Exodus 1:15-21 — How Could God Bless the Hebrew Midwives for Disobeying the God-Ordained Governmental Authority (Pharaoh) and Lying to Him?

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Exodus 1:15-21 records a remarkable episode during the early oppression of Israel in Egypt. Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives, named Shiphrah and Puah, to kill all male Israelite newborns. They defied this command, preserved the lives of the male children, and gave a misleading explanation to Pharaoh. Scripture says that “because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own” (Exodus 1:21, UASV). Some critics allege this presents an ethical dilemma: how can God bless those who disobey governmental authority and lie? This question demands a thorough examination of the biblical text, the theological principles involved, and the broader biblical testimony concerning truth and civil disobedience.

Image illustrating Exodus 1:15–21 and the courage of the Hebrew midwives.

Context of Pharaoh’s Decree

Pharaoh’s order was aimed at the systematic genocide of the Israelite male population. The command was wicked, directly opposed to the sanctity of life established by Jehovah (Genesis 9:6). It appears that Pharaoh’s decree was not broadly or effectively enforced. Evidence for this includes the survival of Aaron (born three years prior to Moses) and the later rescue of Moses by Pharaoh’s own daughter (Exodus 2:5-10). The decree may have been of limited duration and was possibly undermined by the unwillingness of Egyptians to engage in such cruelty, or Pharaoh’s own realization that the Israelites were essential as slave laborers (Exodus 1:11-14; Exodus 5:4-19).

Role and Actions of the Midwives

The text identifies Shiphrah and Puah by name, suggesting they were leaders or supervisors among a network of Hebrew midwives rather than the only two midwives for an entire population. They “feared the true God, and they did not do as the king of Egypt had spoken to them” (Exodus 1:17). When confronted by Pharaoh, they responded, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can come to them” (Exodus 1:19). Their statement to Pharaoh is generally understood as a deliberate misdirection intended to protect innocent life.

Theological and Ethical Considerations

The Bible’s condemnation of lying is clear in passages such as Proverbs 6:16-19 and Ephesians 4:25. However, malicious deceit for selfish gain is what is consistently condemned. The situation here involves a conflict between two moral obligations: obedience to civil authority (Romans 13:1-7) and obedience to God’s higher moral law (Acts 5:29: “We must obey God rather than men.”). The midwives’ primary loyalty was to Jehovah and the command to protect life.

There is strong biblical precedent for such moral prioritization. Rahab protected the Israelite spies by misdirecting the men of Jericho (Joshua 2:1-6) and was commended for her faith (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25). Similarly, Elisha protected the king of Israel by providing misleading information to enemy troops (2 Kings 6:19). In none of these cases is the action portrayed as morally equivalent to sinful lying. The biblical record distinguishes between deception to shield innocent life and deception for personal or malicious purposes.

The Principle of Withholding Truth

Scripture does not require a believer to divulge information to those who would misuse it to commit evil. Jesus himself did not always speak openly to hostile questioners (Matthew 21:23-27; John 7:3-10). His teaching in Matthew 7:6, “Do not give what is holy to dogs,” illustrates that truth can rightly be withheld in certain contexts.

The Hebrew midwives, by their fear of God and protection of innocent life, demonstrated righteous conduct. The narrative does not commend their verbal response per se, but rather their courageous refusal to obey an immoral law. Exodus 1:21 directly ties the blessing to their reverent attitude toward God, not specifically to their words.

The Example of God’s Sovereignty

Jehovah sometimes allows deceit as a judgment on those who prefer lies. In 1 Kings 22:19-23, a spirit is permitted to be a “deceptive spirit” in the mouths of Ahab’s prophets because Ahab rejected the true word of God. Pharaoh’s heart was already hardened against the Israelites, and his intent was clearly evil. The midwives’ actions were a righteous stand against this evil.

Conclusion

The Hebrew midwives acted in accordance with a higher divine obligation to preserve life in the face of unjust human authority. They demonstrated faith, courage, and obedience to Jehovah above all else. Their actions are consistent with the biblical pattern of civil disobedience when human laws contradict God’s moral law. God’s blessing upon them reflects approval of their reverence for life and their loyalty to Him, not an endorsement of dishonesty as a general practice. When interpreted within its proper historical and theological framework, Exodus 1:15-21 presents no contradiction to the inerrancy or moral consistency of Scripture.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).