The Meaning of Exodus 1:17 Explained

Exodus 1:17

KJV: But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

YLT: And the midwives fear God, and have not done as the king of Egypt hath spoken unto them, and keep the lads alive;

Darby: But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt had said to them, but saved the male children alive.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Exodus 1:17 Mean?

Study Notes

feared
.
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

Context Summary

Exodus 1:15-22 - God Protects Hebrew Babes From Pharaoh's Decree
#VALUE! [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 1

1  The children of Israel, after Joseph's death, increase
8  The more they are oppressed by a new king, the more they multiply
15  The godliness of the midwives in saving the male children alive
22  Pharaoh commands the male children to be cast into the river

What do the individual words in Exodus 1:17 mean?

But feared the midwives - God and not did do as commanded them the king of Egypt but saved alive the male children
וַתִּירֶ֤אןָ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙ אֶת־ הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְלֹ֣א עָשׂ֔וּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ן מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָ הַיְלָדִֽים

וַתִּירֶ֤אןָ  But  feared 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙  the  midwives 
Parse: Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, feminine plural
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְלֹ֣א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
עָשׂ֔וּ  did  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
דִּבֶּ֥ר  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
מֶ֣לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
מִצְרָ֑יִם  of  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָ  but  saved  alive 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
הַיְלָדִֽים  the  male  children 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יֶלֶד  
Sense: child, son, boy, offspring, youth.