Bible Compass
Log inGet started
Back to the chapter

Exodus 1:19

PharaohEgypt

17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live.

18 So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.”

20 So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.

21 And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.

Read the whole chapter

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.”
KJV
And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
WEB
The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women aren’t like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”
ASV
And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwife come unto them.
DARBY
And the midwives said to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian; for they are strong, and they have borne before the midwife comes to them.
BLB
And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrewesses [are] not like the Egyptian women, for they [are] lively; and before the midwife comes to them, they have given birth.”
ÅB
Jordmødrene svarte Farao: De hebraiske kvinner er ikke som de egyptiske, de er sterkere; før jordmoren kommer til dem, har de født.
OTB
Jordmødrene svarte farao: "Fordi de hebraiske kvinnene ikke er som de egyptiske kvinnene; de er sterke og føder før jordmødrene kommer."
B1930
Jordmødrene svarte Farao: De hebraiske kvinner er ikke som de egyptiske, de er sterkere; før jordmoren kommer til dem, har de født.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Joshua 2:4–24

    But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 17:19–20

    Then the man’s wife took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well, scattering grain over it so nobody would know a thing.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 21:2

    “The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission or charge. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place.

    Read in context