Exodus 5:17 - Printer Friendly

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.’

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).

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.