Exodus 1 20

Exodus 1:20 kjv

Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.

Exodus 1:20 nkjv

Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty.

Exodus 1:20 niv

So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous.

Exodus 1:20 esv

So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong.

Exodus 1:20 nlt

So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful.

Exodus 1 verses

Exodus 1 20 Meaning

Exodus 1:20 signifies God's direct and favorable response to the Hebrew midwives' act of fearing Him more than Pharaoh. For their faith-filled defiance, God rewarded them. As a consequence, the Israelite population continued to increase in number and strength, effectively thwarting Pharaoh's genocidal plans and demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant promises despite intense human opposition.

Exodus 1 20 Context

(h2)Exodus chapter 1 describes the dramatic growth of the Israelite population in Egypt, which filled Pharaoh with dread. Fearing their burgeoning numbers and potential alliance with an enemy, Pharaoh devised cruel strategies to control and diminish them. Initially, he subjected them to harsh labor, forcing them to build storage cities (Exod 1:11-14). When this failed to curb their growth (Exod 1:12), he escalated his tyranny, commanding the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill all newborn Hebrew boys (Exod 1:15-16). Exodus 1:20 stands as God's response to the midwives' righteous defiance of Pharaoh's evil decree (Exod 1:17). Despite Pharaoh's attempts to stop the multiplication, God, in His sovereign power and faithfulness to His covenant promises, continued to increase His people, setting the stage for the miraculous Exodus. This verse encapsulates the tension between human tyranny and divine providence.

Exodus 1 20 Word analysis

(h2)

• Therefore (וַיֵּטֶב): Connects God's action directly to the preceding events—specifically, the midwives' fear of God and their refusal to kill the Hebrew male infants. It signifies a divine response, indicating a cause-and-effect relationship.
• God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): Refers to the universal and all-powerful God. This common Hebrew term emphasizes God's majesty and active involvement in human affairs, directly counteracting Pharaoh's authority. His intervention is sovereign and undeniable.
• dealt well (וַיֵּטֶב - va-yei-tev): Derived from the root yatav, meaning "to be good, to do good, to make well." This signifies God's deliberate and benevolent action towards the midwives. It implies not just an absence of harm but active showering of favor and blessing.
• with the midwives (לַמְיַלְּדֹת - la-m'yalledot): Identifies the specific recipients of God's favor: Shiphrah and Puah (Exod 1:15), the women who feared God. The phrase highlights their courageous act of choosing obedience to God over human authority.
• and the people (וַיִּרֶב הָעָם - va-yi-rev ha-am): Refers to the Israelites. Despite the genocidal attempts, God ensured the continuation and expansion of His chosen people, showcasing His providential care for them.
• multiplied (וַיִּרֶב - va-yi-rev): From the root rabah, meaning "to increase, be or become many." This word specifically addresses the demographic growth. It underscores the continuation of God's promise to Abraham (Gen 12:2; 22:17) to make his descendants numerous. This is a direct subversion of Pharaoh's intent to reduce their numbers.
• and waxed very mighty (וַיַּעַצְמוּ מְאֹד - va-ya'atzmu m'od):
  • waxed...mighty (va-ya'atzmu): From the root atzam, meaning "to be strong, mighty, numerous." It denotes not only numerical growth but also an increase in inherent strength, vigor, or influence, often implying a robust population not easily subdued.
  • very (me'od): An intensifier meaning "greatly, exceedingly." It emphasizes the extraordinary degree of their might and multitude. Together, this phrase stresses the astounding nature of Israel's increase in the face of brutal oppression, further highlighting God's intervention.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Therefore God dealt well with the midwives": This phrase highlights God's justice and reward. Their "fear of God" (Exod 1:17, 21), which involved defying a human king, was recognized and honored by the Almighty. God's action of "dealing well" with them indicates active divine benevolence, showing that faith in action does not go unnoticed or unrewarded. It contrasts Pharaoh's curse with God's blessing.
• "and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty": This second part of the verse presents the larger outcome of God's intervention and Pharaoh's thwarted plans. The sustained, exponential growth and increase in strength of the Israelites serve as undeniable proof of God's faithfulness to His covenant and His sovereign ability to overrule human oppression. This demonstrates that no human power can ultimately prevent God's purpose from being fulfilled.

Exodus 1 20 Bonus section

(h2)

• Pharaoh's Futility: This verse is a powerful theological statement about the futility of human opposition against God's predetermined will. Pharaoh, the most powerful man on earth at the time, attempts genocide to secure his own empire, but his efforts are utterly powerless against the divine will to multiply Israel.
• God's "Building Houses": While Exodus 1:20 mentions God dealing well, Exodus 1:21 clarifies one specific aspect of this blessing: "He built houses for them." This idiom typically refers to establishing a household, family, or even a dynasty, ensuring their progeny and standing within the community. It stands in stark contrast to the Israelite people being forced to build cities (storage places) for Pharaoh (Exod 1:11). Pharaoh forces them to build, but God builds for those who fear Him.
• Reversal of Fortunes: The story showcases a divine reversal: Pharaoh seeks to break Israel's strength and decrease their numbers, but God instead makes them "wax very mighty" and multiply. Simultaneously, God elevates the midwives from subjugated figures to recipients of His direct blessing, granting them "houses" while Pharaoh's grand designs against Israel come to nothing.
• Importance of Women: The significant role of the midwives in God's salvation plan at this crucial juncture is often highlighted. It underscores that God uses humble and unexpected instruments, including women, to achieve His purposes, especially when men falter or are unable to act.

Exodus 1 20 Commentary

(h2)Exodus 1:20 powerfully illustrates divine sovereignty and justice. The verse directly attributes the flourishing of the Israelite nation to God's positive intervention, specifically linked to the courageous obedience of the Hebrew midwives. They prioritized fearing the true God over fearing a tyrannical earthly king, displaying genuine faith in action. God's "dealing well" with them was not passive but an active, deliberate blessing (culminating in "building houses for them" in the following verse, possibly meaning prosperous families or lineages). This blessing on the midwives served a dual purpose: a reward for their righteousness and a means to ensure the perpetuation of the very people Pharaoh sought to destroy. The subsequent explosion in the Israelite population, both in number and physical might, was a clear demonstration of God's covenant promises being fulfilled, specifically those to Abraham about his descendants becoming a vast multitude (Gen 22:17). This made Pharaoh's oppressive decrees futile, emphasizing that no human plan can ultimately thwart God's will. The narrative implicitly conveys that faithful individuals, even those in humble positions like the midwives, can be instrumental in God's grand design, and their obedience will never go unrewarded by Him.