Exodus 1:15-22

Contemporary English Version

¹⁵ Finally, the king called in Shiphrah and Puah, the two women who helped the Hebrew^[a] mothers when they gave birth. ¹⁶ He told them, “If a Hebrew woman gives birth to a girl, let the child live. If the baby is a boy, kill him!”

¹⁷ But the two women were faithful to God and did not kill the boys, even though the king had told them to. ¹⁸ The king called them in again and asked, “Why are you letting those baby boys live?”

¹⁹ They answered, “Hebrew women have their babies much quicker than Egyptian women. By the time we arrive, their babies are already born.” ^20-21 God was good to the two women because they truly respected him, and he blessed them with children of their own.

The Hebrews kept increasing ^22 (A) until finally, the king gave a command to everyone in the nation, “As soon as a Hebrew boy is born, throw him into the Nile River! But you can let the girls live.”