17The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.


In Context

14 They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly.

15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah,

16 "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live."

17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.

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

19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive."

Exodus 1:17 in Other Translations

The King James Version of the Holy Bible

1:17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

The Douay-Rheims Version of the Holy Bible

1:17But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded, but saved the men children.

The American Standard Version of the Holy Bible

1:17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men-children alive.

The Darby Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

1:17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt had said to them, but saved the male children alive.

The English Revised Version of the Holy Bible

1:17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

The Webster Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

1:17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male-children alive.

The World English Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

1:17But the midwives feared God, and didn't do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive.

The Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

1:17And the midwives fear God, and have not done as the king of Egypt hath spoken unto them, and keep the lads alive;

The American King James Version of the Holy Bible

1:17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.