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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 1:19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/1-19.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/02_Exo_01_19.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 1:19 - Oppression by a New King" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The midwives answered Pharaoh, The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives." /><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'; 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they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/1.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women,” the midwives replied. “They are more vigorous and have their babies so quickly that we cannot get there in time.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/1.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />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="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/1.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women <i>are</i> not as the Egyptian women; for they <i>are</i> lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/1.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women <i>are</i> not like the Egyptian women; for they <i>are</i> lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/1.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The midwives said to Pharaoh, &#8220Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous, and they give birth before the midwife can get to them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can come to them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth quickly and their babies are born before the midwife can get to them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The midwives said to Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The midwives said to Pharaoh, &#8220The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife can get to them.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/1.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwife come unto them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />They answered, "Hebrew women have their babies much quicker than Egyptian women. By the time we arrive, their babies are already born." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/1.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwife come unto them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women. They are so healthy that they have their babies before a midwife arrives."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/1.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />They answered, "The Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they give birth easily, and their babies are born before either of us gets there." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/1.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Hebrew women aren't like Egyptian women," the midwives replied to Pharaoh. "They're so healthy that they give birth before the midwives arrive to help them."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/1.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women--for the Hebrew women are vigorous; they give birth before the midwife gets to them!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women aren't like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous, and give birth before the midwife comes to them."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the midwives said to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women: for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in to them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />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="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/1.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women aren’t like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And the midwives say to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women [are] not as the Egyptian women, for they [are] lively; before the midwife comes to them—they have borne!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And the midwives say unto Pharaoh, 'Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women, for they are lively; before the midwife cometh in unto them -- they have borne!'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the midwives will say to Pharaoh, That the Hebrewesses are not as the Egyptian women, for they giving life before the midwives shall come in to them, and they will bring forth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />They answered: The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women: for they themselves are skillful in the office of a midwife; and they are delivered before we come to them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />They responded: “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. For they themselves have the wisdom of a midwife, and so they give birth before we can come to them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/1.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. They are robust and give birth before the midwife arrives.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the midwives said to Pharaoh, The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they themselves are midwives, and are delivered before a midwife comes in to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/1.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the Midwives said to Pharaoh, “The Hebrews are not like the Egyptian women, because they are Midwives, and when the Midwives are not near them, they give birth.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/1.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the midwives said unto Pharaoh: 'Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwife come unto them.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/1.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the midwives said to Pharao, The Hebrew women are not as the women of Egypt, for they are delivered before the midwives go in to them. So they bore children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/1-19.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=128" 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">18</span>So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?” <span class="reftext">19</span><span class="highl"><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/559.htm" title="559: wat·tō·mar·nā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">answered</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/6547.htm" title="6547: par·‘ōh (N-proper-ms) -- A title of Eg. kings. Of Egyptian derivation; Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings.">Pharaoh,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5680.htm" title="5680: hā·‘iḇ·rî·yōṯ (Art:: N-proper-fp) -- Perhaps desc. of Eber, also another name for an Isr. Patronymic from Eber; an Eberite or descendant of Eber.">“The Hebrew women</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">are not</a> <a href="/hebrew/4713.htm" title="4713: ham·miṣ·rî·yōṯ (Art:: N-proper-fp) -- Inhab. of Eg. From Mitsrayim; a Mitsrite, or inhabitant of Mitsrajim.">like the Egyptian</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ḵan·nā·šîm (Prep-k, Art:: N-fp) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">women,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">for</a> <a href="/hebrew/2007.htm" title="2007: hên·nāh (Pro-3fp) -- They. Prolongation for hen; themselves.">they</a> <a href="/hebrew/2422.htm" title="2422: ḥā·yō·wṯ (Adj-fp) -- Community. From chayah; vigorous.">are vigorous</a> <a href="/hebrew/3205.htm" title="3205: ham·yal·le·ḏeṯ (Art:: V-Piel-Prtcpl-fs) -- A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage.">and give birth</a> <a href="/hebrew/2962.htm" title="2962: bə·ṭe·rem (Prep-b:: Adv) -- From an unused root apparently meaning to interrupt or suspend; properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before.">before</a> <a href="/hebrew/3205.htm" title="3205: wə·yā·lā·ḏū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage.">a midwife</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: tā·ḇō·w (V-Qal-Imperf-3fs) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">arrives.”