Exodus 1:17

BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

“The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live.”

What this verse means

A short, plain-language explanation of Exodus 1:17 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.

Compare translations
BSBPD

“The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live.”

Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)
KJVPD

“But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.”

King James Version · Public Domain
ASVPD

“But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men-children alive.”

American Standard Version · Public Domain
YLTPD

“And the midwives fear God, and have not done as the king of Egypt hath spoken unto them, and keep the lads alive;”

Young's Literal Translation · Public Domain
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Cross references

Other passages that echo Exodus 1:17 — 21 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  1. Genesis 20:11Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’
  2. Genesis 42:18and on the third day he said to them, “I fear God. So do this and you will live:
  3. Exodus 1:21And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.
  4. 1 Samuel 22:17Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.
  5. 2 Samuel 24:4Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army departed from the presence of the king to count the troops of Israel.
  6. Nehemiah 5:15The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God.
  7. Esther 3:3Then the royal servants at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the command of the king?”
  8. Psalms 31:19How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!
  9. Proverbs 8:13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
  10. Proverbs 16:6By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
  11. Proverbs 24:11Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.
  12. Ecclesiastes 8:12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
  13. Ecclesiastes 12:13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
  14. Daniel 3:16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
  15. Daniel 6:13Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.”
  16. Hosea 5:11Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.
  17. Micah 6:16You have kept the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their counsel. Therefore I will make you a desolation, and your inhabitants an object of contempt; you will bear the scorn of the nations.”
  18. Matthew 10:28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
  19. Luke 12:5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!
  20. Acts 4:18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
  21. Acts 5:29But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

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