CINXE.COM

<!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 1:21 And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/1-21.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/02_Exo_01_21.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 1:21 - Oppression by a New King" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own." /><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/1-21.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/1-21.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 21</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="/ad1.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/1-20.htm" title="Exodus 1:20">◄</a> Exodus 1:21 <a href="/exodus/1-22.htm" title="Exodus 1:22">►</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 />And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/1.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/1.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/1.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/1.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And because the midwives feared God, He established households for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/1.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And it came about because the midwives feared God, that He established households for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now it happened that because the midwives feared God, He made households for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And because the midwives feared God [with profound reverence], He established families <i>and</i> households for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Since the midwives feared God, he gave them families.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Since the midwives feared God, He gave them families.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/1.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them households.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/1.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/1.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Because the midwives feared God, he provided families for them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/1.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />And because the midwives feared God, he made households for them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />It happened, because the midwives feared God, that he gave them families.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/1.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and it comes to pass, because the midwives have feared God, that He makes households for them;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and it cometh to pass, because the midwives have feared God, that He maketh for them households;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it will be because the midwives will fear God, and he will make houses for them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And because the midwives feared God, he built them houses. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And because the midwives feared God, he built houses for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/1.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />And because the midwives feared God, God built up families for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, he blessed them with families.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/1.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And it was that as the midwives were in awe of God, he made them households.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/1.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that He made them houses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/1.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And as the midwives feared God, they established for themselves families.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/1-21.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=144" 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">20</span>So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous. <span class="reftext">21</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">And because</a> <a href="/hebrew/3205.htm" title="3205: ham·yal·lə·ḏōṯ (Art:: V-Piel-Prtcpl-fp) -- A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage.">the midwives</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3372.htm" title="3372: yā·rə·’ū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten. A primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. To frighten.">feared</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">God,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: way·ya·‘aś (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">He gave</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- ">them</a> <a href="/hebrew/1004.htm" title="1004: bāt·tîm (N-mp) -- A house. Probably from banah abbreviated; a house.">families of their own.</a> </span><span class="reftext">22</span>Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every son born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you may allow to live.”…<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/15-1.htm">Genesis 15:1</a></span><br />After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”<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/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/28-2.htm">Deuteronomy 28:2</a></span><br />And all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the voice of the LORD your God:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/2-30.htm">1 Samuel 2:30</a></span><br />Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/7-11.htm">2 Samuel 7:11</a></span><br />and have done since the day I appointed judges over My people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD declares to you that He Himself will establish a house for you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/2-24.htm">1 Kings 2:24</a></span><br />And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/127-1.htm">Psalm 127:1</a></span><br />A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/14-26.htm">Proverbs 14:26</a></span><br />He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/54-2.htm">Isaiah 54:2-3</a></span><br />“Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not hold back. Lengthen your ropes and drive your stakes in deep. / For you will spread out to the right and left; your descendants will dispossess the nations and inhabit the desolate cities.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/33-22.htm">Jeremiah 33:22</a></span><br />As the hosts of heaven cannot be counted and as the sand on the seashore cannot be measured, so too will I multiply the descendants of My servant David and the Levites who minister before Me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-33.htm">Matthew 6:33</a></span><br />But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/25-21.htm">Matthew 25:21</a></span><br />His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.</p><p class="hdg">made them.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/2-35.htm">1 Samuel 2:35</a></b></br> And I will raise me up a faithful priest, <i>that</i> shall do according to <i>that</i> which <i>is</i> in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/25-28.htm">1 Samuel 25:28</a></b></br> I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee <i>all</i> thy days.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/7-11.htm">2 Samuel 7:11-13,27-29</a></b></br> And as since the time that I commanded judges <i>to be</i> over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/50-25.htm">Care</a> <a href="/genesis/47-26.htm">Established</a> <a href="/genesis/47-24.htm">Families</a> <a href="/exodus/1-17.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/exodus/1-17.htm">Feared</a> <a href="/exodus/1-19.htm">Hebrew</a> <a href="/genesis/47-24.htm">Households</a> <a href="/genesis/47-24.htm">Houses</a> <a href="/genesis/42-30.