Exodus 1:15 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives. One was named Shiphrah, and the other was named Puah.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse introduces two Hebrew midwives by name who were about to face a terrible command from the Egyptian king.

📚 Historical Context

In the book of Exodus, the Israelites had grown numerous in Egypt after the time of Joseph, prompting a new Pharaoh who did not know Joseph to view them as a threat and impose forced labor upon them. This verse specifically introduces two Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, as the Pharaoh begins to address them in his efforts to suppress the growing Israelite population. It marks the early stages of escalating oppression that would lead to his infamous decree against male Hebrew infants.

Explore Similar Verses

Exodus 1:19

The midwives told Pharaoh, 'The Hebrew women are different from Egyptian women. They are strong and give birth quickly, before we can even get there to help them.'

Exodus 1:16

And he said, 'When you help Hebrew women give birth and see them on the delivery chairs, if the baby is a boy, you must kill him. But if it's a girl, let her live.'

Exodus 1:17

But the midwives respected and feared God, so they didn't obey what the king of Egypt ordered them to do. Instead, they kept the baby boys alive.

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📚 Historical Context

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