Exodus 1:20 says that God treated the Hebrew midwives well because they feared Him, and that the Israelite people kept growing in number and strength even under oppression. The verse is a narrator’s comment in the book of Exodus, not a speech, and it looks back on the midwives’ courage in the verses just before it. It explains why Israel was thriving despite Pharaoh’s attempt to suppress them.
God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty.
Exodus 1:20 (WEB)
What Exodus 1:20 Means
The phrase “God dealt well with the midwives” means that God acted in kindness toward them. The midwives had refused Pharaoh’s order to kill the Hebrew baby boys, and the verse says God responded to their faithfulness with favor. The word “well” points to good treatment, not merely a neutral outcome.
“The people multiplied, and grew very mighty” describes the Israelites’ growth in numbers and strength. This happened in spite of Pharaoh’s plan to hold them down. The verse presents that growth as part of God’s larger purpose for His people, which unfolds across the rest of the book.
Read carefully, the verse does not promise that obeying God will always protect us from danger or hardship. The midwives still faced Pharaoh’s anger and the Israelites still suffered under forced labor. What the verse shows is that God sees faithful people, honors their courage, and keeps His promises to Israel even when human rulers oppose Him.
The Context of Exodus 1:20
Exodus is traditionally attributed to Moses and tells how God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt and formed them into a nation. The book was written for the Israelite community, who needed to understand their origins and God’s faithfulness. Chapter 1 sets the stage by describing a new Pharaoh who feared the Hebrews’ growth and tried to control them through harsh labor and then infanticide.
The verses immediately before Exodus 1:20 show the midwives refusing to obey the king’s command and lying to protect the baby boys. Verse 21 then says that because they feared God, He gave them families. Seeing the verse within this sequence makes clear that God’s favor is linked to the midwives’ reverent courage, and that the people’s growth is part of the same story of God’s protection.
Key Phrases in Exodus 1:20
Exodus 1:21
Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
(WEB)
This verse follows directly after Exodus 1:20 and explains the reason for God’s favor: the midwives feared Him. Reading the two together shows that God’s kindness toward them and the people’s growth both flow from the same reverent faithfulness.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
(WEB)
Proverbs names the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom, which helps explain why the midwives acted as they did. Their reverence for God shaped their choices, and this verse shows that such fear is at the root of a wise and faithful life.
A Short Prayer From Exodus 1:20
Lord, you saw the courage of the midwives when they refused to harm the children, and you honored their fear of you. Help me to fear you more than I fear the pressures around me. When I face choices where faithfulness costs something, give me the courage to do what is right and trust you with the outcome.
Thank you that your people kept growing even under hardship, and that your purposes were not stopped by a king’s threats. Where I feel crushed or unseen, remind me that you are still at work. Keep my heart steady in you. Amen.
