Exodus 1:16

16 He said, "When you deliver the Hebrew women, look at the sex of the baby. If it's a boy, kill him; if it's a girl, let her live."

Exodus 1:16 In-Context

14 They made them miserable with hard labor - making bricks and mortar and back-breaking work in the fields. They piled on the work, crushing them under the cruel workload.
15 The king of Egypt had a talk with the two Hebrew midwives; one was named Shiphrah and the other Puah.
16 He said, "When you deliver the Hebrew women, look at the sex of the baby. If it's a boy, kill him; if it's a girl, let her live."
17 But the midwives had far too much respect for God and didn't do what the king of Egypt ordered; they let the boy babies live.
18 The king of Egypt called in the midwives. "Why didn't you obey my orders? You've let those babies live!"
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.