Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.” New Living Translation “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women,” the midwives replied. “They are more vigorous and have their babies so quickly that we cannot get there in time.” English Standard Version The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” Berean Standard Bible The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.” King James Bible 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. New King James Version And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.” New American Standard Bible The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.” NASB 1995 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.” NASB 1977 And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous, and they give birth before the midwife can get to them.” Legacy Standard Bible Then the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can come to them.” Amplified Bible The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth quickly and their babies are born before the midwife can get to them.” Christian Standard Bible The midwives said to Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.” Holman Christian Standard Bible The midwives said to Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife can get to them.” American Standard Version 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. Contemporary English Version They answered, "Hebrew women have their babies much quicker than Egyptian women. By the time we arrive, their babies are already born." English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women. They are so healthy that they have their babies before a midwife arrives." Good News Translation They answered, "The Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they give birth easily, and their babies are born before either of us gets there." International Standard Version "Hebrew women aren't like Egyptian women," the midwives replied to Pharaoh. "They're so healthy that they give birth before the midwives arrive to help them." NET Bible The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women--for the Hebrew women are vigorous; they give birth before the midwife gets to them!" New Heart English Bible 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." Webster's Bible Translation And the midwives said to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women: for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in to them. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.” World English Bible 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.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the midwives say to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women [are] not as the Egyptian women, for they [are] lively; before the midwife comes to them—they have borne!” Young's Literal Translation And the midwives say unto Pharaoh, 'Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women, for they are lively; before the midwife cometh in unto them -- they have borne!' Smith's Literal Translation And the midwives will say to Pharaoh, That the Hebrewesses are not as the Egyptian women, for they giving life before the midwives shall come in to them, and they will bring forth. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThey answered: The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women: for they themselves are skillful in the office of a midwife; and they are delivered before we come to them. Catholic Public Domain Version They responded: “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. For they themselves have the wisdom of a midwife, and so they give birth before we can come to them.” New American Bible The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. They are robust and give birth before the midwife arrives.” New Revised Standard Version The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the midwives said to Pharaoh, The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they themselves are midwives, and are delivered before a midwife comes in to them. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the Midwives said to Pharaoh, “The Hebrews are not like the Egyptian women, because they are Midwives, and when the Midwives are not near them, they give birth.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And 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.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And the midwives said to Pharao, The Hebrew women are not as the women of Egypt, for they are delivered before the midwives go in to them. So they bore children. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Oppression by a New King…18So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?” 19The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.” 20So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.… Cross References Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. Matthew 2:16 When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict. Acts 4:19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. Romans 13:1-2 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 1 Peter 2:13-14 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. / If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. / But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.” Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Joshua 2:4-6 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. / At dusk, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I do not know which way they went. Pursue them quickly, and you may catch them!” / (But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.) 1 Samuel 21:2 “The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission on which I am sending you. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place. 2 Kings 8:10 Elisha answered, “Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover.’ But the LORD has shown me that in fact he will die.” 2 Kings 5:25 When Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Gehazi, where have you been?” “Your servant did not go anywhere,” he replied. 1 Kings 18:4 for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.) 1 Kings 22:13-14 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold now, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.” / But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.” Jeremiah 38:27 When all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him, he relayed to them the exact words the king had commanded him to say. So they said no more to him, for no one had overheard the conversation. Treasury of Scripture And the midwives said to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in to them. Joshua 2:4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: 1 Samuel 21:2 And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place. 2 Samuel 17:19,20 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known… Jump to Previous Arrive Birth Delivered Egyptian Ere Hebrew Lively Midwife Midwives Pharaoh Strong Vigorous WomenJump to Next Arrive Birth Delivered Egyptian Ere Hebrew Lively Midwife Midwives Pharaoh Strong Vigorous WomenExodus 1 1. The children of Israel, after Joseph's death, increase.8. The more they are oppressed by a new king, the more they multiply. 15. The godliness of the midwives in saving the male children alive. 22. Pharaoh commands the male children to be cast into the river The midwives answered Pharaoh The midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, are responding to Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. This interaction highlights the courage and faith of these women who feared God more than the king. Their response is a form of civil disobedience, prioritizing divine law over human law. This moment is significant as it sets the stage for God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, showing that God often uses unexpected people to fulfill His purposes. “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.” Persons / Places / Events 1. Hebrew MidwivesShiphrah and Puah, the midwives mentioned earlier in Exodus 1, who feared God and defied Pharaoh's orders to kill Hebrew male infants. 