Parashas Shemos · Passuk 1:12
וְכַאֲשֶׁר֙ יְעַנּ֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ כֵּ֥ן יִרְבֶּ֖ה וְכֵ֣ן יִפְרֹ֑ץ וַיָּקֻ֕צוּ מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
But the more they were oppressed, the more they increased and spread out, so that the [Egyptians] came to dread the Israelites.
Torah Temimah points to Sotah 11a (verified).
ויקוצו — מלמד שהיו בעיניהם כקוצים.
English: “And they loathed” — this teaches that they were in their eyes like thorns (kotzim).
Custom — word-play on vayakutzu / kotzim.
Chazal teach that the Egyptians experienced Israel’s growth as a physical and psychological thorn.