Exodus 5:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people."

NIV: Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people."

NASB: There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.'

CSB: 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."

NLT: We are given no straw, but the slave drivers still demand, ‘Make bricks!’ We are being beaten, but it isn’t our fault! Your own people are to blame!'

KJV: There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

NKJV: There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, ‘Make brick!’ And indeed your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people.”

The "straw" mentioned here is the typical kind: unused stalks from harvested plants. Egypt enslaved Israel (Exodus 1:13–14) and forced them to make bricks. These were made of mud and sand mixed with straw. Egyptian slavery was already brutal (Exodus 1:11). But when Moses demanded release of the people (Exodus 5:1–5), Egypt's ruler, Pharaoh, was annoyed. In retaliation, he stopped providing the slaves with straw, forcing them to find their own (Exodus 5:6–9).

Here, the Hebrew slaves assigned as supervisors complain that they are being beaten for no good reason (Exodus 5:14–15). They continually refer to themselves as Pharaoh's servants—showing submission and humility—while pointing blame at the Egyptians who won't provide raw materials.

For the seventh time in this passage the word "straw" is again noted. "No straw" is given. The foremen refer to themselves as Pharaoh's servants as in verse 15. However, they repeat Pharaoh's command to "make bricks" as an impossible requirement. They call themselves "servants" a third time and then refer to being beaten. They claim the ones at fault who deserve punishment are the Egyptians.

Pharaoh will respond with a dismissive reference to Moses' request for freedom to worship (Exodus 5:17). The king's intent is to send a message: if you have time to think about freedom, you aren't being worked hard enough. This is meant to intimidate the Hebrews. It's also intended to generate resentment against Moses and Aaron—which it does (Exodus 5:20–21).

Exodus 5:15–23 records the aftermath of Moses and Aaron's first encounter with Egypt's king. Rather than agreeing to let Israel go, the Pharaoh spitefully cut off access to raw materials while demanding that the enslaved people (Exodus 1:13–14) maintain production. This leads to a backlash against Moses and Aaron; the people blame them for making their lives even harder. Moses experiences doubt. He wonders why the situation is worse, not better. The Lord will respond with reassurance (Exodus 6:1).

Moses and Aaron have their first meeting with Egypt's king, the pharaoh. Though they are there to free Israel entirely (Exodus 3:10), they begin with a much less dramatic request: three days to worship their God in the wilderness (Exodus 3:18). Pharaoh refuses. Instead, he spitefully cuts off supply of raw materials—straw—while demanding the same output from the Hebrew slaves. This increases the peoples' burden and gives Pharaoh's taskmasters excuse to abuse them. When the Israelites turn against Moses, he expresses confusion to God.

Moses encountered the Lord (Exodus 3:4–6) during his exile (Exodus 2:15). God commanded Moses to return to Egypt and demand the freedom of the nation of Israel (Exodus 4:21–23). The people had come into Egypt in the days of Joseph (Exodus 1:1–7). Later, they fell into slavery and oppression (Exodus 1:13–14). The first request, in this chapter, is not received well. God will soon bring disasters on Egypt and its stubborn ruler (Exodus 3:10) until His peo-ple are finally released (Exodus 12:41).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.