Exodus 5:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words."

NIV: Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies."

NASB: Let the labor be heavier on the men, and have them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.'

CSB: Impose heavier work on the men. Then they will be occupied with it and not pay attention to deceptive words."

NLT: Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies!'

KJV: Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

NKJV: Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words.”

Israelites were already being forced into harsh and unfair labor (Exodus 1:13–14). When Moses brings God's demand that these slaves be allowed to leave for worship, Pharaoh is irritated (Exodus 5:1–5). In spite, he summons the slave masters and Israeli foremen. He tells them the slaves will no longer be given a major component of bricks: they are to find it themselves. This is to be done without any reduction in productivity (Exodus 5:6–8).

Pharaoh knows full well that his demand is impossible. This will make the slaves work even harder, and their lack of production will provide excuses for physical abuse (Exodus 5:14). His purpose is to remind the Hebrews that they are slaves in his kingdom. It is also a punishment for listening to people like Moses, who would dare advocate for the people. By punishing the people for Moses' request, Pharaoh hopes to make the Israelites too afraid of retaliation to attempt such a thing again.

Exodus 5:1–14 describes the first encounter between Moses and Egypt's ruler, Pharaoh (Exodus 4:21–23). When Moses asks that Israel be released for a period of worship (Exodus 3:18), Pharaoh flatly refuses. In fact, he retaliates against the Hebrews by forcing them to make the same quota of bricks (Exodus 1:13–14) without being provided the usual raw materials. This is impossible; the cruel punishments which follow are exactly what Pharaoh intended with his spiteful command.

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.

Accessed 4/18/2025 11:00:11 AM