Exodus 1:16

And he said, When ye do the office of midwives to the Hebrew women, and they are about to be delivered, if it be a male, kill it; but if a female, save it.

Updated Brenton Septuagint

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

15And the king of the Egyptians spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews; the name of the one was, Shiphrah; and the name of the second, Puah.

17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt appointed them; and they saved the male children alive.

Read all of Exodus 1

Cross References

Psalms 105:25And they murmured in their tents: 1 They hearkened not to the voice of the Lord. 1

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 →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Exodus 1:16