What is the meaning of Exodus 1:15?

Then the king of Egypt

“Then the king of Egypt…” (Exodus 1:15) drops us into a decisive moment.

• A fresh dynasty holds power (Exodus 1:8; Acts 7:18), fearing Israel’s numerical growth (Exodus 1:9-10).

• Scripture reports events exactly as they occurred, underscoring a literal ruler issuing actual commands.

• Pharaoh’s throne pictures worldly authority arrayed against God’s covenant people (Psalm 2:1-3).

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said to the Hebrew midwives

Pharaoh “said to the Hebrew midwives…” showing a crafty shift from brute force (Exodus 1:11-14) to covert infanticide (Exodus 1:16).

• Midwives occupy low social rank, yet the king leans on them to weaponize childbirth—evil exploiting the ordinary.

• This echoes later plots against God’s deliverers (2 Kings 11:1-2; Matthew 2:16), highlighting the recurring spiritual battle.

• God permits the confrontation to display His faithfulness, turning intended harm into rescue (Genesis 50:20).

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whose names were Shiphrah and Puah

The narrative pauses to name the women—Shiphrah and Puah—while leaving Pharaoh unnamed here.

• God honors those who fear Him (Exodus 1:17, 20-21; Hebrews 6:10).

• Their recorded names emphasize individual obedience over imperial power (1 Corinthians 1:27).

• By preserving their identities, Scripture invites us to remember “those who do righteousness at all times” (Psalm 106:3).

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summary

Exodus 1:15 sets the stage for a clash between a mighty monarch and two humble midwives. The verse highlights the literal historical moment, the sinister strategy aimed at God’s people, and the personal names of women whose faith will upend royal decrees. God’s Word thus exalts quiet obedience above earthly power and prepares us to witness His saving intervention.