Exodus 1:16
Commanding them: When you shall do the office of midwives to the Hebrew women, and the time of delivery is come: if it be a man child, kill it: if a woman, keep it alive.
Open Exodus 1:16 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- præcipiens eis : Quando obstetricabitis Hebræas, et partus tempus advenerit : si masculus fuerit, interficite eum : si femina, reservate.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- καὶ εἶπεν Ὅταν μαιοῦσθε τὰς Ἐβραίας καὶ ὦσιν πρὸς τῷ τίκτειν, ἐὰν μὲν ἄρσεν ᾖ, ἀποκτείνατε αὐτό· ἐὰν δὲ θῆλυ, περιποιεῖσθε αὐτό.
- Hebrew (WLC)
- וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בְּיַלֶּדְכֶן֙ אֶת הָֽעִבְרִיּ֔וֹת וּרְאִיתֶ֖ן עַל הָאָבְנָ֑יִם אִם בֵּ֥ן הוּא֙ וַהֲמִתֶּ֣ן אֹת֔וֹ וְאִם בַּ֥ת הִ֖יא וָחָֽיָה
Haydock's commentary
The time, &c. Hebrew, "and you shall see them upon the two stones." Abenaim. Jeremias (xviii. 3,) uses the same expression, speaking of a potter hard at work. (Calmet)
A woman, from whom nothing could be feared, to be reserved for service and for pleasure. (Menochius)
We must not obey princes in their unjust commands. (Acts iv, and Matthew x. 28.) (Worthington)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St Methodius The Banquet of the Ten Virgins; or Concerning Chastity, Chapter II
Now I at least seem to perceive that nothing has been such a means of restoring men to paradise, and of the change to incorruption, and of reconciliation to God, and such a means of salvation to men, by guiding us to life, as chastity. And I will now endeavour to show why I think so concerning these things, that having heard distinctly the power of the grace already spoken of, you may know of how great blessings it has become the giver to us. Anciently, then, after the fall of man, when he was cast out by reason of his transgression, the stream of corruption poured forth abundantly, and running along in violent currents, not only fiercely swept along whatever touched it from without, but also rushing within it, overwhelmed the souls of men. …
St Ephrem the Syrian Ephraim Syrus: Nineteen Hymns on the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh, Hymn XII
Satan also who strangled the little ones that Moses might perish, murdered the little ones that the Living One might die. To Egypt He fled, Who came to Judea that He might labour and wander there: he sought to catch the man that would catch himself.