Hem Personer Shiphrah Shiphrah was one of two Hebrew midwives who feared God and refused to obey Pharaoh's command to kill all newborn Hebrew boys. Her courageous disobedience toward Pharaoh helped preserve the Israelite people, and God blessed her for her faithfulness.
Nyckelhändelser Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah to kill every male child born to Hebrew women.
15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one named Shiphrah and the other Puah, hebr וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶך מִצְרַ֔יִם לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖ת הָֽעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת אֲשֶׁ֨ר שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאַחַת֙ שִׁפְרָ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית פּוּעָֽה׃
16 "When you help the Hebrew women give birth and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live." hebr וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בְּיַלֶּדְכֶן֙ אֶת־הָֽעִבְרִיּ֔וֹת וּרְאִיתֶ֖ן עַל־הָאָבְנָ֑יִם אִם־בֵּ֥ן הוּא֙ וַהֲמִתֶּ֣ן אֹת֔וֹ וְאִם־בַּ֥ת הִ֖יא וָחָֽיָה׃
Shiphrah and Puah feared God and did not obey Pharaoh's command. They let the boys live, which was an act of courageous resistance.
17 But the midwives feared God, and they did not do as the king of Egypt had ordered them; they let the boys live. hebr וַתִּירֶ֤אןָ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְלֹ֣א עָשׂ֔וּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ן מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִֽים׃
When Pharaoh confronted the midwives, they explained that Hebrew women were so vigorous that they gave birth before the midwives could arrive.
18 So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?" hebr וַיִּקְרָ֤א מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֔ת וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ן מַדּ֥וּעַ עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ן הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִֽים׃
19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women. They are vigorous, and they give birth before the midwife reaches them." hebr וַתֹּאמַ֤רְןָ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה כִּ֣י לֹ֧א כַנָּשִׁ֛ים הַמִּצְרִיֹּ֖ת הָֽעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת כִּֽי־חָי֣וֹת הֵ֔נָּה בְּטֶ֨רֶם תָּב֧וֹא אֲלֵהֶ֛ן הַמְיַלֶּ֖דֶת וְיָלָֽדוּ׃
Because the midwives feared God, he dealt well with them. The people became numerous and powerful, and God gave the midwives families of their own.
20 So God dealt kindly with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very strong. hebr וַיֵּ֥יטֶב אֱלֹהִ֖ים לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֑ת וַיִּ֧רֶב הָעָ֛ם וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ מְאֹֽד׃
21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. hebr וַיְהִ֕י כִּֽי־יָֽרְא֥וּ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖ת אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ לָהֶ֖ם בָּתִּֽים׃
Despite Pharaoh's attempts at genocide, the Israelite people continued to grow in number, partly thanks to the courageous efforts of Shiphrah and Puah.
12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, until the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. hebr וְכַאֲשֶׁר֙ יְעַנּ֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ כֵּ֥ן יִרְבֶּ֖ה וְכֵ֣ן יִפְרֹ֑ץ וַיָּקֻ֕צוּ מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
20 So God dealt kindly with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very strong. hebr וַיֵּ֥יטֶב אֱלֹהִ֖ים לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֑ת וַיִּ֧רֶב הָעָ֛ם וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ מְאֹֽד׃