Exodus 1:17 bbe — But the women had the fear of God, and did not do as the king of Egypt said, but let the male children go on living.

Bible in Basic English

"But the women had the fear of God, and did not do as the king of Egypt said, but let the male children go on living."

— Exodus 1:17, Bible in Basic English

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Exodus 1:17 in Other Translations

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Exodus 1 — Context

14

And made their lives bitter with hard work, making building-material and bricks, and doing all sorts of work in the fields under the hardest conditions.

15

And the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew women who gave help at the time of childbirth (the name of the one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah),

16

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.

17

But the women had the fear of God, and did not do as the king of Egypt said, but let the male children go on living.

18

And the king of Egypt sent for the women, and said to them, Why have you done this, and let the male children go on living?

19

And they said to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are strong, and the birth takes place before we come to them.

20

And the blessing of God was on these women: and the people were increased in number and became very strong.

Exodus 1:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Exodus 1:17 say?
Exodus 1:17 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “But the women had the fear of God, and did not do as the king of Egypt said, but let the male children go on living.”
Where is Exodus 1:17 in the Bible?
Exodus 1:17 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Exodus, chapter 1, verse 17.
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 1:17.
What translation should I read Exodus 1:17 in?
Exodus 1:17 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 1:17?
Exodus 1:17 reads (BBE): “But the women had the fear of God, and did not do as the king of Egypt said, but let the male children go on living.” 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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