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Exodus 5:17
ESV But he said, "You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’
NIV Pharaoh said, "Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’
NASB But he said, 'You are lazy, very lazy; for that reason you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’
CSB But he said, "You are slackers. Slackers! That is why you are saying, ‘Let us go sacrifice to the Lord.’
NLT But Pharaoh shouted, 'You’re just lazy! Lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the Lord.’
KJV But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord.
NKJV But he said, “You are idle! Idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’

What does Exodus 5:17 mean?

Pharaoh's comments here are probably sarcastic. His nation has held Israel as brick-making slaves for centuries (Exodus 1:11, 13–14). Recently, Moses and Aaron arrived with a demand that these slaves be allowed to travel into the wilderness for worship (Exodus 5:1–3). This irritates the Pharaoh, who retaliates by spitefully denying Israel some of the raw materials they need to do their work (Exodus 5:4–9), while demanding the same production.

This is an impossible task, and the results are as expected. The slaves cannot scrounge enough straw to make bricks, so their Hebrew supervisors are beaten by their Egyptian slave drivers (Exodus 5:14). When the foremen appeal to Pharaoh (Exodus 5:15–16), he gives this dismissive response. The point seems to be that if the Hebrews have time and energy to ask for freedom, they must have more time to use for work. It's both a threat and an act of punishment—an open demonstration of power and authority.

As Pharaoh hoped, the people will come to resent Moses for making their lives even harder (Exodus 5:20–21). Even Moses will have doubts about God's plans for this situation (Exodus 5:22–23).
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