</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ă·lê·hen (Prep:: 3fp) -- To, into, towards. "></a> </span><span class="reftext">20</span>So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.…<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="/acts/5-29.htm">Acts 5:29</a></span><br />But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/2-16.htm">Matthew 2:16</a></span><br />When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-23.htm">Hebrews 11:23</a></span><br />By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/4-19.htm">Acts 4:19</a></span><br />But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/13-1.htm">Romans 13:1-2</a></span><br />Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/2-13.htm">1 Peter 2:13-14</a></span><br />Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/3-16.htm">Daniel 3:16-18</a></span><br />Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. / If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. / But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/6-10.htm">Daniel 6:10</a></span><br />Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/2-4.htm">Joshua 2:4-6</a></span><br />But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from. / At dusk, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I do not know which way they went. Pursue them quickly, and you may catch them!” / (But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/21-2.htm">1 Samuel 21:2</a></span><br />“The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission on which I am sending you. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/8-10.htm">2 Kings 8:10</a></span><br />Elisha answered, “Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover.’ But the LORD has shown me that in fact he will die.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/5-25.htm">2 Kings 5:25</a></span><br />When Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Gehazi, where have you been?” “Your servant did not go anywhere,” he replied.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/18-4.htm">1 Kings 18:4</a></span><br />for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/22-13.htm">1 Kings 22:13-14</a></span><br />Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold now, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.” / But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/38-27.htm">Jeremiah 38:27</a></span><br />When all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him, he relayed to them the exact words the king had commanded him to say. So they said no more to him, for no one had overheard the conversation.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the midwives said to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in to them.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/2-4.htm">Joshua 2:4</a></b></br> And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they <i>were</i>:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/21-2.htm">1 Samuel 21:2</a></b></br> And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed <i>my</i> servants to such and such a place.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/17-19.htm">2 Samuel 17:19,20</a></b></br> And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/19-22.htm">Arrive</a> <a href="/exodus/1-16.htm">Birth</a> <a href="/genesis/48-16.htm">Delivered</a> <a href="/genesis/47-20.htm">Egyptian</a> <a href="/john/4-49.htm">Ere</a> <a href="/exodus/1-16.htm">Hebrew</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-5.htm">Lively</a> <a href="/exodus/1-16.htm">Midwife</a> <a href="/exodus/1-18.htm">Midwives</a> <a href="/exodus/1-11.htm">Pharaoh</a> <a href="/exodus/1-7.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/jude/1-3.htm">Vigorous</a> <a href="/exodus/1-18.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/10-26.htm">Arrive</a> <a href="/exodus/1-22.htm">Birth</a> <a href="/exodus/2-19.htm">Delivered</a> <a href="/exodus/2-11.htm">Egyptian</a> <a href="/numbers/11-33.htm">Ere</a> <a href="/exodus/1-21.htm">Hebrew</a> <a href="/psalms/38-19.htm">Lively</a> <a href="/genesis/35-17.htm">Midwife</a> <a href="/exodus/1-20.htm">Midwives</a> <a href="/exodus/1-22.htm">Pharaoh</a> <a href="/exodus/1-20.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/joshua/14-11.htm">Vigorous</a> <a href="/exodus/1-20.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>The midwives answered Pharaoh</b><br>The midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, are responding to Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. This interaction highlights the courage and faith of these women who feared God more than the king. Their response is a form of civil disobedience, prioritizing divine law over human law. This moment is significant as it sets the stage for God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, showing that God often uses unexpected people to fulfill His purposes.<p><b>“The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women</b><br>This statement draws a distinction between the Hebrew and Egyptian women, possibly reflecting cultural or perceived physical differences. The Hebrews, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were living in Egypt as foreigners. The Egyptians, on the other hand, were the native people of the land. This distinction may also imply a divine favor or blessing upon the Hebrew women, aligning with God's promise to multiply the descendants of Abraham.<p><b>for they are vigorous</b><br>The term "vigorous" suggests strength and vitality, possibly indicating that the Hebrew women were robust and healthy, able to give birth quickly. This vigor could be seen as a fulfillment of God's promise to make the Israelites fruitful and multiply them exceedingly (<a href="/genesis/1-28.htm">Genesis 1:28</a>, <a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2</a>). It also underscores the idea that God was preserving His people even under oppression.<p><b>and give birth before a midwife arrives.”</b><br>This phrase implies that the Hebrew women were delivering their babies so quickly that the midwives could not intervene, thus thwarting Pharaoh's plan to kill the male infants. This rapid childbirth could be seen as a miraculous intervention by God to protect the future generations of Israel. It also highlights the theme of God's sovereignty and protection over His people, as seen throughout the Exodus narrative. This act of divine preservation foreshadows the ultimate deliverance of Israel from Egypt, pointing to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/h/hebrew_midwives.htm">Hebrew Midwives</a></b><br>Shiphrah and Puah, the midwives mentioned earlier in <a href="/bsb/exodus/1.htm">Exodus 1</a>, who feared God and defied Pharaoh's orders to kill Hebrew male infants.