Less-known Women of the Bible

Shiphrah and Puah

Two of the Hebrew midwives who were commanded by the king of Egypt to kill all Hebrew boys at birth. Fearing God, they did not do as they were commanded, telling the king that the babies were born before they arrived. God rewarded them with “households” (Ex. 1:15-22). Sometimes it is important not to obey, and these women knew that this was such a time. How does a woman know this? The text states, “The midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them” (verse 17). When a woman knows God, she becomes more acutely aware of the things that are not of God. Once she knows that a decision or act is not aligned with God, she must be willing not to do it, even if it means going against her superiors.