Exodus 1:16

What does Exodus 1:16 mean?

A plain-English look at Exodus 1:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birth-stool; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him; but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birth-stool; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him; but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

When you are looking after the Hebrew women in childbirth, if it is a son you are to put him to death; but if it is a daughter, she may go on living.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and saith, `When ye cause the Hebrew women to bear, and have looked on the children; if it <FI>is<Fi> a son--then ye have put him to death; and if it <FI>is<Fi> a daughter--then she hath lived.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Commanding them: When you shall do the office of midwives to the Hebrew women, and the time of delivery is come: if it be a man child, kill it: if a woman, keep it alive.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and he said, When ye help the Hebrew women in bearing, and see [them] on the stool, if it be a son, then ye shall kill him, but if a daughter, then she shall live.

Context

v.15And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

v.16This passage

v.17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men-children alive.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Exodus 1:22

    And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

  • Matthew 21:38

    But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.

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