So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.
Parallel translations
- WEB God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty.
- KJV Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
- NKJV Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty.
- NASB So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty.
- NLT So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God deals well with the midwives, and Israel keeps multiplying. God Himself rewards their faithfulness.
Overview
God's favor toward the midwives shows His approval of their reverent defiance. The continued multiplication of Israel underscores that Pharaoh's schemes are powerless against God's promise. The verse reminds us that the Lord sees and blesses those who fear Him, even when their service goes unseen by the world.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Eccl 8:12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
- Isa 3:10Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
- Prov 11:18The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
- Exod 1:12But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.
- Heb 6:10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Ps 111:5He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever.
- Ps 145:19He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.
- Ps 61:5For You have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the inheritance reserved for those who fear Your name.
- Prov 19:17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
- Ps 85:9Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.
- Ps 41:1–2For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.
- Matt 10:42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”
- Luke 1:50His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
- Ps 103:11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.
- Matt 25:40And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
- Exod 1:7but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 1:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.