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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 1:20 So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/1-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/02_Exo_01_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 1:20 - Oppression by a New King" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/exodus/1-20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/exodus/1-20.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/exodus/">Exodus</a> > <a href="/exodus/1.htm">Chapter 1</a> > Verse 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad20.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/1-19.htm" title="Exodus 1:19">◄</a> Exodus 1:20 <a href="/exodus/1-21.htm" title="Exodus 1:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/exodus/1.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/exodus/1.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/1.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/1.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/1.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/1.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/1.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very mighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />So God was good to the midwives, and the people [of Israel] multiplied and became very strong.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very numerous.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very numerous. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/1.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/1.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />God was good to the midwives. So the people increased in number and became very strong.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/1.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />God was pleased with the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very strong. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/1.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />So God treated the midwives well, and the people multiplied and became very strong.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and became very mighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/1.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And God does good to the midwives, and the people multiply, and are very mighty;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And God doth good to the midwives, and the people multiply, and are very mighty;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And God will do well to the midwives, and the people will multiply and be greatly strong.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied and grew exceedingly strong. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Therefore, God acted favorably toward the midwives. And the people increased, and they were strengthened exceedingly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/1.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Therefore God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and grew very numerous.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, because they spared the males; and the people multiplied, and grew exceedingly strong.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/1.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And God blessed the Midwives because they made this response, and he multiplied the people and they grew very strong.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/1.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/1.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And God did well to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very strong.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/1-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=138" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/1.htm">Oppression by a New King</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.” <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">So God</a> <a href="/hebrew/3190.htm" title="3190: way·yê·ṭeḇ (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To be good, well, glad, or pleasing. A primitive root; to be make well, literally or figuratively.">was good</a> <a href="/hebrew/3205.htm" title="3205: lam·yal·lə·ḏōṯ (Prep-l, Art:: V-Piel-Prtcpl-fp) -- A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage.">to the midwives,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: hā·‘ām (Art:: N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">and the people</a> <a href="/hebrew/7235.htm" title="7235: way·yi·reḇ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To be or become much, many or great. A primitive root; to increase.">multiplied</a> <a href="/hebrew/3966.htm" title="3966: mə·’ōḏ (Adv) -- Muchness, force, abundance. From the same as 'uwd; properly, vehemence, i.e. vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc.">and became even more</a> <a href="/hebrew/6105.htm" title="6105: way·ya·‘aṣ·mū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- A primitive root; to bind fast, i.e. Close; intransitively, to be powerful or numerous; denominatively to crunch the bones.">numerous.</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2</a></span><br />I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5</a></span><br />And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17</a></span><br />I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/26-4.htm">Genesis 26:4</a></span><br />I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/46-3.htm">Genesis 46:3</a></span><br />“I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-13.htm">Deuteronomy 7:13</a></span><br />He will love you and bless you and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your land—your grain, new wine, and oil, the young of your herds and the lambs of your flocks—in the land that He swore to your fathers to give you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-4.htm">Deuteronomy 28:4</a></span><br />The fruit of your womb will be blessed, as well as the produce of your land and the offspring of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/105-24.htm">Psalm 105:24</a></span><br />And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/51-2.htm">Isaiah 51:2</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-17.htm">Acts 7:17</a></span><br />As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-12.htm">Hebrews 11:12</a></span><br />And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/1-28.htm">Genesis 1:28</a></span><br />God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/9-1.htm">Genesis 9:1</a></span><br />And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/17-2.htm">Genesis 17:2</a></span><br />I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/28-14.htm">Genesis 28:14</a></span><br />Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.