Keraia
Exodus 1

Exodus 1:14

Oppression by a New King · Exodus 1:8–22
Read Exodus 1

Translations

Modern
…and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.
Traditional
And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
Literal
…and they made bitter their lives with hard labor—with mortar and with bricks and with all manner of labor in the field, all their service in which they made them serve—with harshness.
Latin
…atque ad amaritudinem perducebant vitam eorum operibus duris luti et lateris, omnique famulatu, quo in terræ operibus premebantur.

Original

Hebrew
English
…and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.

Notes

Exodus 1:14

The Egyptians could only get stone for building from the far south of the country. In the north, where the Hebrews lived, they used stone only for the most important state and religious buildings.

They built other structures with mortar and bricks made from durable clay. They mixed in seashells or straw to bind it together. After sun-drying in a mold, these materials were surprisingly strong. This was especially true in Egypt, where there was little rain or humidity.

Exodus 1:1–22

The need for rescue was clearly related to the Israelites' condition. The Egyptians forced the people of Israel to work without mercy (1:13). It was also related to promises God had made to the patriarchs years earlier.

The Lord had promised Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation, living freely in the land of Canaan. At this time, Abraham's descendants were slaves in Egypt under a pharaoh who wanted to destroy them as a people. God would have to rescue them to fulfill his promises.

Parallels

Acts 7:15–19

Glossary

Aaron Book of Exodus Brick, Brick Kiln Deuteronomy, Book of Hyksos

Topics

Bondage of Israelites in Egypt Brick: Cities in Egypt Cities: Built of Brick and Mortar Egypt: Israel in Israel Increases and are Oppressed House: Built of Brick Houses: Built of Bricks Israel: Number of, at the Time of the Exodus Masters: Bad: Egyptians Mortar: A Cement Oppression of Israelites, by Egyptians Persecution: Spirit of Pharaoh Servant: Bond: The Israelites Servant: Israelites Spiritual Bondage: Typified: Israel in Egypt Usurpation of Executive Power of Pharaoh, Making Bondservants of the Israelites