Contradiction with Exodus 20:13
This verse states, "Thou shalt not kill," which contradicts the command in Exodus 1:16 to kill Hebrew male infants.
Exodus 20:13: Thou shalt not kill.
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 5:17
This verse reiterates, "Thou shalt not kill," opposing the directive in Exodus 1:16.
Deuteronomy 5:17: Thou shalt not kill.
Contradiction with Psalms 127:3
This verse says, "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord," suggesting a view that contradicts the command to kill infants in Exodus 1:16.
Psalms 127:3: Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.
Contradiction with Proverbs 6:16-17
These verses list what the Lord hates, including "hands that shed innocent blood," which contradicts the instruction in Exodus 1:16.
Proverbs 6:16-17: These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him: [unto...: Heb. of his soul]
Contradiction with Jeremiah 1:5
This verse expresses God's knowledge and sanctification of individuals before birth, contrasting with the command to kill newborns in Exodus 1:16.
Jeremiah 1:5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. [ordained: Heb. gave]
Paradox #1
One possible theological conflict with Exodus 1:16 is the moral dilemma it presents. The verse involves instructions that contradict the general biblical teaching about the sanctity of life. This can create tension when trying to align God's nature as just and loving with the actions described.
Paradox #2
Exodus 1:16 commands the killing of newborn Hebrew boys. This could be seen as contradicting the commandment "You shall not murder," which is one of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:13. There is a tension between the act of taking innocent life and the broader biblical teaching against murder.
Paradox #3
The contradiction or conflict in Exodus 1:16 might relate to the historical accuracy of the event described. Some historians and scholars have debated whether there is archaeological or historical evidence to support the story of the Israelites' oppression in Egypt and the actions taken by the Pharaoh described in the verse. The lack of extra-biblical evidence for this specific event and the broader narrative has been a point of contention among historians and archaeologists.
Paradox #4
Exodus 1:16 involves a directive to Hebrew midwives about the birth of male and female children. A potential scientific inconsistency could be the notion of determining and acting upon the gender at the time of birth to the extent described. Modern understanding of human biology shows that determining gender accurately involves genetic testing and cannot be purely based on immediate physical observation at birth. However, this may more accurately represent historical or cultural practices rather than a contradiction.
Paradox #5
This verse involves an order to kill newborn boys, which conflicts with the moral teaching against murder and the value of life. It creates a contradiction between following authority and obeying the fundamental commandment of not killing.