Exodus 1:17But the midwives feared God, and didn't do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive.
The setting
Hebrew settlements in Goshen, Egypt, ~1526 BC. Shiphrah and Puah go about their daily work, deliberately disobeying the most powerful man on earth because they serve a higher King...
The emotion here: Moses recording this with deep respect for these brave women's legacy
The original word
yārē' (יראו) — feared/revered, the same word used for fearing God throughout Scripture
Why it matters
These midwives' names are recorded in Scripture while Pharaoh remains nameless - God honors the humble who obey Him
Read with care
What most readers miss in Exodus 1:17
The phrase 'feared God' doesn't mean terror - it means they held God in higher reverence than Pharaoh
Common misconceptionMany think 'fearing God' means being afraid of punishment, but here it clearly means loving reverence that leads to protective action, not paralysis.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Exodus 1:17
Bible Genome reading
Exodus 1:17 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Exodus 1:17 comes from the book of Exodus, written during the exodus period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 70% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include civil disobedience, fear of God. Notable phrases: midwives feared God; saved the baby boys.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same worship
“Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one:”
— Deuteronomy 6:4
“and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
— John 14:6
“Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."”
— John 8:58
Your reflection
What does Exodus 1:17 mean to you, today?
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