Exodus 5:6-21
International Standard Version
Pharaoh Increases the Israelis’ Work
6 That day Pharaoh ordered the taskmasters of the people and their officials, 7 “You’re no longer to give the people straw for making bricks, as in the past.[a] They must gather straw for themselves. 8 But you’re to impose the previous quota[b] of bricks that they’re making. You’re not to reduce it! It is because they’re lazy that they’re crying out, ‘Let’s go offer sacrifices to our God.’ 9 So increase the work load on the people,[c] and let them do it so they don’t pay attention to deceptive speeches.”
10 Then the taskmasters of the people and their officials went out and told the people, “This is Pharaoh’s response: ‘I’ll no longer give you any[d] straw. 11 Go get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work quotas won’t be reduced at all.’”[e] 12 So the people scattered throughout the entire land of Egypt to collect stubble[f] for straw.
13 The taskmasters pressured them by saying, “Finish your work—each day’s quota[g]—just as when you were given straw.”[h]
14 The Israeli supervisors whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had appointed over them were beaten and told,[i] “Why didn’t you, both yesterday and today, fulfill[j] your quota[k] for making bricks as before?”
The Israelis’ Appeal Rejected by Pharaoh
15 The Israeli supervisors came and cried out to Pharaoh, “Why are you doing this to us?[l] 16 No straw is being given to us, yet they’re saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, we are being beaten. It’s wrong how you are treating your people!”
17 Then Pharaoh[m] said, “You are lazy, lazy! That’s why[n] you’re saying, ‘Let’s go offer sacrifices to the Lord.’ 18 Now, go! Get to work! And straw won’t be given to you, but you are to deliver the same[o] number of bricks!” 19 The Israeli supervisors realized they were in trouble when he said,[p] “You won’t reduce each day’s quota of bricks!”[q]
The Israelis Blame Moses and Moses Complains to God
20 As they left Pharaoh’s presence,[r] they met Moses and Aaron standing there.[s] 21 The supervisors[t] told them, “May the Lord look on you and judge you![u] You have made us repulsive to[v] Pharaoh and his servants. You have put[w] a sword in their hands to kill us.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Exodus 5:7 Lit. like yesterday and the day before
- Exodus 5:8 Lit. as yesterday and the day before
- Exodus 5:9 Or men
- Exodus 5:10 The Heb. lacks any
- Exodus 5:11 Lit. from your labor
- Exodus 5:12 I.e. the stalks left in the field after grain is harvested
- Exodus 5:13 Lit. matter
- Exodus 5:13 Lit. when there was straw
- Exodus 5:14 Lit. saying
- Exodus 5:14 Lit. complete
- Exodus 5:14 Lit. prescribed amount
- Exodus 5:15 Lit. your servants; and so throughout the book
- Exodus 5:17 Lit. he
- Exodus 5:17 Lit. therefore
- Exodus 5:18 The Heb. lacks same
- Exodus 5:19 Lit. saying
- Exodus 5:19 Lit. your bricks
- Exodus 5:20 Lit. from with
- Exodus 5:20 The Heb. lacks there
- Exodus 5:21 Lit. they
- Exodus 5:21 The Heb. lacks you
- Exodus 5:21 Lit. made our odor stink in the eyes of
- Exodus 5:21 Lit. servants to give
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