A major ancient nation
Egypt was a well-established kingdom along the Nile River, south-west of Canaan, the land where Israel later lived. Its fertile river valley supported farms, cities, trade, armies, and a strong central government. Pharaoh was the title for Egypt's king, not the personal name of one ruler.
In the Bible's table of nations, Mizraim, a son of Ham, is linked with Egypt (Genesis 10:6). In fact, Mizraim is the Hebrew name often used for Egypt in the Old Testament. The Egyptians were therefore portrayed as one of the surrounding peoples in the world God created and governs.
And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Put, and Canaan.
Egypt first helped Jacob's family
Egypt was not always Israel's enemy. When famine struck the region, Abraham travelled there for food, although fear led him into a troubled decision involving Sarah (Genesis 12:10-13). Later, Joseph was sold into Egypt by his brothers. Despite that evil, God gave Joseph influence under Pharaoh and used him to prepare for a severe famine (Genesis 41:39-41).
Jacob's family then settled in Egypt, where Joseph provided them with land and food (Genesis 47:11-12). For a long season, Egypt was a place of survival. This makes the later change in the relationship all the more painful.
And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families.
Pharaoh enslaved the Israelites
Generations after Joseph died, a new Pharaoh viewed the growing Israelite population as a threat. He put them under forced labour, making their lives bitter with hard work (Exodus 1:8-14). Pharaoh also tried to stop the Israelites growing through violence against their baby boys (Exodus 1:15-16).
God heard his people's suffering and called Moses to lead them out. The conflict between Moses and Pharaoh showed that no ruler, however powerful, could finally resist God. The exodus became Israel's defining memory of rescue from slavery.
And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
Egyptians were not all the same
The Bible does not say that every Egyptian person shared Pharaoh's cruelty. During the plagues, some of Pharaoh's servants took God's warning seriously and protected their households and livestock (Exodus 9:20-21). When Israel left Egypt, a mixed multitude travelled with them, showing that the departing group included people beyond Jacob's descendants (Exodus 12:38).
Later prophets warned Judah not to put its confidence in Egypt's horses, chariots, or military help instead of seeking God (Isaiah 31:1). That warning was about misplaced trust in human power, not a declaration that Egyptian people were beyond God's care.
Even Egypt became a refuge
In a striking turn, Egypt became a safe place for Jesus when he was a child. Joseph took Mary and Jesus there after an angel warned him that Herod wanted to kill the child. They stayed until it was safe to return (Matthew 2:13-15).
So the Egyptians in the Bible were real people from a powerful neighbouring nation. Their relationship with Israel changed across the centuries, from offering food in famine to enforcing slavery, and later providing refuge for Jesus. Their story points to God's justice against oppression and his rule over every land.
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.