<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/h/hebrew_women.htm">Hebrew Women</a></b><br>The Israelite women described as vigorous, giving birth before the midwives could arrive.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a></b><br>The land where the Israelites were enslaved and where these events took place.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/god's_providence.htm">God's Providence</a></b><br>The underlying theme of God's protection and providence for His people, even in dire circumstances.<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 demonstrate the importance of fearing God above all earthly authorities. This reverence for God should guide our decisions, especially when faced with moral dilemmas.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/courage_in_adversity.htm">Courage in Adversity</a></b><br>The midwives showed remarkable courage in the face of potential punishment. Believers are called to stand firm in their convictions, trusting in God's protection and provision.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/v/value_of_life.htm">Value of Life</a></b><br>The midwives' respect for life reflects the biblical principle of the sanctity of life. Christians are called to uphold and protect life in all its stages.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_providence.htm">God's Sovereignty and Providence</a></b><br>Despite Pharaoh's oppressive plans, God's purposes prevailed. This reminds us that God is sovereign and His plans cannot be thwarted by human schemes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/role_of_women_in_god's_plan.htm">Role of Women in God's Plan</a></b><br>The midwives played a crucial role in God's redemptive history, highlighting the significant contributions of women in the biblical account and in the church today.<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/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><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_wasn't_david_punished_for_lying.htm">Why did God not condemn or punish David for lying to Ahimelech (1 Samuel 21:1–2)? </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>(19) <span class= "bld">The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women.</span>--This was probably true; but it was not the whole truth. Though the midwives had the courage to disobey the king, they had not "the courage of their convictions," and were afraid to confess their real motive. So they took refuge in a half truth, and pretended that what really occurred in some cases only was a general occurrence. It <span class= "ital">is </span>a fact, that in the East parturition is often so short a process that the attendance of a midwife is dispensed with.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 19.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">They are vigorous</span>. Literally, "they are lively." In the East at the present day a large proportion of the women deliver themselves; and the services of professional accoucheurs are very rarely called in. The excuse of the midwives had thus a basis of fact to rest upon, and was only untrue because it was not the whole truth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/1-19.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">The midwives</span><br /><span class="heb">הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙</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">answered</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתֹּאמַ֤רְןָ</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tō·mar·nā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Pharaoh,</span><br /><span class="heb">פַּרְעֹ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(par·‘ōh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6547.htm">Strong's 6547: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“The Hebrew women</span><br /><span class="heb">הָֽעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘iḇ·rî·yōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - proper - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5680.htm">Strong's 5680: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hebrews -- perhaps descendant of Eber, also another name for an Israelite</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֧א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">like the Egyptian</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמִּצְרִיֹּ֖ת</span> <span class="translit">(ham·miṣ·rî·yōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - proper - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4713.htm">Strong's 4713: </a> </span><span class="str2">Egyptian -- inhabitant of Egypt</span><br /><br /><span class="word">women,</span><br /><span class="heb">כַנָּשִׁ֛ים</span> <span class="translit">(ḵan·nā·šîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֣י</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">they</span><br /><span class="heb">הֵ֔נָּה</span> <span class="translit">(hên·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2007.htm">Strong's 2007: </a> </span><span class="str2">Themselves</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are vigorous</span><br /><span class="heb">חָי֣וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(ḥā·yō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2422.htm">Strong's 2422: </a> </span><span class="str2">Community</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and give birth</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמְיַלֶּ֖דֶת</span> <span class="translit">(ham·yal·le·ḏeṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular<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">before</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּטֶ֨רֶם</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ṭe·rem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2962.htm">Strong's 2962: </a> </span><span class="str2">Non-occurrence, not yet, before</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a midwife</span><br /><span class="heb">וְיָלָֽדוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(wə·yā·lā·ḏū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common 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">arrives.”</span><br /><span class="heb">תָּב֧וֹא</span> <span class="translit">(tā·ḇō·w)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/1-19.htm">Exodus 1:19 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/1-19.htm">Exodus 1:19 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/1-19.htm">Exodus 1:19 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/1-19.htm">Exodus 1:19 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/1-19.htm">Exodus 1:19 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/1-19.htm">Exodus 1:19 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/1-19.htm">Exodus 1:19 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/1-19.htm">Exodus 1:19 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/1-19.htm">Exodus 1:19 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/1-19.htm">Exodus 1:19 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/1-19.htm">OT Law: Exodus 1:19 The midwives said to Pharaoh Because (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/1-18.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 1:18"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 1:18" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/1-20.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 1:20"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 1:20" /></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>