Overview
Midwives played a vital role in ancient Israel, attending to mothers during childbirth and caring for newborns. Scripture highlights midwives in pivotal moments of God's redemptive history, showing how He used their faithfulness and obedience to accomplish His purposes. Their work was essential to community health and survival.
Key Scriptures
"Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah; and he said, 'When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and you see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live'" (Exodus 1:15-16, NASB).
"But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live" (Exodus 1:17, NASB).
"When she was in severe labor...the midwife said to her, 'Don't despair, for you have another son'" (Genesis 35:17, NIV).
Application
Christians should follow the midwives' example of fearing God more than human authority when facing pressure to compromise biblical values.