Exodus 1:18

Verse

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

American Standard Version (1901)

And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men-children alive?

Bible in Basic English

And the king of Egypt sent for the women, and said to them, Why have you done this, and let the male children go on living?

Douay-Rheims 1899

And the king called for them and said: What is that you meant to do, that you would save the men children?

Free Bible Version

The king of Egypt called the midwives in and demanded to know, “Why have you done this— letting the male children live?”

Geneva Bible 1599

Then the King of Egypt called for the midwiues, and sayde vnto them, Why haue yee done thus, and haue preserued aliue the men children?

King James (Authorized) Version

And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

One Unity Resource Bible

The king of Egypt [Abode of slavery] called for the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and have saved the boys alive?”

Translation for Translators

So the king summoned the two midwives and said to them, “Why are you doing this? Why are you letting the baby boys live?”

Unlocked Literal Bible

The king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the baby boys live?”

Noah Webster Bible

And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the male-children alive?

World English Bible

The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this thing and saved the boys alive?”

Young's Literal Translation

and the king of Egypt calleth for the midwives, and saith to them, 'Wherefore have ye done this thing, and keep the lads alive?'

Context

Oppression by a New King

¹⁷The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live.¹⁸So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

Summary

In Exodus 1:18, the Egyptian king commands the Hebrew midwives to kill all male babies born to the Israelites. However, the midwives fear God and choose to disobey the king's orders by letting the male babies live. This act of civil disobedience demonstrates the midwives' faithfulness to God's command to preserve life, even in the face of great danger. Their courage and trust in God's sovereignty ultimately lead to the protection and preservation of the Israelite male infants, foiling the king's evil plan.

Commentary

Keil-Delitzsch
John Gill

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

When questioned upon the matter, the explanation which they gave was, that the Hebrew women were not like the delicate women of Egypt, but were חיות "vigorous" (had much vital energy: Abenezra), so that they gave birth to their children before the midwives arrived. They succeeded in deceiving the king with this reply, as childbirth is remarkably rapid and easy in the case of Arabian women (see Burckhardt, Beduinen, p. 78; Tischendorf, Reise i. p. 108).

Exodus 1:18

Oppression by a New King

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version (1901)

And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men-children alive?

Bible in Basic English

And the king of Egypt sent for the women, and said to them, Why have you done this, and let the male children go on living?

Douay-Rheims 1899

And the king called for them and said: What is that you meant to do, that you would save the men children?

Free Bible Version

The king of Egypt called the midwives in and demanded to know, “Why have you done this— letting the male children live?”

Geneva Bible 1599

Then the King of Egypt called for the midwiues, and sayde vnto them, Why haue yee done thus, and haue preserued aliue the men children?

King James (Authorized) Version

And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

One Unity Resource Bible

The king of Egypt [Abode of slavery] called for the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and have saved the boys alive?”

Translation for Translators

So the king summoned the two midwives and said to them, “Why are you doing this? Why are you letting the baby boys live?”

Unlocked Literal Bible

The king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the baby boys live?”

Noah Webster Bible

And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the male-children alive?

World English Bible

The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this thing and saved the boys alive?”

Young's Literal Translation

and the king of Egypt calleth for the midwives, and saith to them, 'Wherefore have ye done this thing, and keep the lads alive?'

Exodus 1:18

Verse

Context

Oppression by a New King

Summary

Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Exodus 1:18

Oppression by a New King

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary