The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this thing and saved the boys alive?”
Parallel Translations
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The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this thing and saved the boys alive?”
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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?
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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?'
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (2)
Passages linked to Exodus 1:18 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Ecclesiastes 8:4 for the king’s word is supreme. Who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
- 2 Samuel 13:28 Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “Mark now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant!”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (4 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Exo 1:18 And the king of Egypt called for…
Exo 1:18 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?
Ver. 18. Why have ye done this thing?] They might well have answered, as she did in Euripides, Obediemus Atridis honesta mandantibus: Sin vero inhonesta mandabut, non obediemus. If you command things honest we will obey you; not else. Or as that brave woman upon the rack, Non ideo negare vole, ne peream: sed ideo mentiri nolo, ne peccem. {a}
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{a} Jerome.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And the king called for the midwives,.... Perceiving, by…
And the king called for the midwives,.... Perceiving, by the increase of the Israelites, that they did not obey his commands:
and said unto them, why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? not only did not kill them, but did everything for them that was necessary for their future preservation and health; see Eze 16:4.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Vers. 18-21. God"s acceptance of an imperfect obedience.
Vers. 18-21. God"s acceptance of an imperfect obedience.
The midwives had not the courage of their convictions. They did not speak out boldly, like Daniel, and the "Three Children," and the Apostles. They did not say, "Be it known unto thee, O king, that we fear God, and will not do this thing." They cast about for an excuse, which should absolve them of the crime of disobedience, and so perhaps save them from punishment, and they found one which was no doubt partially true, but which by a suppressio veri was a suggestio falsi. Some have exonerated them from all blame under the circumstances; but though the circumstances may extenuate, they do not justify their conduct. It was a fault, but (especially if they were heathens) a venial fault. And it was perhaps repented of. At any rate God condoned it. He was not "extreme to mark what was done amiss." He accepted their good deeds and their reverent fear of him, though it was not accompanied by high courage and a heroic love of truth; that is to say, he, accepted an imperfect obedience. And this is what he does in all cases. No man but One has rendered an obedience that was perfect. "All we, the rest, offend in many things; and if we say that we have no sin, deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." Well for us that God, for his Son"s sake, and through his atonement on the cross, can condone our offences, and despite our many misdeeds reward our acts of faithfulness! (see Mat_6:4 Mat_10:42 Mat_16:27; Luk_6:35; 1Co_3:14; etc.)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 These were women who helped a woman give birth…
midwives
These were women who helped a woman give birth to a baby. See how you translated this in Exodus 1:16.
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Why have you done this, and let the baby boys live?
Pharaoh asked this question to rebuke the midwives for allowing the male children to live. This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. AT: "You have disobeyed my order by not killing the male babies!" (See: Rhetorical Question)
The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women
The midwives answered wisely to appease Pharaoh's anger.
translationWords
Egypt
Pharaoh
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.