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Exodus 5:21
ESV and they said to them, "The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us."
NIV and they said, "May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us."
NASB And they said to them, 'May the Lord look upon you and judge you, because you have made us repulsive in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us!'
CSB "May the Lord take note of you and judge," they said to them, "because you have made us reek to Pharaoh and his officials—putting a sword in their hand to kill us!"
NLT The foremen said to them, 'May the Lord judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!'
KJV And they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.
NKJV And they said to them, “Let the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

What does Exodus 5:21 mean?

The nation of Israel is still trapped in Egypt (Exodus 1:11, 13–14). Their lives are hard and harsh, making bricks for the Egyptians. When Moses and Aaron arrive to demand freedom (Exodus 5:1–3), Egypt's king retaliates (Exodus 5:6–9). Jewish foremen complain about the abuse (Exodus 5:14–16), and it is readily apparent that the Pharaoh's demands are intended as revenge (Exodus 5:17–19). Pharaoh is angry that the people would ask for freedom; this is a graphic warning about what happens when slaves get such ideas.

The foreman's complaint that Moses and Aaron "have made us stink" uses the Hebrew word hibastem', referring to something disgusting or repulsive. If the ruler of all Egypt is that annoyed with slaves, the people are in constant threat of abuse. In bitterness, the Hebrew supervisors wish that God would judge Moses and Aaron. These would-be liberators have made Hebrew lives even worse. This infighting is part of Pharaoh's plan. So long as slaves are attacking fellow captives, they'll have no time left over for complaints or rebellion.

The situation appears impossible. Moses will express doubts about why things have gotten worse, not better (Exodus 5:22–23). Yet the Lord will use this situation to show His great power in the midst of a hopeless context (Exodus 6:1).
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