Exodus 1:19 (KJV)

What does Exodus 1:19 mean?

Exodus 1:19 records the Hebrew midwives explaining to Pharaoh that Hebrew women give birth quickly and easily, so the babies are often born before the midwives arrive. This is their reason for not following Pharaoh’s order to kill the Hebrew baby boys at birth.

In this verse, the midwives are speaking directly to Pharaoh, who has summoned them to explain why his command is not being carried out. The midwives claim that the Hebrew women are “lively,” meaning vigorous or strong, and do not need as much help as Egyptian women, so the midwives cannot intervene in time. This explanation allows the midwives to avoid directly disobeying Pharaoh while protecting the Hebrew children.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 1:19

• “lively” (חָיוֹת, chayyot): This word means vigorous, strong, or full of life. The midwives use it to describe Hebrew women as physically robust, suggesting they give birth with little assistance. This characterization helps explain why the midwives could not carry out Pharaoh’s order.
• “delivered” (יָלַד, yalad): This verb means to give birth. The verse emphasizes that the Hebrew women have already given birth (“are delivered”) before the midwives arrive, strengthening the midwives’ excuse.
• “ere” (טֶרֶם, terem): This word means “before” or “not yet.” It highlights the timing, stressing that the midwives arrive too late to intervene.

Why Exodus 1:19 matters

• Exodus 1:19 shows the courage and cleverness of the Hebrew midwives in responding to a dangerous command from Pharaoh without directly defying him.
• The verse helps explain how the Hebrew population continued to grow despite Pharaoh’s efforts to suppress it, setting the stage for the events that follow in Exodus.
• The description of Hebrew women as “lively” may have been intended to highlight their resilience and strength, which contrasts with the Egyptians’ expectations and adds to the narrative of God’s people thriving under hardship.