King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Therefore God prospered the midwives, and the people continued to multiply and grow very powerful.
Berean Standard Bible:
So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.
American Standard Version:
And God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Therefore God{H430} dealt well{H3190} with the midwives{H3205}: and the people{H5971} multiplied{H7235}, and waxed very{H3966} mighty{H6105}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Isaiah 3:10
- Say ye to the righteous, that [it shall be] well [with him]: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
Ecclesiastes 8:12
- Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his [days] be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
Proverbs 11:18
- ¶ The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness [shall be] a sure reward.
Hebrews 6:10
- For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Psalms 111:5
- He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
Luke 1:50
- And his mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation.
Psalms 145:19
- He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 1:20
1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Providence:** The verse emphasizes that God rewards those who fear Him and act righteously, as He did with the Hebrew midwives.
- **Ethical Conduct:** The midwives' refusal to obey Pharaoh's command to kill Hebrew male infants illustrates the importance of ethical behavior over unjust authority.
- **Population Growth as Blessing:** The multiplication of the people is presented as a divine blessing, reflecting God's promise to Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the stars.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **The Oppression of the Israelites:** Exodus 1:20 is set against the backdrop of the increasing oppression of the Israelites in Egypt. The new Pharaoh, who did not know Joseph, saw the Israelites as a threat due to their growing population.
- **Pharaoh's Decree:** To control the Hebrew population, Pharaoh ordered the death of all newborn Hebrew boys. The midwives, however, feared God and disobeyed the Pharaoh's command.
- **The Midwives' Deception:** Shiprah and Puah, the two midwives named in the text, deceived Pharaoh by claiming that Hebrew women delivered their children before they could arrive.
- **God's Blessing:** As a result of their integrity and courage, God blessed the midwives with families of their own and furthered the growth of the Israelite population, setting the stage for the birth of Moses, who would eventually lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
This verse not only highlights the early resistance to Pharaoh's oppressive regime but also sets a precedent for civil disobedience against unjust laws, a theme that resonates throughout the Hebrew Bible.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H3190
There are 102 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָטַב
Transliteration: yâṭab
Pronunciation: yaw-tab'
Description: a primitive root; to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right); be accepted, amend, use aright, benefit, be (make) better, seem best, make cheerful, be comely, [phrase] be content, diligent(-ly), dress, earnestly, find favour, give, be glad, do (be, make) good(-ness), be (make) merry, please ([phrase] well), shew more (kindness), skilfully, [idiom] very small, surely, make sweet, thoroughly, tire, trim, very, be (can, deal, entreat, go, have) well (said, seen). - 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). - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H7235
There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָבָה
Transliteration: râbâh
Pronunciation: raw-baw'
Description: a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect); (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for רָבַב), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), [idiom] process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very. - Strong's Number: H3966
There are 278 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְאֹד
Transliteration: mᵉʼôd
Pronunciation: meh-ode'
Description: from the same as אוּד; properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated); diligently, especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), [idiom] louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so) sore, utterly, very ([phrase] much, sore), well. - Strong's Number: H6105
There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָצַם
Transliteration: ʻâtsam
Pronunciation: aw-tsam'
Description: a primitive root; also denominatively (from עֶצֶם); to bind fast, i.e. close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or numerous; to crunch the bones; break the bones, close, be great, be increased, be (wax) mighty(-ier), be more, shut, be(-come, make) strong(-er).