midwife

The Hebrew that is translated as “midwife” in English is translated in Kwere as “old woman.” (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In the Thai Common Language version it is “a woman who helps the womb.” (See Translation commentary on Exod 1:15.)

complete verse (Exodus 1:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 1:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “That king one day told those midwives that, ‘When you are helping these women of the Israelites during birth, strangle/kill the boys and leave the girls.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “‘During Hebrew women’s childbirth when you go to serve, if a son is born you are to kill him, if a daughter is born do not kill her.’” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘In your helping- the Hebrew women -to-give-birth, [you (plur.)] kill the child if (it is) a male/(boy), but if (it is) a female/(girl), do- not -kill-(her).’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And so he spoke to the two of them like this, ‘Always when the two of you help the Ibru women in childbirth, and then see that they bear a male child, strike him dead. But it they bear a female child, leave her so that she stays [well].’” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “«When you are helping women of Hebrew children birth, when child is descending down, you look at it body. When it be male, you kill it. When it be girl, leave it that it might live.»” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “‘When you help the Hebrew women when they are giving birth , if the baby that is born is a boy, you must kill it. If the baby is a girl, you may let it live/do not have to kill them.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 1:16

The meaning of the Hebrew word translated as birthstool is not certain. In Jer 18.3 it refers to the potter’s wheel. It suggests the meaning of two stones, so it may indicate a kind of “delivery stool” (New International Version) consisting of two stones on which Egyptian women sat or knelt while giving birth. The context is clear enough, however, so it is possible to translate the intended meaning as in New English Bible, “watch as the child is delivered.” Good News Translation omits the entire phrase, and see them upon the birthstool, leaving this information implicit.

You shall kill him and she shall live are both commands. Therefore it may be necessary to translate “you shall not kill her” or “let her live” (New English Bible). The “it” in Good News Translation refers to “the baby,” whether boy or girl.

In some languages it will be helpful to place “he said to them” (Good News Translation) at the beginning of the verse, as suggested in the comment at verse 15. An alternative model, then, for the verse is the following:

• He said to them, “When you help the Hebrew women bear children, if you see that the baby is a male, kill it. But if the baby is a girl, let it live.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .