Exodus 5:6-21
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Further Oppression of Israel
6 That day Pharaoh commanded the overseers(A) of the people as well as their foremen: 7 “Don’t continue to supply the people with straw for making bricks, as before. They must go and gather straw for themselves. 8 But require the same quota of bricks from them as they were making before; do not reduce it. For they are slackers—that is why they are crying out,(B) ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Impose heavier work on the men. Then they will be occupied with it and not pay attention to deceptive words.”
10 So the overseers and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says:(C) ‘I am not giving you straw. 11 Go get straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but there will be no reduction at all in your workload.’” 12 So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The overseers insisted, “Finish your assigned work each day, just as you did when straw was provided.” 14 Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s slave drivers had set over the people, were beaten(D) and asked, “Why haven’t you finished making your prescribed number of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”
15 So the Israelite foremen went in and cried for help to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? 16 No straw has been given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but it is your own people who are at fault.”
17 But he said, “You are slackers. Slackers! That is why you are saying, ‘Let us go sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Now get to work. No straw will be given to you, but you must produce the same quantity of bricks.”
19 The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You cannot reduce your daily quota of bricks.” 20 When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.
21 “May the Lord take note of you and judge,” they said to them, “because you have made us reek in front of Pharaoh and his officials—putting a sword in their hand to kill us!”(E)
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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.”
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- 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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