Matthew Poole and continuators on Exodus 1:19

19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women, for they are lively , and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them .

Or, vigorous and active in promoting the birth of their own children: or, like the beasts; which without any help of others bring forth their young. So the Hebrew word signifies, and so there is onely a defect of the particle of similitude, which is frequent, as I have noted before.

This might be no lye, as many suppose, but a truth concerning many of them, and they do not affirm it to be so with all. And so it might be, either because their daily and excessive labours, joyned with the fears of the execution of the Kings command, whereof they seem to have gotten notice, did hasten their birth, as the same causes do commonly in other women, or because they, understanding their danger, would not send for the Midwives, but committed themselves to Gods providence and the care of some of their neighbours present with them. So here was nothing but truth, though they did not speak the whole truth, which they were not obliged to do.