Exodus 1:22

22 Therefore Pharaoh commanded (to) all his people, and said, Whatever thing of male kind is born to (the) Hebrews, cast ye into the flood (cast ye them into the River, that is, into the Nile); (but) whatever thing of women kind (is born), keep ye (them).

Exodus 1:22 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 1:22

And Pharaoh charged all his people
Finding he could not carry his point with the midwives, he gave a general order to all his people everywhere:

saying, every son that is born ye shall cast into the river;
the river Nile; not every son born in his kingdom, for this would have ruined it in time; but that was born to the Jews, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; and it is added in the Septuagint version, to the Hebrews:

and every daughter ye shall save alive;
for the reasons given (See Gill on Exodus 1:16).

Exodus 1:22 In-Context

20 Therefore God did well to the midwives; and the people increased, and was comforted greatly (and were greatly strengthened).

21 And for the midwives dreaded God, God builded them houses. (And because the midwives feared God, God gave them their own households, or their own families.)

22 Therefore Pharaoh commanded (to) all his people, and said, Whatever thing of male kind is born to (the) Hebrews, cast ye into the flood (cast ye them into the River, that is, into the Nile); (but) whatever thing of women kind (is born), keep ye (them).