Exodus 1:21

KJV1611 – Modern English

And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he gave them families.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְהִ֕י כִּֽי־יָֽרְא֥וּ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖ת אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ לָהֶ֖ם בָּתִּֽים׃

Transliteration

And way-hî because yārəʾû the məyallədōt ʾet the ʾělōhîm and way-yaʿaś for them bāttîm

Grammar Details

• וַיְהִ֕י: conjunction *wə-* + verb, Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular, vav-consecutive - 'and it happened'
• כִּֽי־יָֽרְא֥וּ: conjunction + verb, Qal perfect, 3rd common plural - 'because they feared'
• הַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖ת: definite article + participle, feminine plural, Piel - 'the midwives'
• אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים: direct object marker + definite article + noun, masculine plural - 'God'
• וַיַּ֥עַשׂ: conjunction *wə-* + verb, Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular, vav-consecutive - 'and he made'
• לָהֶ֖ם: preposition + 3rd masculine plural suffix - 'for them'
• בָּתִּֽים: noun, masculine plural - 'houses'

Word Meanings

• *way-hî*: and it happened, came to pass
• *yārəʾû*: they feared, revered, stood in awe of
• *way-yaʿaś*: he made, established, built
• *bāttîm*: houses, households, families, dynasties

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them households.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And because the mydwiues feared God, he made them houses.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And for so moch as the mydwyues feared God, he made them houses.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And because ye midwiues feared God, therefore he made them houses.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And it came to passe, that because the midwifes feared God, he made them houses.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  It happened, because the midwives feared God, that he gave them families.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and it cometh to pass, because the midwives have feared God, that He maketh for them households;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them households.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them households.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And because the women who took care of the Hebrew mothers had the fear of God, he gave them families.

• World English Bible (2000)

  It happened, because the midwives feared God, that he gave them families.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  And because the midwives feared God, he made households for them.

Referenced Verses

• 1 Sam 2:35 : 35 And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, that shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before my anointed forever.
• 1 Kgs 11:38 : 38 And it shall be, if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with you, and build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.
• 1 Kgs 2:24 : 24 Now therefore, as the Lord lives, who has established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as He promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today.
• 2 Sam 7:27-29 : 27 For you, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, I will build you a house: therefore your servant has found in his heart to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord GOD, you are that God, and your words are true, and you have promised this goodness to your servant: 29 Therefore now let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you: for you, O Lord GOD, have spoken it: and with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed forever.
• Ps 127:1 : 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain; unless the LORD keeps the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
• Ps 127:3 : 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
• Prov 24:3 : 3 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.
• Eccl 8:12 : 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his days are prolonged, yet surely I know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.
• Jer 35:2 : 2 Go to the house of the Rechabites, and speak to them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.
• 1 Sam 25:28 : 28 Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant, for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights the battles of the LORD, and evil has not been found in you all your days.
• 2 Sam 7:11-13 : 11 And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that he will make you a house. 12 And when your days are fulfilled, and you shall rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, which shall come out of your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
• Ps 37:3 : 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; so you shall dwell in the land, and truly you shall be fed.