1. Exodus 1:7 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

To what area does “the land” refer?

Exodus 1:7 (ESV)

7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.

This likely does not refer to all of Egypt but specifically to the land of Goshen where Israel had settled (Genesis 47:4, Genesis 47:6, Genesis 47:27; Genesis 50:8). The strongest evidence for this comes from Exodus 8:22 and Exodus 9:26—both indicate that Israel remained within the land of Goshen at time of the plagues.