Tree of Life Version
Exodus 1:17
17Yet the midwives feared God, so they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the boys live.
Exodus 1:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
- New International Version (NIV)The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.
Context of Exodus 1:17
15Moreover the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16and said, “When you help the Hebrew women during childbirth, look at the sex. If it’s a son, then kill him, but if it’s a daughter, she may live.” Yet the midwives feared God, so they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the boys live. 18So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this—let the boys live?” 19The midwives told Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women. They are like animals, and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”
Read all of Exodus 1Exodus 1:17 word by word
וַתִּירֶ֤אןָ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְלֹ֣א עָשׂ֔וּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ן מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But the midwivesיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
- fearedיָרֵאyârê' · to fear: revereH3372
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- and didעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- not as the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- of Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
- commandedדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- them, but savedחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
- the men childrenיֶ֫לֶדyeled · youthH3206
Cross-references for Exodus 1:17
- Genesis 20:11Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘There is certainly no fear of God in this place, so they’ll kill me, because of my wife.’
- Genesis 42:18Then Joseph said to them on the third day, “Do this and you will live. I fear God.
- Nehemiah 5:15The earlier governors, those preceding me, placed heavy burdens on the people, and took bread and wine from them, in addition to forty shekels of silver. Their attendants also lorded over the people. But I did not do so, out of fear of God.
- Psalms 31:19Let the lying lips be mute. For they speak arrogantly against the righteous, with pride and contempt.
- Proverbs 8:13To fear Adonai is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and a perverse mouth.
- Proverbs 16:6By mercy and truth is iniquity atoned, and by the fear of Adonai one avoids evil.
- Proverbs 24:11Rescue those being dragged off to death, hold back those stumbling to slaughter.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and prolong his days, yet I know that it will be well for those who fear God, for those who revere Him.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13A final word, when all has been heard: Fear God and keep His mitzvot! For this applies to all mankind.
- Daniel 3:16Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king saying, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you concerning this matter.
- Daniel 6:13So they approached the king and spoke to him about the royal decree: “Didn’t you issue a written decree that anyone who prays to any god or man for 30 days—except for you, O king—shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king replied, “The decree stands, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
- Hosea 5:11Oppressed is Ephraim, crushed by judgment, for he willingly followed a worthless thing.
- Micah 6:16Now, you observe the statutes of Omri and every practice of the house of Ahab, and you walk in their counsels. Therefore I will make you a horror, and her inhabitants a hissing, so you will bear the scorn of My people.
- Matthew 10:28And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
- Luke 12:5But I will show you whom you should fear. Fear the One who, after the killing, has authority to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear this One!
- Acts 4:19But Peter and John replied, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you decide.
Commentaries on Exodus 1:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17The midwives feared God - Because they knew that God had forbidden murder of every kind; for though the law was not yet given, Exodus 20:13, being Hebrews they must have known that God had from the beginning declared, Whosoever sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, Genesis 9:6. Therefore they saved the male children of all to whose assistance they were called. See Clarke's note on Exodus 1:19.Read the comment
- 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. 17The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed: This was because they feared God more than they feared Pharaoh (1:21). Fear of the Lord refers to having reverent awe of him as the almighty Creator and Judge. This is the foundation of true knowledge and wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). The Lord is a friend to those who fear him (Psalm 25:14). The midwives understood that the Lord has more power than any human.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. But the midwives feared God--Their faith inspired them with such courage as to risk their lives, by disobeying the mandate of a cruel tyrant; but it was blended with weakness, which made them shrink from speaking the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 1:17
In the dictionaries
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
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