What Does Exodus 1:15-21 Mean?
Exodus 1:15-21 describes how the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, refused to kill newborn Hebrew boys, even though Pharaoh commanded them to. They feared God more than the king, so they let the babies live, and God blessed them. This act of quiet courage protected God’s people and showed that faithfulness to God matters more than obeying unjust orders.
Exodus 1:15-21
Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, "When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live." But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. But the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this, and let the male children live?" Then the midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them." So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Moses
Genre
Narrative
Date
Approximately 1446 BC
Key Themes
Key Takeaways
- God honors those who fear Him more than rulers.
- Faithful courage in small acts can change history.
- God protects His people and fulfills His promises.
Context of the Midwives' Stand in Exodus 1
The story of Shiphrah and Puah takes place during a dark shift in Egypt, where the growing nation of Israel moves from welcome to oppression.
At first, the new Pharaoh, who didn’t know Joseph, tried to control the Israelites by forcing them into hard labor (Exodus 1:11-14). But when that failed - because the people kept multiplying - he took a far more sinister step: ordering the murder of all newborn Hebrew boys. This command to the midwives was a secret, targeted form of genocide, meant to weaken Israel without public outcry.
Yet these two women, though unnamed in power, stood firm. They refused to kill the baby boys, not out of rebellion against Pharaoh, but because they feared God more than the throne.
The Midwives' Fear of God vs. Pharaoh's Fear of Power
At the heart of this story is a clash between two kinds of fear: the midwives’ reverence for God and Pharaoh’s cold, calculating fear of losing control.
Pharaoh’s command to kill the boys came from a place of insecurity and pride - he saw the Israelites as a threat to his power and sought to crush them quietly. But the midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, answered to a higher authority, one rooted not in fear of man but in the honor of obeying God.
They honored God with their courage, even when it meant stretching the truth.
In that culture, honor and shame were powerful motivators - yet these women were more concerned with God’s approval than Pharaoh’s anger. Their quick thinking in telling Pharaoh that Hebrew women gave birth too fast for them to intervene was likely a half-truth, not a full lie, but it shows how they used wisdom to protect life. Because they stood firm in faith, God didn’t scold them for their cleverness. He blessed them with families of their own, which was deeply meaningful in a society where childlessness was seen as a shame. Their quiet act of civil disobedience reminds us that sometimes faithfulness means doing the right thing even when it’s risky, and trusting God to handle the consequences.
The Reward of Reverent Fear: Trusting God Over Rulers
The midwives’ choice to fear God rather than man was brave; it reflected the kind of faith that God has always honored.
They stood for life when the most powerful man on earth demanded death, and God responded by giving them families and protecting His people. This fits the Bible’s bigger story: from Abraham to David to the prophets, God blesses those who trust Him, even when it’s risky or costly.
God blessed their courage because they feared Him more than Pharaoh.
Later, in Exodus 20:20, Moses tells the people, 'Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.' Like the midwives, we’re called to live in awe of God, not rulers, because He alone gives true life and fruitfulness.
The Midwives and the Battle for the Promised Seed
The story of the Hebrew midwives is about more than courage; it marks the opening move in a spiritual war over the coming of the Messiah.
Pharaoh’s order to kill Hebrew boys was the first organized effort in Scripture to destroy the promised seed - the line from which the Savior would come. This mirrors the serpent’s strategy in Genesis 3:15, where he attacks the offspring of the woman, a conflict that escalates throughout the Bible.
In Revelation 12:4, we see this same battle pictured symbolically: the dragon (Satan) waits to devour the child (Christ) the moment He is born. When Pharaoh tried to crush the infant nation of Israel and later Moses, Herod later tried to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:16), echoing this ancient pattern of evil targeting God’s deliverer.
The midwives’ refusal to kill the boys was moral bravery; it was part of God’s sovereign protection of the messianic line. Moses, likely born around this time, would become the deliverer of Israel, a foreshadowing of Jesus, the ultimate Deliverer. As the midwives preserved life so that Moses could live, God preserved Jesus so He could save us all.
This was the first attempt to destroy the line that would lead to Jesus, but God protected it from the start.
This thread runs from Exodus to the cross: God’s plan to send a Rescuer cannot be stopped by human cruelty or demonic schemes. The fear of God in two humble women became a key moment in preserving the very line of Christ Himself.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
Imagine being a nurse asked to harm the very people you're meant to care for. That’s the kind of pressure Shiphrah and Puah faced - not with guns or laws, but with quiet, deadly orders. Yet they chose to protect life, not because it was easy or safe, but because their reverence for God was deeper than their fear of Pharaoh. This is more than ancient history; it is a mirror. Maybe you’re not saving babies from murder, but you’ve faced moments where doing the right thing meant risking your job, your reputation, or your comfort. Maybe you stayed silent when you should have spoken up, or obeyed a rule that felt deeply wrong. The midwives’ story reminds us that faith is not only about big declarations; it is lived in the small, brave choices no one else sees. And when we choose God’s way, even in fear, He sees us, honors us, and often works through us in ways we’ll never fully know.
Personal Reflection
- When have I stayed silent or complied with something wrong because I was afraid of the consequences?
- In what area of my life am I valuing human approval more than God’s approval?
- Where can I show courage this week, even in a small way, by choosing to honor God over convenience or pressure?
A Challenge For You
This week, identify one situation where you can choose to honor God over a person in authority or over social pressure - even if it’s uncomfortable. Then, take that step with courage and trust God with the outcome.
A Prayer of Response
God, thank You for the courage of Shiphrah and Puah. Forgive me for the times I’ve chosen fear over faith, comfort over obedience. Help me to fear You more than I fear people. Give me wisdom and boldness to do what’s right, even when it’s hard. And remind me that You see my choices, and You are with me.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Exodus 1:11-14
Describes Israel’s forced labor, setting up Pharaoh’s increasing oppression before the murder decree.
Exodus 1:22
Pharaoh escalates his attack by commanding all Egyptians to drown Hebrew boys.
Connections Across Scripture
Hebrews 11:23
Moses’ parents defied Pharaoh’s decree, showing the same faith as the midwives.
Revelation 12:4
The dragon tries to devour the child, mirroring Satan’s attempt to stop the Messiah.
Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego choose God over a king’s deadly command, like the midwives.