Exodus 1:18

18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the male-children alive?

Exodus 1:18 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 1:18

And the king called for the midwives
Perceiving, by the increase of the Israelites, that they did not obey his commands:

and said unto them, why have ye done this thing, and have saved the
men children alive?
not only did not kill them, but did everything for them that was necessary for their future preservation and health; see ( Ezekiel 16:4 ) .

Exodus 1:18 In-Context

16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see [them] upon the stools; if it [shall be] a son, then ye shall kill him; but if it [shall be] a daughter, then she shall live.

17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male-children alive.

18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the male-children alive?

19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women [are] not as the Egyptian women: for they [are] lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in to them.

20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and became very mighty.