The Hidden Truth in Delivering Like a Hebrew Woman – Part 1

To deliver like a Hebrew woman is a familiar declaration many women profess during pregnancy and childbirth. The belief is that Hebrew women were strong and that while giving birth, they delivered their babies before the midwives arrived.

The story of the famous phrase of Hebrew women occurred in the Bible from the first chapter of the book of Exodus. Referring to Verse 15 -19

“15 -Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; 16-and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” 17-But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. 18-So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?” 19-And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.

Understanding this passage, we can agree that in verse 19 the midwives said that Hebrew women gave birth before their arrival, as an excuse to protect the lives of the newborn male children and to avoid the wrath of Pharaoh. Because, verse 17 clearly stated that the midwives feared God and saved the lives of the male babies. That is to say, the midwives were actually present at the delivery, assisted the Hebrew women in the delivery process, and also saved the lives of the babies born.

Midwives were significant figures in ancient societies. Hebrew women always had the support of midwives or other women during childbirth.

They provide comfort, pain relief, and encouragement to the woman giving birth
They Perform rituals and prayers that would protect the woman and her baby and keep harmful forces away
They use their expertise to deliver the baby
They deal with problems or complications during the birth
They supervise aftercare for mother and baby.

The Bible has accounts of Hebrew women who had difficulty in childbearing and painful labor. Rachael in Gen. 35:16-19 during the birth of Benjamin and Tamar in Gen. 38:28 during the birth of her twins.