2. Pharaoh The king of Egypt who ordered the killing of Hebrew male infants to suppress the growing population of the Israelites. 3. Hebrew Women The Israelite women described as vigorous, giving birth before the midwives could arrive. 4. Egypt The land where the Israelites were enslaved and where these events took place. 5. God's Providence The underlying theme of God's protection and providence for His people, even in dire circumstances. Teaching Points Fear of God Over Fear of ManThe midwives' actions demonstrate the importance of fearing God above all earthly authorities. This reverence for God should guide our decisions, especially when faced with moral dilemmas. Courage in Adversity The midwives showed remarkable courage in the face of potential punishment. Believers are called to stand firm in their convictions, trusting in God's protection and provision. Value of Life The midwives' respect for life reflects the biblical principle of the sanctity of life. Christians are called to uphold and protect life in all its stages. God's Sovereignty and Providence Despite Pharaoh's oppressive plans, God's purposes prevailed. This reminds us that God is sovereign and His plans cannot be thwarted by human schemes. Role of Women in God's Plan The midwives played a crucial role in God's redemptive history, highlighting the significant contributions of women in the biblical account and in the church today. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Exodus 1:19?2. How does Exodus 1:19 demonstrate God's protection over the Hebrew midwives' actions? 3. What can we learn about courage from the midwives' response in Exodus 1:19? 4. How does Exodus 1:19 connect to God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:2? 5. In what ways can we apply the midwives' faithfulness to our daily lives? 6. How does Exodus 1:19 encourage us to prioritize God's commands over human authority? 7. How does Exodus 1:19 reflect God's protection over the Israelites? 8. Why did the Hebrew midwives lie in Exodus 1:19, and was it justified? 9. What does Exodus 1:19 reveal about God's view on civil disobedience? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 1? 11. Exodus 1:19 – How credible is the claim that midwives could successfully deceive an absolute monarch renowned for strict oversight and harsh penalties? 12. Who were the Hebrew midwives in the Bible? 13. Exodus 2:2 – How could a newborn be successfully hidden for three months without detection by Pharaoh’s forces? 14. Why did God not condemn or punish David for lying to Ahimelech (1 Samuel 21:1–2)? What Does Exodus 1:19 Mean The midwives answered PharaohPharaoh has just demanded an explanation for the survival of Hebrew boys (Exodus 1:18). • The midwives speak directly to the most powerful man in Egypt, yet they first and foremost “feared God” (Exodus 1:17), placing divine authority above royal authority—much like Peter and the apostles who later said, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). • Their reply is an act of courageous faith. Proverbs 29:25 reminds us that “the fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.” The midwives prove that point in real time. • God uses ordinary, even socially marginalized people (two women with no weapons) to frustrate a tyrant, echoing 1 Corinthians 1:27 where God chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong. “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women By contrasting the two groups, the midwives highlight God’s special covenant favor on Israel. • Exodus 1:12 has already noted that “the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied.” This physical fruitfulness flows from the earlier promise to Abraham in Genesis 17:2. • The distinction also foreshadows later separations God will make—Plagues that strike Egyptians but spare Israelites (Exodus 8:22; 9:4). • Psalm 115:14—“May the LORD cause you to flourish, both you and your children”—is quietly being fulfilled in the maternity wards of Goshen. for they are vigorous “Vigorous” points to strength and resiliency. • Deuteronomy 34:7 notes that Moses’ strength did not diminish; that same vigor appears already in his people. • Isaiah 40:31 promises those who wait on the LORD will “run and not grow weary.” The Hebrew mothers embody that promise physically. • This vigor is not merely genetics; it is divine empowerment, the very opposite of the back-breaking oppression Pharaoh intends (Exodus 1:13–14). and give birth before a midwife arrives.” The midwives present a practical impossibility for Pharaoh’s slaughter order. • In God’s providence the babies are born so swiftly that human intervention cannot halt them, recalling Psalm 33:10–11: “The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.” • Job 42:2 affirms, “No purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” Pharaoh’s purpose is genocide; God’s purpose is life. • The statement may well be factually accurate—hard field labor often accelerates delivery—but even if it is a partial truth, God still commends their God-fearing stance (Exodus 1:20–21). • The result? “God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous” (Exodus 1:20). Obedience and reverence lead to blessing. summary Exodus 1:19 records a simple yet profound reply that turns a murderous decree on its head. By fearing God, the midwives speak courageously, highlight God’s favor on His covenant people, showcase divine empowerment, and demonstrate that no earthly power can outmaneuver the Creator’s plan for life. (19) The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women.--This was probably true; but it was not the whole truth. Though the midwives had the courage to disobey the king, they had not "the courage of their convictions," and were afraid to confess their real motive. So they took refuge in a half truth, and pretended that what really occurred in some cases only was a general occurrence. It is a fact, that in the East parturition is often so short a process that the attendance of a midwife is dispensed with.Verse 19. - They are vigorous. Literally, "they are lively." In the East at the present day a large proportion of the women deliver themselves; and the services of professional accoucheurs are very rarely called in. The excuse of the midwives had thus a basis of fact to rest upon, and was only untrue because it was not the whole truth.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew The midwivesהַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙ (ham·yal·lə·ḏōṯ) Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine plural Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage answered וַתֹּאמַ֤רְןָ (wat·tō·mar·nā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say Pharaoh, פַּרְעֹ֔ה (par·‘ōh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings “The Hebrew women הָֽעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת (hā·‘iḇ·rî·yōṯ) Article | Noun - proper - feminine plural Strong's 5680: Hebrews -- perhaps descendant of Eber, also another name for an Israelite are not לֹ֧א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no like the Egyptian הַמִּצְרִיֹּ֖ת (ham·miṣ·rî·yōṯ) Article | Noun - proper - feminine plural Strong's 4713: Egyptian -- inhabitant of Egypt women, כַנָּשִׁ֛ים (ḵan·nā·šîm) Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female for כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction they הֵ֔נָּה (hên·nāh) Pronoun - third person feminine plural Strong's 2007: Themselves are vigorous חָי֣וֹת (ḥā·yō·wṯ) Adjective - feminine plural Strong's 2422: Community and give birth הַמְיַלֶּ֖דֶת (ham·yal·le·ḏeṯ) Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage before בְּטֶ֨רֶם (bə·ṭe·rem) Preposition-b | Adverb Strong's 2962: Non-occurrence, not yet, before a midwife וְיָלָֽדוּ׃ (wə·yā·lā·ḏū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage arrives.” תָּב֧וֹא (tā·ḇō·w) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go Links Exodus 1:19 NIVExodus 1:19 NLT Exodus 1:19 ESV Exodus 1:19 NASB Exodus 1:19 KJV Exodus 1:19 BibleApps.com Exodus 1:19 Biblia Paralela Exodus 1:19 Chinese Bible Exodus 1:19 French Bible Exodus 1:19 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 1:19 The midwives said to Pharaoh Because (Exo. 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