"And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women... if it be a son, then ye shall kill him."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Shiphrah Meaning in the Bible
Shiphrah
girl
Shiphrah means "Beautiful; Fair", a girl's name of Hebrew origin. Shiphrah appears in the King James Bible, and Exodus 1:15-16 is the passage most often tied to it. Shiphrah — 'beautiful' — showed that true beauty is moral courage. Her refusal to obey an unjust order reveals that God remembers and rewards those who choose righteousness over compliance.
Is Shiphrah in the Bible?
Yes — Shiphrah appears in the King James Bible, including Exodus 1:15-16.
Pronunciation:/SHIF-ruh/
OriginHebrew
MeaningBeautiful; Fair
What does Shiphrah mean?
Shiphrah is a girl name of Hebrew origin meaning "Beautiful; Fair". Shiphrah means "beautiful" or "fair" in Hebrew. Along with Puah, she was one of the two Hebrew midwives who refused to carry out Pharaoh's genocidal command to kill Hebrew baby boys. Their moral courage predated and enabled the entire Exodus story.
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What does Shiphrah mean in the Bible?
Shiphrah means "Beautiful; Fair" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Shiphrah means "beautiful" or "fair" in Hebrew. Along with Puah, she was one of the two Hebrew midwives who refused to carry out Pharaoh's genocidal command to kill Hebrew baby boys. Their moral courage predated and enabled the entire Exodus story.
Shiphrah and Puah are remarkable because their names are preserved while the Pharaoh who commanded the atrocity remains unnamed in Scripture. This literary choice suggests that God values moral courage over political power — the midwives' names endure while the tyrant's is forgotten.
Their civil disobedience represents one of the earliest recorded instances of women resisting state-sponsored violence. God rewarded their faithfulness by giving them their own families and by using their courage to preserve the nation through which the Messiah would come.
Where does Shiphrah appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Shiphrah is connected to 1 key passage in the King James Bible, beginning with Exodus 1:15-16. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses."
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What are the variants and nicknames of Shiphrah?
Shiphrah has 1 recorded variant, short form, and translation across languages and biblical traditions.
Variants & related forms
Which books of the Bible mention Shiphrah?
Shiphrah is mentioned across 1 book of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Shiphrah?
Shiphrah — 'beautiful' — showed that true beauty is moral courage. Her refusal to obey an unjust order reveals that God remembers and rewards those who choose righteousness over compliance.
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Shiphrah:
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Word Meaning
Faithfulness (אֱמוּנָה (emunah))
Steadfast reliability and trustworthiness — firm, unwavering loyalty.
What names are related to Shiphrah?
Names like Shiphrah
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Beautiful; Fair" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Shiphrah
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Shiphrah
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Shiphrah name meaning: frequently asked questions
Yes — Shiphrah appears in the King James Bible, including Exodus 1:15-16.
Shiphrah means "Beautiful; Fair." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in Exodus 1:15-16, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Hebrew. Shiphrah comes into English from Hebrew and carries the sense "Beautiful; Fair." It appears in the King James Bible, including Exodus 1:15-16.
Common questions about the name Shiphrah
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Shiphrah?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Shiphrah?
You can read every verse where Shiphrah appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.