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/exodus/1-20.htm">Midwives</a> <a href="/genesis/32-11.htm">Mothers</a> <a href="/exodus/1-20.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/10-10.htm">Care</a> <a href="/exodus/6-4.htm">Established</a> <a href="/exodus/6-14.htm">Families</a> <a href="/exodus/2-14.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/exodus/2-14.htm">Feared</a> <a href="/exodus/2-6.htm">Hebrew</a> <a href="/exodus/6-14.htm">Households</a> <a href="/exodus/6-14.htm">Houses</a> <a href="/exodus/4-11.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/exodus/1-15.htm">Midwives</a> <a href="/exodus/22-30.htm">Mothers</a> <a href="/exodus/2-5.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>And because the midwives feared God</b><br>The midwives' fear of God indicates a deep reverence and respect for His authority, which is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. This fear is not terror but a recognition of God's power and holiness. In the context of Exodus, the midwives' fear of God contrasts with Pharaoh's disregard for human life and divine authority. Their actions demonstrate a moral courage that aligns with the biblical principle found in <a href="/proverbs/9-10.htm">Proverbs 9:10</a>, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." This reverence for God over human authority is echoed in <a href="/acts/5-29.htm">Acts 5:29</a>, where Peter and the apostles declare, "We must obey God rather than men."<p><b>He gave them families of their own</b><br>In the ancient Near Eastern context, having a family was considered a blessing and a sign of God's favor. The midwives' reward for their faithfulness and fear of God is the granting of families, which signifies stability, legacy, and divine approval. This blessing can be seen as a fulfillment of the promise that those who honor God will be honored by Him, as stated in <a href="/1_samuel/2-30.htm">1 Samuel 2:30</a>. Theologically, this phrase underscores the biblical principle that God rewards those who are faithful to Him, as seen in <a href="/hebrews/11-6.htm">Hebrews 11:6</a>, which states that God "rewards those who earnestly seek Him." The midwives' story also prefigures the New Testament teaching that God blesses those who prioritize His will, as seen in <a href="/matthew/6-33.htm">Matthew 6:33</a>, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/midwives.htm">Midwives</a></b><br>The Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, who defied Pharaoh's orders to kill Hebrew male infants. Their fear of God led them to preserve life.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/p/pharaoh.htm">Pharaoh</a></b><br>The king of Egypt who ordered the killing of Hebrew male infants to suppress the growing population of the Israelites.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The sovereign deity who rewards the midwives for their faithfulness and fear of Him by blessing them with families.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/h/hebrews/israelites.htm">Hebrews/Israelites</a></b><br>The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were living in Egypt and growing in number, causing concern for Pharaoh.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a></b><br>The land where the Israelites were enslaved and where these events took place.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/f/fear_of_god_leads_to_righteous_actions.htm">Fear of God Leads to Righteous Actions</a></b><br>The midwives' fear of God over Pharaoh's command demonstrates the importance of prioritizing God's will above human authority.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god_rewards_faithfulness.htm">God Rewards Faithfulness</a></b><br>The midwives' faithfulness resulted in God blessing them with families, showing that God honors those who honor Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/courage_in_the_face_of_oppression.htm">Courage in the Face of Oppression</a></b><br>The midwives' courage to defy an unjust order encourages believers to stand firm in their convictions, even when facing societal pressures.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_sanctity_of_life.htm">The Sanctity of Life</a></b><br>The midwives' actions underscore the value of life and the importance of protecting it, aligning with the biblical principle of the sanctity of life.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_providence.htm">Divine Providence</a></b><br>God's intervention in the lives of the midwives illustrates His providential care and ability to bless those who trust in Him.<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_midwives_deceive_a_strict_monarch.htm">Exodus 1:19 – How credible is the claim that midwives could successfully deceive an absolute monarch renowned for strict oversight and harsh penalties? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_romans_13_2_align_with_exodus_1_17.htm">How does Romans 13:2's warning against resisting authority align with biblical accounts of resisting evil rulers (e.g., Exodus 1:17)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_allow_slavery_in_exodus.htm">The Old Testament allows slavery (Exodus 21:2-11); why would a moral God condone it?</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>(21) <span class= "bld">He made them houses.</span>--God rewarded those who had showed tenderness to young children, by giving them children of their own, who grew up, and became in their turn fathers and mothers of families. There is no indication that the "houses" spoken of were Hebrew ones.<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/1-21.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">And because</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the midwives</span><br /><span class="heb">הַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖ת</span> <span class="translit">(ham·yal·lə·ḏōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">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">feared</span><br /><span class="heb">יָֽרְא֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yā·rə·’ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3372.htm">Strong's 3372: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten</span><br /><br /><span class="word">God,</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | 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">He gave</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּ֥עַשׂ</span> <span class="translit">(way·ya·‘aś)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">them families of their own.</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּתִּֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(bāt·tîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1004.htm">Strong's 1004: </a> </span><span class="str2">A house</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/1-21.htm">Exodus 1:21 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/1-21.htm">Exodus 1:21 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/1-21.htm">Exodus 1:21 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/1-21.htm">Exodus 1:21 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/1-21.htm">Exodus 1:21 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/1-21.htm">Exodus 1:21 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/1-21.htm">Exodus 1:21 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/1-21.htm">Exodus 1:21 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/1-21.htm">Exodus 1:21 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/1-21.htm">Exodus 1:21 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/1-21.htm">OT Law: Exodus 1:21 It happened because the midwives feared God (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/1-20.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 1:20"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 1:20" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/1-22.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 1:22"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 1:22" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>