Exodus 1:16 nasb — and he said, "When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, the…

NASB

"and he said, "When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.""

— Exodus 1:16, NASB

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Exodus 1:16 in Other Translations

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Exodus 1 — Context

13

The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously;

14

and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them.

15

Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other was named Puah;

16

and he said, "When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live."

17

But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live.

18

So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?"

19

The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them."

Exodus 1:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Exodus 1:16 say?
Exodus 1:16 in the NASB reads: “and he said, "When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live."”
Where is Exodus 1:16 in the Bible?
Exodus 1:16 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Exodus, chapter 1, verse 16.
Who wrote Exodus?
Exodus is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). It was written c. 1446–1406 BC.
What is the book of Exodus about?
Exodus tells of Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. Through the plagues, the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the covenant at Sinai, God reveals himself as Redeemer and comes to dwell among his people in the tabernacle.
What are the major themes of Exodus?
Exodus explores themes including Deliverance, Covenant, Law, God's Presence, Worship, Redemption. These themes shape the meaning and context of Exodus 1:16.
What translation should I read Exodus 1:16 in?
Exodus 1:16 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Exodus 1:16?
Exodus 1:16 reads (NASB): “and he said, "When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live."” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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