15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives — the first, whose name was Shiphrah, and the second, whose name was Puah — 16 "When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them as they deliver. If the child is a son, kill him, but if it’s a daughter, she may live." 17 The midwives, however, feared God 1:17 Ex 1:21; Pr 16:6 and did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; 1:17 Dn 3:16–18; Ac 4:18–20; 5:29 they let the boys live.
20 So God was good to the midwives, 1:20 Pr 11:18; Is 3:10 and the people multiplied and became very numerous. 21 Since the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 1:21 1Sm 2:35; 2Sm 7:11,27; 1Kg 11:38; Ps 127:1