Keraia
Exodus 5

Exodus 5:9

Bricks and Straw · Exodus 5:6–14
Read Exodus 5

Translations

Modern
Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”
Traditional
Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
Literal
Let the service be heavy on the men, and let them be occupied with it. And let them not pay attention to lying words.”
Latin
Opprimantur operibus, et expleant ea: ut non acquiescant verbis mendacibus.

Original

Hebrew
English
Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”

Notes

Exodus 5:6–14

Pharaoh increased the workload to punish their disobedience. He thought they had too much free time (5:8). He could not imagine a god revealing himself outside the royal worship system. He believed they invented their unusual religious ideas instead of working (see also 5:17).

Exodus 5:1–14

Pharaoh not only rejected the request of Moses to release the Hebrew slaves, he also retaliated by making their work harder. The arrival of the rescuer had actually made the situation worse.

Exodus 4:29–7:7

In this section, the Lord promised to rescue the Israelites. He said that he would bring them out of slavery.

At first, the people responded in a positive way. They believed what God said. However, later they faced a crisis of faith. They began to doubt God’s promise and struggled to trust him.

Glossary

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

Topics

Brick: Made by Israelites Cruelty: Egyptians to the Israelites Egypt: Israel in Pharaoh Increases Their Affliction Servant: Israelites Words: Vain, not to be Regarded