Exodus 1:21
And because the midwives feared God, he built them houses. Because the midwives feared God, etc... The midwives were rewarded, not for their lie, which was a venial sin; but for their fear of God, and their humanity: but this reward was only temporal, in building them houses, that is, in establishing and enriching their families.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner, 1752)
In The King James Version
And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
In Context
20Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied and grew exceedingly strong.
Cross References
1 Samuel 25:28Forgive the iniquity of thy handmaid: for the Lord will surely make for my lord a faithful house, because thou, my lord, fightest the battles of the Lord: let not evil therefore be found in thee all the days of thy life.
2 Samuel 7:27Because thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to the ear of thy servant, saying: I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to thee.
1 Kings 11:38If then thou wilt hearken to all that I shall command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do what is right before me, keeping my commandments and my precepts, as David, my servant, did: I will be with thee, and will build thee up a faithful house, as I built a house for David, and I will deliver Israel to thee:
Psalms 112:1Praise the Lord, ye children: praise ye the name of the Lord.
Psalms 127:3Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house. Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table.
Ecclesiastes 8:12But though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and by patience be borne withal, I know from thence that it shall be well with them that fear God, who dread his face.
Matthew Henry on Exodus 1:16-22
15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done… Read the whole commentary →