Exodus 1:18

18 To the which (when) called to him, the king said, What is this thing that ye would do, that ye would keep the knave children? (To whom, when called to him, the king said, What is this thing that ye would do, that ye have let the male children live?)

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 commanded to them, When ye shall do the office of midwives to [the] Hebrew women, and the time of child-bearing shall come, if it is a knave child, slay ye him; if it is a woman (child), keep ye it. (and he commanded to them, and said, When ye shall do midwifing for the Hebrew women, and the time of child-bearing shall come, if it is a male child, kill ye him; but if it is a female child, keep ye her.)

17 But the midwives dreaded God, and did not by the commandment of the king of Egypt, but kept the knave children. (But the midwives feared God, and did not comply with the king of Egypt's command, but let the male children live.)

18 To the which (when) called to him, the king said, What is this thing that ye would do, that ye would keep the knave children? (To whom, when called to him, the king said, What is this thing that ye would do, that ye have let the male children live?)

19 The which answered, Hebrew women be not as the women of Egypt, for they have knowing of the craft of midwifing, and childed before that we come to them. (And they answered, Hebrew women be not like the Egyptian women, for they have knowledge of the craft of midwifing, and have given birth before that we come to them.)

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