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Exodus 1:15-22
International Standard Version
Exodus 1:15-22
International Standard Version
Pharaoh Orders Male Children Killed
15 Later, the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah. 16 “When you help the Hebrew women give birth,” he said, “watch them as they deliver.[a] If it’s a son, kill him; but if it’s a daughter, let her live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and didn’t do what the king of Egypt told them. Instead,[b] they let the boys live.
18 When the king of Egypt called for the midwives, he asked them, “Why have you done this[c] and allowed the boys to live?”
19 “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[d] them.”
20 God was pleased with the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very strong. 21 Because the midwives feared God, he provided families[e] for them. 22 Meanwhile, Pharaoh continued commanding all of his people, “You’re to throw every Hebrew[f] son who is born into the Nile River,[g] but you’re to allow every Hebrew[h] daughter to live.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Exodus 1:16 Lit. them on the birth stool
- Exodus 1:17 The Heb. lacks Instead
- Exodus 1:18 Lit. this thing
- Exodus 1:19 The Heb. lacks to help
- Exodus 1:21 Or households; lit. houses
- Exodus 1:22 The Heb. lacks Hebrew
- Exodus 1:22 The Heb. lacks River
- Exodus 1:22 The Heb. lacks Hebrew
Exodus 1:15-22
New International Version
Exodus 1:15-22
New International Version
15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives,(A) whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.”(B) 17 The midwives, however, feared(C) God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do;(D) 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.”(E)
20 So God was kind to the midwives(F) and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared(G) God, he gave them families(H) of their own.
22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile,(I) but let every girl live.”(J)
International Standard Version (ISV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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