Exodus 1:17

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt spake unto them,—but suffered the male children to live.

The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham

In The King James Version

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

In Context

16then he said—When ye act as midwives unto the Hebrew women, then shall ye look out for the sex,—If it is, a son, then shall ye kill it, But, if it is, a daughter, then shall it live.

18Then called the king of Egypt for the midwives, and said to them—Wherefore have ye done this thing, that ye should let the male children live?

Read all of Exodus 1

Cross References

Genesis 42:18And Joseph said unto them on the third day, This, do and live,—God himself, do, I, revere.

1 Samuel 22:17And the king said unto the runners that were stationed by him—Turn ye round and put to death the priests of Yahweh, because, their hand also, is with David, and because they knew that he was, in flight, and unveiled not mine ear. But the servants of the king were not willing to thrust forth their hand, to fall upon the priests of Yahweh.

Nehemiah 5:15whereas, the former pashas, who were before me, suffered themselves to be a burden upon the people, and took from them in bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver, even, their young men, bare rule over the people,—but, I, did not so, because of the fear of God.

Psalms 31:19How great is thy goodness, which thou hast hidden away for them who revere thee,—Thou hast wrought for them who seek refuge in thee, in sight of the sons of men.

Proverbs 16:6By lovingkindness and fidelity, shall iniquity be covered, and, in the revering of Yahweh, is a turning away from wrong.

Ecclesiastes 8:12Though a sinner be committing wickedness a hundred times, and continuing long in his own way, yet I surely know that it shall be well to them who revere God, who stand in awe before him;

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 1:17