle of meeting
32:15-33:11 Strong Theme {s+p} Consequences: 3000 fell; YHVH will not go with them; tabernacle not built
33:12-16 {p} My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest
33:17-23 {p} Plea of Moses: Show me Your glory
34:1-26 {p} The renewal of the covenant
33:12-34:26 Strong Theme {px3} The good news: Presence of YHVH, rest, glory of YHVH, covenant renewed
34:27-35 {s} The 2nd set of tablets; Moses’ face shown with the glory of YHVH whom he had seen
35:1-3 {p} Work shall be done on six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest
34:27-35:1-3 Strong Theme {s+p} Moses reflected God’s glory encompassed by obedience
35:4-29 {p} Freewill offering for the work of the tabernacle commanded, and brought
35:30-36:7 {s} Beztalel and artisans called to do the work, and received what Israel brought
36:8-13 {p} He made the fine linen curtains for the tabernacle
35:30-36:13 Strong Theme {s+p} Bezalel called, equipped, and supplied to begin the work
36:14-19 {s} He made the goats’ hair/ rams’ skins dyed red/ seals’ skins coverings for the tabernacle
36:20-38 {p} He made the boards, sockets, bars/ veil/ screen for the door and its pillars
36:14-38 Strong Theme {s+p} He made the coverings, frame, veil, screen
37:1-9 {p} He made the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat
37:10-16 {p} He made the table of showbread and its utensils
37:17-24 {p} He made the lampstand and its utensils
37:1-24 Strong Theme {px3} He made the furniture for the Most Holy and Holy Place
37:25-29 {s} He made the altar of incense, its utensils, anointing oil, and incense
38:1-7 {s} He made the altar of burnt offering and its utensils
38:8 {s} He made the laver of bronze and its base
38:9-20 {s} He made the hangings, pillars, sockets, screen of the gate for the outer court
38:21-23 {s} The inventory for the tabernacle/ Bezalel made all that YHVH commanded Moses
38:24-39:1 {p} The gold, silver, bronze for the tabernacle/ blue, purple, scarlet thread for garments of ministry
37:25-39:1 Strong Theme {sx5+p} With the offering, Bezalel made all that YHVH commanded Moses
39:2-5 {s} He made the ephod
39:6-7 {p} He made the shoulders of the ephod
39:2-7 Strong Theme {s+p} He made the ephod and its shoulders
39:8-21 {p} He made the breastplate
39:22-26 {s} He made the robe
39:27-29 {s} He made the tunics, turbans, and sashes
39:30-31 {s} He made the crown
39:32 {p} All the work of the tabernacle was finished
39:22-32 Strong Theme {sx3+p} He made the priestly garments, thus finishing the work of the tabernacle
39:33-43 {p} They brought the tabernacle to Moses for inspection, and he found it done according to the commandment
40:1-16 {s} Erect the tabernacle on the first day of the first month + so Moses did
40:17-19 {s} On the first day of the first month, Moses set up the tabernacle
40:20-21 {s} He put the tablets into the ark, brought the ark in, hung the veil, and partitioned it
40:22-23 {s} He set up the table of showbread and put the bread in order on it
40:24-25 {s} He set up the lampstand and lit the lamps before the Lord
40:26-27 {s} He set up the golden altar of incense and burned incense on it
40:28-29 {s} He set up the screen of the Holy Place, the altar of burnt offering, and offered
40:30-32 {s} He set up the bronze laver and washed and Aaron and sons washed
40:33 {p} He raised up the outer court and hung up the screen, thus finishing the work
40:1-33 Strong Theme {sx8+p} Moses erected the tabernacle and finished the work
40:34-38 {p} The cloud and the glory covered and filled the Tabernacle, and directed their journey
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