Verse: Exodus 1:17
Theme: Divine Fear Overruling Human Authority, Moral Courage Through Faith, and the Triumph of Conscience Over Compliance
“But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.”
— Exodus 1:17, King James Version (KJV)
“The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.”
— Exodus 1:17, New International Version (NIV)
“But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.”
— Exodus 1:17, English Standard Version (ESV)
“But the midwives feared God more than they feared the king, so they refused to obey the king’s orders. They allowed the boys to live.”
— Exodus 1:17, New Living Translation (NLT)
“However, the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live.”
— Exodus 1:17, Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
Meaning of Exodus 1:17
Sometimes the most revolutionary acts in history appear deceptively simple, a quiet “no” spoken in the face of overwhelming power, a gentle defiance that shakes the foundations of empires. Shiphrah and Puah’s refusal to obey Pharaoh’s genocidal command represents one of Scripture’s most profound examples of how the fear of God can transform ordinary people into extraordinary agents of divine justice.
The beauty of their resistance lies not in dramatic gestures or public declarations, but in the quiet consistency of choosing life over death, again and again, birth after birth. Every Hebrew boy they allowed to live was a small act of rebellion against the machinery of oppression, a gentle but decisive vote for God’s purposes over Pharaoh’s paranoia.
What strikes me as remarkable is how their fear of God didn’t eliminate their fear of Pharaoh; it simply made that earthly fear irrelevant by comparison. They weren’t fearless women; they were women whose hierarchy of fears had been properly ordered. The One who holds ultimate authority over life and death commanded greater reverence than the one who merely wielded temporary political power.
Their choice reveals a fundamental truth about moral courage: it’s not the absence of fear but the presence of a greater fear that compels righteousness. When we truly understand who God is and what He requires, even the most intimidating human authorities pale in comparison. The midwives discovered that defying a king felt less dangerous than defying the King of kings.
Popular Words of Wisdom from Exodus 1:17
“We must obey God rather than men.”
— The Apostle Peter, New Testament Apostle
“I would rather obey a good God than a bad king.”
— William Penn, English Quaker Leader and Founder of Pennsylvania
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but mastery over it.”
— General Robert E. Lee, Confederate Military Commander
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
— King Solomon, Biblical King and Wisdom Writer
“A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle; and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.”
— General George S. Patton, American Military Commander
“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something… I’m free to choose what that something is, and the something I’ve chosen is my faith.”
— Billy Graham, American Evangelist
“In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.”
— Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Independence Leader
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
— Martin Luther King Jr., Baptist Minister and Civil Rights Leader
Explaining the Context of Exodus 1:17
This verse represents the pivotal moment when Pharaoh’s carefully calculated genocide plan met an unexpected obstacle: women whose allegiance to God trumped their fear of earthly consequences. The king had chosen Hebrew midwives precisely because he assumed their ethnic identity would make them compliant with orders affecting their own people’s oppression.
Pharaoh’s miscalculation reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of how faith operates. He assumed that survival instinct and professional pressure would override moral conviction, not realizing that genuine fear of God creates a courage that earthly threats cannot overcome. The midwives’ response exposed the spiritual poverty of his worldview.
The historical significance of this moment cannot be overstated. This quiet act of defiance by two women essentially derailed the systematic extermination of an entire people group. While Pharaoh was mobilizing the machinery of state-sponsored murder, God was raising humble servants whose simple obedience would preserve His covenant people.
The timing of their resistance was crucial. Had they complied initially and then developed qualms later, countless Hebrew boys would have died before their consciences were stirred. Instead, their immediate refusal suggests their fear of God was already well-established, not a conviction developed under pressure but a foundational commitment that guided their response to crisis.
This verse also demonstrates how God often chooses to work through existing structures rather than bypassing them entirely. Rather than striking Pharaoh dead or sending miraculous protection, He preserved Israel through the moral courage of women who chose faithfulness over safety.
Explaining the Key Parts of Exodus 1:17
“But the midwives feared God”
The Hebrew word for “feared” (yare) encompasses both reverence and awe, suggesting a relationship with God that acknowledges His ultimate authority over all earthly powers. This wasn’t mere terror but proper recognition of divine sovereignty.
This fear was clearly established before the crisis, not developed during it, showing that moral courage in moments of testing flows from previously cultivated spiritual foundations.
“And did not as the king of Egypt commanded them”
The simple phrase “did not” carries enormous weight, representing active resistance disguised as passive disobedience. They weren’t just failing to comply; they were deliberately choosing an alternative course of action.
The contrast between “king of Egypt” and their fear of God emphasizes the competing claims of earthly and heavenly authority, with the midwives clearly establishing their hierarchy of allegiance.