</p><p class="hdg">God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/41-1.htm">Psalm 41:1,2</a></b></br> To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed <i>is</i> he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/61-5.htm">Psalm 61:5</a></b></br> For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given <i>me</i> the heritage of those that fear thy name.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/85-9.htm">Psalm 85:9</a></b></br> Surely his salvation <i>is</i> nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.</p><p class="hdg">the people.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/1-7.htm">Exodus 1:7,12</a></b></br> And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/49-28.htm">Blessing</a> <a href="/genesis/49-23.htm">Dealt</a> <a href="/genesis/50-20.htm">Good</a> <a href="/exodus/1-12.htm">Grew</a> <a href="/exodus/1-12.htm">Increased</a> <a href="/exodus/1-14.htm">Kind</a> <a href="/exodus/1-19.htm">Midwives</a> <a href="/exodus/1-9.htm">Mighty</a> <a href="/exodus/1-12.htm">Multiplied</a> <a href="/exodus/1-10.htm">Multiply</a> <a href="/exodus/1-9.htm">Numerous</a> <a href="/exodus/1-19.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/exodus/1-7.htm">Waxed</a> <a href="/exodus/1-19.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/12-32.htm">Blessing</a> <a href="/exodus/5-22.htm">Dealt</a> <a href="/exodus/3-8.htm">Good</a> <a href="/exodus/2-10.htm">Grew</a> <a href="/exodus/7-3.htm">Increased</a> <a href="/exodus/22-9.htm">Kind</a> <a href="/exodus/1-21.htm">Midwives</a> <a href="/exodus/3-19.htm">Mighty</a> <a href="/exodus/7-3.htm">Multiplied</a> <a href="/exodus/7-3.htm">Multiply</a> <a href="/exodus/5-5.htm">Numerous</a> <a href="/exodus/3-19.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/exodus/16-21.htm">Waxed</a> <a href="/exodus/1-21.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 1</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/1-1.htm">The children of Israel, after Joseph's death, increase.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/1-8.htm">The more they are oppressed by a new king, the more they multiply.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/1-15.htm">The godliness of the midwives in saving the male children alive.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/1-22.htm">Pharaoh commands the male children to be cast into the river</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/1.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/exodus/1.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>So God was good to the midwives</b><br>This phrase highlights God's favor and blessing upon the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, who feared God and defied Pharaoh's orders to kill Hebrew male infants. Their actions demonstrate a reverence for God's moral law over human edicts, aligning with the biblical principle found in <a href="/acts/5-29.htm">Acts 5:29</a>, "We must obey God rather than men." The midwives' faithfulness is rewarded by God, illustrating His justice and mercy. This also reflects the broader biblical theme of God supporting those who act righteously, as seen in <a href="/proverbs/11-18.htm">Proverbs 11:18</a>, "The wicked earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward."<p><b>and the people multiplied</b><br>This phrase underscores the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham in <a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2</a>, where God promised to make Abraham's descendants into a great nation. Despite the oppression and harsh conditions imposed by the Egyptians, the Israelites continued to grow in number, demonstrating God's sovereign power and faithfulness to His covenant. This multiplication of the Israelites is a testament to God's providence and His ability to bring about His purposes even in adverse circumstances.<p><b>and became even more numerous</b><br>The increasing number of Israelites despite Pharaoh's attempts to suppress them highlights the futility of opposing God's plans. This mirrors the promise in <a href="/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5</a>, where God tells Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars. The growth of the Israelite population sets the stage for the Exodus, where God will deliver His people from bondage, foreshadowing the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ. This phrase also reflects the biblical theme of God using the weak and oppressed to accomplish His purposes, as seen in <a href="/1_corinthians/1-27.htm">1 Corinthians 1:27</a>, "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong."<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The sovereign and compassionate deity who rewards the faithfulness of the midwives.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/midwives.htm">Midwives</a></b><br>Specifically, Shiphrah and Puah, who feared God and defied Pharaoh's orders to kill Hebrew male infants.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/h/hebrew_people.htm">Hebrew People</a></b><br>The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were living in Egypt and experiencing rapid population growth.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/p/pharaoh.htm">Pharaoh</a></b><br>The king of Egypt who felt threatened by the growing number of Israelites and ordered the killing of newborn Hebrew boys.