Bible Dictionary
Shiphrah
Shiphrah was one of the Hebrew midwives in Egypt. She feared God and refused Pharaoh’s command to kill the Hebrew boys.
Definition
Shiphrah was one of the Hebrew midwives in Egypt. Her name is associated with brightness, fairness, or beauty. She served with another midwife during the period when Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew male children to be killed.
Biblical Usage
Shiphrah feared God and disobeyed Pharaoh’s command to kill the Hebrew boys. Her conduct is presented in the account of the midwives who preserved the children and were blessed by God.
Historical Background
The supplied material identifies Shiphrah as a Hebrew midwife in Egypt and places her activity in the period before the exodus.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Beauty, one of the Egyptian midwives (Ex. 1:15).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(brightness), (Exodus 1:15) the name of one of the two midwives of the Hebrews who disobeyed the command of Pharaoh to kill the mule children. vs. (Exodus 1:15-21) (B.C. 1570.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>shif'-ra (shiphrah, "fairness," "beauty";. Septuagint Sepphora, the rendering also of tsipporah, in Ex 2:21): The name of one of the Hebrew midwives (Ex 1:15).</p><p>See also ZIPPORAH.</p>