Bible/Exodus/5

Exodus 5:6

5:5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

KJV

Save image

The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

5:7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

What does Exodus 5:6 mean?

Exodus 5:6 is a verse in the book of Exodus, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh), צָוָה (tsâvâh), יוֹם (yôwm). It connects to 13 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
And
PharaohפַּרְעֹהParʻôh/par-o'/H6547Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings
commandedצָוָהtsâvâh/tsaw-vaw'/H6680(intensively) to constitute, enjoin
the
same
dayיוֹםyôwm/yome/H3117a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
the
taskmastersנָגַשׂnâgas/naw-gas'/H5065to drive (an animal, a workman, a debtor, an army); by implication, to tax, harass, tyrannize
of
the
people,עַםʻam/am/H5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
and
their
officers,שֹׁטֵרshôṭêr/sho-tare'/H7860properly, a scribe, i.e. (by analogy or implication) an official superintendent or magistrate
saying,אָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)

Commentary on Exodus 5:6

HENRY_FULL · Exodus 5:5–11
iv 3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword. 4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens. 5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. 6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, 7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God. 9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words. Finding that Pharaoh had no veneration at all for God, Moses and Aaron next try whether he had any compassion for Israel, and become humble suitors to him for leave to go and sacrifice, but in vain. I. Their request is very humble and modest, v. 3 . They make no complaint of the rigour they were ruled with. They plead that the journey they designed was not a project formed among themselves, but that their God had met with them, and called them to it. They beg with all submission: We pray thee. The poor useth entreaties; though God may summon princes that oppress, it becomes us to beseech and make supplication to them. What they ask is very reasonable, only for a short vacation, while they went three days' journey into the desert, and that on a good errand, and unexceptionable: " We will sacrifice unto the Lord our God, as other people do to theirs;" and, lastly, they give a very good reason, "Lest, if we quite cast off his worship, he fall upon us with one judgment or other, and then Pharaoh will lose his vassals." II. Pharaoh's denial of their request is very barbarous and unreasonable, v. 4-9 . 1. His suggestions were very unreasonable. (1.) That the people were idle, and that therefore they talked of going to sacrifice. The cities they built for Pharaoh, and the other fruit of their labours, were witnesses for them that they were not idle; yet he thus basely misrepresents them, that he might have a pretence to increase their burdens. (2.) That Moses and Aaron made them idle with vain words, v. 9 . God's words are here called vain words; and those that called them to the best and most needful business are accused of making them idle. Note, The malice of Satan has often represented the service and worship of God as fit employment for those only that have nothing else to do, and the business only of the idle; whereas indeed it is the indispensable duty of those that are most busy in the world. 2. His resolutions hereupon were most barbarous. (1.) Moses and Aaron themselves must get to their burdens ( v. 4 ); they are Israelites, and, however God had distinguished them from the rest, Pharaoh makes no difference: they must share in the common slavery of their nation. Persecutors have always taken a particular pleasure in putting contempt and hardship upon the ministers of the churches. (2.) The usual tale of bricks must be exacted, without the usual allowance of straw to mix with the clay, or to burn the bricks with, that thus more work might be laid upon the men, which if they performed, they would be broken with labour; and, if not, they would be exposed to punishment.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 1:11

Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

Exodus 5:10

And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

Exodus 5:13

And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw. your daily: Heb. a matter of a day in his day

Exodus 5:15

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

Exodus 5:19

And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

Numbers 11:16

And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.

Deuteronomy 1:15

So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. made: Heb. gave

Deuteronomy 16:18

Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

Joshua 8:33

And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.

Joshua 24:1

And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

Joshua 24:4

And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

2 Chronicles 26:11

Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.

Proverbs 12:10

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. tender: or, bowels

Topics

Egypt

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Exodus 5:6.

Leviticus 9:7

And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.

2 Kings 23:35

And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaohnechoh.

Exodus 5:10

And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

Exodus 5:14

And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?

Leviticus 10:3

Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

Leviticus 12:2

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.

Leviticus 13:54

Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more:

Leviticus 6:9

Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. because: or, for the burning

Frequently asked questions

What does Exodus 5:6 say?

Exodus 5:6 (King James Version) reads: "And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,"

Is Exodus 5:6 in the Old or New Testament?

Exodus 5:6 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Exodus.

Reflect

As you read Exodus 5:6, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Exodus 5:6
5:5Read all of Exodus 55:7