Puah

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Puah was one of two head Hebrew midwives mentioned in the book of Exodus. Her name means “Splendid” or “Utterance”. She was a woman who feared God and acted out of  great courage and faith in the midst of a difficult time for her people. 

During the Israelites’ captivity in Egypt, Pharaoh commanded the midwives to kill all firstborn male children of the Israelite mothers giving birth. Puah, along with her colleague Shiphrah, feared God more than Pharaoh and refused to kill the babies. When Pharaoh summoned the head midwives and asked why they let the boys live, they lied and said, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.” Puah risked her own life for the sake of the baby boys.  

Puah’s heroic act of defiance saved countless lives and brought hope to the people of Israel.

God recognized the courage of Puah and Shiphrah, and he rewarded them with kindness. Because of their faithfulness to him, God gave them families of their own. (Exodus 1:15-21)