“But saved the men children alive”
The word “saved” (chayah) is the same root used for “life” and “living,” emphasizing that they were actively preserving life rather than simply avoiding murder. Their actions were life-giving, not merely non-destructive.
The specification of “men children” highlights the particular courage required, since these were the specific targets of Pharaoh’s genocidal command, and saving them represented the most direct defiance possible.
Lessons to Learn from Exodus 1:17
1. The Fear of God Produces Courage to Resist Ungodly Authority
When we properly understand God’s ultimate authority, even the most intimidating human powers lose their ability to compel us toward actions that violate divine law.
2. Moral Courage Flows from Previously Established Spiritual Foundations
The midwives’ immediate resistance suggests their fear of God was already deeply rooted, not developed under pressure, showing the importance of cultivating conviction before crisis arrives.
3. Simple Obedience to God Can Have Profound Historical Consequences
The quiet faithfulness of two women preserved an entire people group and ultimately made possible the birth of Moses and Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.
4. God Often Works Through Existing Structures Rather Than Bypassing Them
Rather than miraculously protecting Hebrew infants, God chose to work through human agents who were willing to risk everything for righteousness.
5. True Patriotism Sometimes Requires Resistance to Government Commands
The midwives’ love for their people was demonstrated not through blind obedience to authority but through faithful resistance to policies that would destroy their community.
Related Bible Verses
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
— Proverbs 1:7, New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
— Matthew 10:28, English Standard Version (ESV)
“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
— Joshua 1:9, New Living Translation (NLT)
“But even if we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.”
— Daniel 3:17, New International Version (NIV)
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”
— 1 Peter 2:13-14, Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
How This Verse Points to Christ
Exodus 1:17 powerfully foreshadows Christ’s own perfect obedience to the Father, even when it meant defying earthly authorities who demanded His silence or compliance with their corrupt systems.
The midwives’ fear of God that overcame their fear of Pharaoh parallels how Christ’s reverence for the Father enabled Him to face crucifixion without compromising His mission or message.
Their choice to save innocent lives at personal risk points directly to Christ’s willingness to lay down His life to save those who could not save themselves from spiritual death and condemnation.
The preservation of Hebrew boys through the midwives’ faithfulness ensured Moses would survive to become Israel’s deliverer, just as God preserves His people through faithful servants until Christ comes to accomplish ultimate deliverance.
The conflict between divine law and human commands that the midwives faced foreshadows the eternal tension between God’s kingdom and earthly kingdoms that Christ came to resolve through His victory.
Their quiet acts of resistance that preserved life parallel Christ’s often-hidden work of preserving and protecting His people through ordinary means and faithful servants throughout history.
The way their fear of God produced extraordinary courage points to how Christ’s disciples, filled with proper reverence for God, would later defy authorities to proclaim the gospel regardless of persecution.
Closing Reflection
Exodus 1:17 stands as one of Scripture’s most powerful testimonies to the transformative power of properly ordered fear. Shiphrah and Puah weren’t naturally brave women who found courage easy; they were ordinary people whose understanding of God’s authority made earthly threats seem manageable by comparison.
Their story challenges our contemporary understanding of civil obedience and moral courage. In an age that often conflates compliance with patriotism, these women demonstrate that true love for community sometimes requires resistance to government commands that violate divine law.
What moves me most about their example is its quiet consistency. They didn’t organize protests or deliver speeches about their convictions. Instead, they simply chose life over death, again and again, birth after birth, demonstrating that the most revolutionary acts are often performed in silence by people whose names history barely remembers.
Their fear of God didn’t eliminate other fears, but properly ranked them. They still faced real consequences for their disobedience: Pharaoh’s wrath, potential execution, and professional ruin. But their reverence for the One who holds ultimate authority made these earthly threats seem less significant than the prospect of violating divine law.
Perhaps most encouragingly, their story shows us that individual acts of faithful resistance can have consequences far beyond what we imagine. The Hebrew boys they saved would grow up to become the generation that experienced the exodus, and among them was likely Moses himself, the deliverer whose preservation depended on two women who chose to fear God more than Pharaoh.
Say This Prayer
Lord of Heaven and Earth,
Grant us the wisdom to properly order our fears, placing reverence for You above all earthly authorities. When human commands contradict Your laws, give us courage to choose faithfulness over safety.
Help us cultivate deep spiritual foundations before crises arrive, so that our response to moral challenges flows from established conviction rather than momentary emotion.
May we never underestimate how our simple acts of obedience can serve Your greater purposes. Use our quiet faithfulness to preserve and protect those who cannot protect themselves.
When compliance with earthly authority would require violation of divine law, grant us the courage of Shiphrah and Puah; to say “no” to human power and “yes” to Your righteous commands.
Let our fear of You produce boldness to stand for truth, even when the cost seems overwhelming.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.