# God protected these midwives

God kept Pharaoh from killing these midwives.

# midwives

These were women who helped a woman give birth to a baby. See how you translated this in [Exodus 1:16](./15.md).

# The people increased in numbers

"The Israelites increased in numbers"

# feared God

"revered God" or "had reverence for God"

# he gave them families

"the enabled them to have children"

# You must throw every son ... into the river

This order was given in order to drown the male children. The full meaning of this may be made explicit. AT: "You must ... into the river so they will drown" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/fear]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/god]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/family]]