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a></b><br>The land where the Israelites were living in bondage, yet experiencing God's blessing through population growth.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/f/fear_of_god_over_fear_of_man.htm">Fear of God Over Fear of Man</a></b><br>The midwives' actions teach us the importance of fearing God above all earthly authorities. Their reverence for God led to His favor and blessing.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness_to_his_promises.htm">God's Faithfulness to His Promises</a></b><br>Despite the oppression in Egypt, God continued to fulfill His promise to Abraham by multiplying his descendants. This reminds us of God's unwavering faithfulness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/courage_in_adversity.htm">Courage in Adversity</a></b><br>The midwives displayed courage by standing up to Pharaoh's unjust command. We are called to act with similar courage when faced with moral dilemmas.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_reward_for_faithfulness.htm">Divine Reward for Faithfulness</a></b><br>God rewarded the midwives for their faithfulness. This encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith, trusting that God sees and rewards our obedience.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_1.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 1</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_prayer_alter_god's_decisions.htm">Can prayer alter God's decisions?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_numbers_1_46's_600,000_men_credible.htm">How credible is the claim in Numbers 1:46 that over 600,000 fighting-age men—implying a total population of more than two million—could have gathered in the Sinai Desert? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_were_the_bible's_hebrew_midwives.htm">Who were the Hebrew midwives in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/exodus_2_2_-_how_was_moses_hidden.htm">Exodus 2:2 – How could a newborn be successfully hidden for three months without detection by Pharaoh’s forces? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">Therefore God dealt well with the midwives.</span>--Heb., <span class= "ital">and God dealt well, </span>&c. The reason is stated in <a href="/exodus/1-21.htm" title="And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.">Exodus 1:21</a>. It was not because they equivocated and deceived the king, but because they feared God sufficiently to disobey the king, and run the risk of discovery. If they had been discovered, their life would have paid the forfeit.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 20, 21.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Therefore God did well to the midwives</span>. Literally, "And <span class="accented">God did</span> well," etc. (see ver. 21). Because they feared him sufficiently to disobey the king, and take their chance of a punishment, which might have been very severe-even perhaps death - God overlooked their weak and unfaithful divergence from truth, and gave them a reward. <span class="cmt_word">He made them houses</span>. He blessed them by giving them children of their own, who grew up, and gave them the comfort, support, and happiness which children were intended to give. There was a manifest fitness in rewarding those who had refused to bring misery and desolation into families by granting them domestic happiness themselves. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/1-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">So God</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was good</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֵּ֥יטֶב</span> <span class="translit">(way·yê·ṭeḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3190.htm">Strong's 3190: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be good, well, glad, or pleasing</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the midwives,</span><br /><span class="heb">לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֑ת</span> <span class="translit">(lam·yal·lə·ḏōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3205.htm">Strong's 3205: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and the people</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעָ֛ם</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">multiplied</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּ֧רֶב</span> <span class="translit">(way·yi·reḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7235.htm">Strong's 7235: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become much, many or great</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and became even more</span><br /><span class="heb">מְאֹֽד׃</span> <span class="translit">(mə·’ōḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3966.htm">Strong's 3966: </a> </span><span class="str2">Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily</span><br /><br /><span class="word">numerous.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·ya·‘aṣ·mū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6105.htm">Strong's 6105: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bind fast, close, powerful, numerous, to crunch the bones</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/1-20.htm">Exodus 1:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/1-20.htm">Exodus 1:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/1-20.htm">Exodus 1:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/1-20.htm">Exodus 1:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/1-20.htm">Exodus 1:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/1-20.htm">Exodus 1:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/1-20.htm">Exodus 1:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/1-20.htm">Exodus 1:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/1-20.htm">Exodus 1:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/1-20.htm">Exodus 1:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/1-20.htm">OT Law: Exodus 1:20 God dealt well with the midwives (Exo. 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