Exodus 1:18
◄  Exodus 1:18  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?"

New Living Translation (©2007)
So the king of Egypt called for the midwives. "Why have you done this?" he demanded. "Why have you allowed the boys to live?"

English Standard Version (©2001)
So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?"

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
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?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this and let the boys live?"

International Standard Version (©2012)
When the king of Egypt called for the midwives, he asked them, "Why have you done this and allowed the boys to live?"

NET Bible (©2006)
Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this and let the boys live?"

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
So the king of Egypt called for the midwives. He asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?"

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have you done this thing, and have saved the male children alive?

American King James Version
And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, Why have you done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

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?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king called for them and said: What is that you meant to do, that you would save the men children ?

Darby Bible Translation
And the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, Why have ye done this, and saved the male children alive?

English Revised 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?

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the male-children alive?

World English Bible
The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and have saved the boys alive?"

Young's Literal Translation
and the king of Egypt calleth for the midwives, and saith to them, 'Wherefore have ye done this thing, and keep the lads alive?'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:15-22 The Egyptians tried to destroy Israel by the murder of their children. The enmity that is in the seed of the serpent, against the Seed of the woman, makes men forget all pity. It is plain that the Hebrews were now under an uncommon blessing. And we see that the services done for God's Israel are often repaid in kind. Pharaoh gave orders to drown all the male children of the Hebrews. The enemy who, by Pharaoh, attempted to destroy the church in this its infant state, is busy to stifle the rise of serious reflections in the heart of man. Let those who would escape, be afraid of sinning, and cry directly and fervently to the Lord for assistance.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the king called for the midwives,.... Perceiving, by the increase of the Israelites, that they did not obey his commands:

and said unto them, why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? not only did not kill them, but did everything for them that was necessary for their future preservation and health; see Ezekiel 16:4.

Exodus 1:18 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Pharoah Orders Male Children Killed
…17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 18And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, Why have you done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? 19And the midwives said to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in to them. …

Exodus 1:17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.
Exodus 1:19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive."