Exodus 1:18

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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?

Complete Jewish Bible:

The king of Egypt summoned the midwives and demanded of them, "Why have you done this and let the boys live?"

Berean Standard Bible:

So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

American Standard Version:

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?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the king^{H4428} of Egypt^{H4714} called^{H7121} for the midwives^{H3205}, and said^{H559} unto them, Why^{H4069} have ye done^{H6213} this thing^{H1697}, and have saved^{H2421} the men children^{H3206} alive^{H2421}?

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Commentary for Exodus 1:18

Exodus 1:18 is a verse set within the broader narrative of the Israelites' oppression in Egypt. The historical context of this verse is rooted in the period after Joseph and his brothers had died, when a new Pharaoh came to power in Egypt "who did not know Joseph" (Exodus 1:8). This Pharaoh, feeling threatened by the rapid growth of the Israelite population, instituted a policy of harsh enslavement and oppression to curb their numbers.

In Exodus 1:15-21, Pharaoh's oppressive measures escalate when he commands the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill all newborn Hebrew boys at birth. However, the midwives fear God and disobey Pharaoh's command, allowing the male infants to live. When questioned by Pharaoh in Exodus 1:18, "Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?" the midwives cleverly respond with a culturally plausible excuse, stating that the Hebrew women are vigorous and give birth before they can arrive.

The themes present in this verse include the tension between divine command and human authority, the sanctity of life, the courage of the midwives in the face of tyranny, and the providence of God working through human actions. The midwives' refusal to participate in infanticide underscores a moral imperative that transcends Pharaoh's decree, highlighting the ethical responsibility to protect life, even in defiance of unjust laws. Their actions also demonstrate civil disobedience, a concept where individuals disobey governmental demands that conflict with moral or divine laws.

This verse is a testament to the resilience of the Israelite people and the divine protection that ensured their survival despite the genocidal intentions of Pharaoh. It sets the stage for the birth of Moses, who would eventually lead the Israelites out of Egypt, as God's plan for His people unfolds in spite of human attempts to thwart it. The narrative of the midwives' courage and the preservation of the Hebrew boys' lives serves as a powerful example of faith in action and the triumph of God's will over the designs of oppressive rulers.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4428
   There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4714
   There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִצְרַיִם
   Transliteration: Mitsrayim
   Pronunciation: mits-rah'-yim
   Description: dual of מָצוֹר; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt; Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7121
   There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָרָא
   Transliteration: qârâʼ
   Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
   Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3205
   There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַד
   Transliteration: yâlad
   Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
   Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
   
5. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
6. Strong's Number: H4069
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַדּוּעַ
   Transliteration: maddûwaʻ
   Pronunciation: mad-doo'-ah
   Description: or מַדֻּעַ; from מָה and the passive participle of יָדַע; what (is) known?; i.e. (by implication) (adverbially) why?; how, wherefore, why.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1697
   There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּבָר
   Transliteration: dâbâr
   Pronunciation: daw-baw'
   Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.
   
9. Strong's Number: H2421
   There are 235 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָיָה
   Transliteration: châyâh
   Pronunciation: khaw-yaw'
   Description: a primitive root (compare חָוָה, חָיָה); to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive; keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3206
    There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יֶלֶד
    Transliteration: yeled
    Pronunciation: yeh'-led
    Description: from יָלַד; something born, i.e. a lad or offspring; boy, child, fruit, son, young man (one).