Meaning
A midwife is a person who assists a woman during childbirth, including helping with the delivery of a baby.
Biblical Usage
In Exodus, Pharaoh spoke to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, and commanded them to kill the Hebrew male children at birth. The midwives feared God and did not obey his command, but saved the children alive (Exodus 1:15-21).
A midwife is also mentioned in the account of Rachel’s childbirth (Genesis 35:17).
Key References
- Genesis 35:17 — A midwife speaks to Rachel during childbirth.
- Exodus 1:15-21 — Shiphrah and Puah are identified as Hebrew midwives.
Related Terms
- Childbirth — The process of giving birth to a child.
- Shiphrah — One of the Hebrew midwives named in Exodus.
- Puah — The other Hebrew midwife named in Exodus.