Exodus 1:18

Exodus 1:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
• New International Version (NIV)Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this, and let the male children live?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?”

Context of Exodus 1:18

16‘When you help the Israelite women at the birth of their children, this is what you must do. If she gives birth to a son, kill him. But if the child is a daughter, you may let her live.’ 17But the two women respected God. So they did not do what the king of Egypt had told them. They obeyed God and they let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt called the two women to come to him. He asked them, ‘Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?’ 19The two women said to Pharaoh, ‘Israelite women are not like Egyptian women. Israelite women are very strong. They give birth to their babies very quickly, before we arrive at the house.’ 20Because the two women respected God, he was kind to them. The Israelite people continued to grow in number. They became very strong.

Exodus 1:18 word by word

וַיִּקְרָ֤א מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֔ת וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ן מַדּ֥וּעַ עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ן הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• of Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
• calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• for the midwivesיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto them, Whyמַדּוּעַmaddûa‛ maddûa‛ · why?H4069
• have ye doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• this thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• and have savedחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
• the men childrenיֶ֫לֶדyeled · youthH3206

Cross-references for Exodus 1:18

• 2 Samuel 13:28Absalom then told his servants, ‘When Amnon has drunk a lot of wine I will tell you, “Knock him down!” Then you must kill him immediately. Do not be afraid. I am the one who is commanding you to do this. So be strong and brave.’
• Ecclesiastes 8:4The king's command has complete power. Nobody can tell him that he is wrong.

Commentaries on Exodus 1:18

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-22Verses 15-22 The Egyptians tried to destroy Israel by the murder of their children. The enmity that is in the seed of the serpent, against the Seed of the woman, makes men forget all pity. It is plain that the Hebrews were now under an uncommon blessing. And we see that the services done for God's Israel are often repaid in kind. Pharaoh gave orders to drown all the male children of the Hebrews. The enemy who, by Pharaoh, attempted to destroy the church…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-22The need for rescue was clearly related to the Israelites' condition. The Egyptians forced the people of Israel to work without mercy (1:13). It was also related to promises God had made to the patriarchs years earlier. The Lord had promised Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation, living freely in the land of Canaan. At this time, Abraham's descendants were slaves in Egypt under a pharaoh who wanted to destroy them as a people. God would…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-22Commentary by Robert Jamieson 1. Now these are the names--(See Ge 46:8-26).Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 1:18

• Integrity
• Israel
• Midwifery
• Oppression
• Servant
• Usurpation

In the dictionaries

• Egypt
• Egypt, Egyptian
• Pharaoh, king of Egypt
• Arise
• Bitter
• Exodus
• Hard
• Lie
• Pharaoh
• Puah

Commentaries on Exodus 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings