Exodus 1:15-22

New International Reader's Version

¹⁵ There were two Hebrew women named Shiphrah and Puah. They helped other women having babies. The king of Egypt spoke to them. He said, ¹⁶ “You are the ones who help the other Hebrew women. Watch them when they get into a sitting position to have their babies. Kill the boys. Let the girls live.” ¹⁷ But Shiphrah and Puah had respect for God. They didn’t do what the king of Egypt had told them to do. They let the boys live. ¹⁸ Then the king of Egypt sent for the women. He asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

¹⁹ The women answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like the women of Egypt. They are strong. They have their babies before we get there.”

²⁰ So God was kind to Shiphrah and Puah. And the number of Israelites became even greater. ²¹ Shiphrah and Puah had respect for God. So he gave them families of their own.

²² Then Pharaoh gave an order to all his people. He said, “You must throw every Hebrew baby boy into the Nile River. But let every Hebrew baby girl live.”