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The Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah defied the Egyptian king’s command to kill newborn Hebrew boys. Romans 13:1 urges obedience to authorities, yet Acts 5:29 also states we should obey God before men. Thus, if authorities demand actions that contravene God’s laws, we should not comply. This principle underpins the midwives’ refusal to kill, which God blessed.

The midwives’ deception, telling the king that Hebrew women gave birth before their arrival, may seem unethical, yet the Bible doesn’t compel truth-telling to those undeserving of it. They withheld information to protect lives, a deed which God rewarded.

The Bible denounces malevolent lies but supports truth withholding in face of potential harm. Abraham, for instance, twice claimed his wife Sarah was his sister to protect himself from harm. Similarly, Sarah was indeed his half-sister; he simply omitted their marital status.

The Bible approves withholding information from enemies intending to cause harm. Jesus himself withheld information from those intending to harm him. This principle guided the actions of Abraham, Isaac, Rehab, and Elisha, who misdirected or withheld information from enemies or unbelievers.

In situations of life and death, like a home intruder or a woman hiding from an assailant, the moral choice may be to misdirect or withhold information to protect innocent lives. Similarly, smuggling a Bible into a concentration camp might necessitate a lie. In these scenarios, it’s ethical to prioritize human life over the obligation to tell the truth.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).