Berean Standard Bible

Exodus 5

1After thatוְאַחַ֗רve.'a.CharH310,Mosesמֹשֶׁ֣הmo.ShehH4872and Aaronוְאַהֲרֹ֔ןve.'a.ha.RonH175wentבָּ֚אוּBa.'uH935toאֶל־'el-H413Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֑הpar.'OhH6547and saidוַיֹּאמְר֖וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “This is whatכֹּֽה־koh-H3541the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,the Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,saysאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559: ‘Let My peopleעַמִּ֔י'a.MiH5971goשַׁלַּח֙sha.LachH7971אֶת־'et-H853,so that they may hold a feastוְיָחֹ֥גּוּve.ya.Cho.guH2287to Mein the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ba.mid.BarH4057.’”

2But Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֔הpar.'OhH6547repliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whoמִ֤יmiH4310is the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834I should obeyאֶשְׁמַ֣ע'esh.Ma'H8085His voiceבְּקֹל֔וֹbe.ko.LoH6963andlet Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478goלְשַׁלַּ֖חle.sha.LachH7971אֶת־'et-H853?I do notלֹ֤אlo'H3808knowיָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ya.Da'.tiH3045אֶת־'et-H853the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,andוְגַ֥םve.GamH1571אֶת־'et-H853I will notלֹ֥אlo'H3808let Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478goאֲשַׁלֵּֽחַ׃'a.sha.Le.achH7971.”

3“The Godאֱלֹהֵ֥י'e.lo.HeiH430of the Hebrewsהָעִבְרִ֖יםha.'iv.RimH5680has metנִקְרָ֣אnik.Ra'H7122with usעָלֵ֑ינוּ'a.Lei.nuH5921,”they answeredוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559. “Pleaseנָּ֡אna'H4994let us go onנֵ֣לֲכָהNe.la.khahH1980a three-dayשְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת יָמִ֜יםshe.Lo.shet ya.MimH7969 H3117journeyדֶּרֶךְ֩de.reKhH1870into the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֗רba.mid.BarH4057to sacrificeוְנִזְבְּחָה֙ve.niz.be.ChahH2076to the LORDלַֽיהוָ֣הla.Yah.wehH3068our Godאֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430,orפֶּ֨ן־Pen-H6435He may strike usיִפְגָּעֵ֔נוּyif.ga.'E.nuH6293with plaguesבַּדֶּ֖בֶרba.De.verH1698orא֥וֹ'oH176with the swordבֶחָֽרֶב׃ve.Cha.revH2719.”

4But the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to themאֲלֵהֶם֙'a.le.HemH413, “Mosesמֹשֶׁ֣הmo.ShehH4872and Aaronוְאַהֲרֹ֔ןve.'a.ha.RonH175,whyלָ֚מָּהLa.mahH4100do you drawתַּפְרִ֥יעוּtaf.Ri.'uH6544the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971אֶת־'et-H853away from their workמִמַּֽעֲשָׂ֑יוmi.ma.'a.SavH4639?Get backלְכ֖וּle.KhuH1980to your laborלְסִבְלֹתֵיכֶֽם׃le.siv.lo.tei.KhemH5450!”

5Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֔הpar.'OhH6547also saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Lookהֵן־hen-H2005,the peopleעַ֣ם'amH5971of the landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776are now numerousרַבִּ֥ים עַתָּ֖הra.Bim 'a.TahH7227 H6258,and you would be stoppingוְהִשְׁבַּתֶּ֥םve.hish.ba.TemH7673themאֹתָ֖ם'o.TamH853from their laborמִסִּבְלֹתָֽם׃mi.siv.lo.TamH5450.”

Bricks and Straw

6That sameהַה֑וּאha.Hu'H1931אֶת־'et-H853dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֖הpar.'OhH6547commandedוַיְצַ֥וvay.TzavH6680the taskmastersהַנֹּגְשִׂ֣יםha.no.ge.SimH5065of the peopleבָּעָ֔םba.'AmH5971וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853and their foremenשֹׁטְרָ֖יו לֵאמֹֽר׃sho.te.Rav le.MorH7860 H559:

7“You shall noלֹ֣אlo'H3808longerתֹאסִפ֞וּןto.si.FunH3254supplyלָתֵ֨תla.TetH5414the peopleלָעָ֛םla.'AmH5971with strawתֶּ֧בֶןTe.venH8401for makingלִלְבֹּ֥ןlil.BonH3835bricksהַלְּבֵנִ֖יםha.le.ve.NimH3843כִּתְמ֣וֹלkit.MolH8543שִׁלְשֹׁ֑םshil.ShomH8032.Theyהֵ֚םhemH1992must goיֵֽלְכ֔וּye.le.KhuH1980and gatherוְקֹשְׁשׁ֥וּve.ko.she.ShuH7197their ownstrawתֶּֽבֶן׃Te.venH8401.

8וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853But requireתָּשִׂ֣ימוּta.Si.muH7760of themעֲלֵיהֶ֔ם'a.lei.HemH5921the same quotaמַתְכֹּ֨נֶתmat.Ko.netH4971of bricksהַלְּבֵנִ֜יםha.le.ve.NimH3843אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834asהֵם֩hemH1992עֹשִׂ֨ים'o.SimH6213beforeתְּמ֤וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁם֙te.Mol shil.ShomH8543 H8032;do notלֹ֥אlo'H3808reduce itתִגְרְע֖וּ מִמֶּ֑נּוּtig.re.'U mi.Me.nuH1639 H4480.Forכִּֽי־ki-H3588theyהֵ֔םHemH1992are lazyנִרְפִּ֣יםnir.PimH7503;that is whyעַל־ כֵּ֗ן'al- KenH5921 H3651theyהֵ֤םhemH1992are crying outצֹֽעֲקִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔רtzo.'a.Kim le.MorH6817 H559, ‘Let us goנֵלְכָ֖הne.le.KhahH1980and sacrificeנִזְבְּחָ֥הniz.be.ChahH2076to our Godלֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃le.lo.Hei.nuH430.’

9Make the work harderתִּכְבַּ֧ד הָעֲבֹדָ֛הtikh.Bad ha.'a.vo.DahH3513 H5656onעַל־'al-H5921the menהָאֲנָשִׁ֖יםha.'a.na.ShimH582so they will be occupiedוְיַעֲשׂוּ־ve.ya.'a.su-H6213and pay no attentionוְאַל־ יִשְׁע֖וּve.'al- yish.'UH408 H8159to these liesבְּדִבְרֵי־ שָֽׁקֶר׃be.div.rei- Sha.kerH8267 H1697.”

10So the taskmastersנֹגְשֵׂ֤יno.ge.SeiH5065and foremenוְשֹׁ֣טְרָ֔יוve.Sho.te.RavH7860of the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971went outוַיֵּ֨צְא֜וּvai.Ye.tze.'UH3318and saidוַיֹּאמְר֥וּvai.yo.me.RuH559toאֶל־'el-H413themהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971, “This is whatלֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּ֚הle.Mor kohH3541 H559Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֔הpar.'OhH6547saysאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559: ‘I am no longerאֵינֶ֛נִּי'ei.Ne.niH369givingנֹתֵ֥ןno.TenH5414youstrawתֶּֽבֶן׃Te.venH8401.

11אַתֶּ֗ם'a.TemH859Goלְכ֨וּle.KhuH1980and getקְח֤וּke.ChuH3947your ownstrawתֶּ֔בֶןTe.venH8401whereverמֵאֲשֶׁ֖רme.'a.SherH834you can find itתִּמְצָ֑אוּtim.Tza.'uH4672;butכִּ֣יkiH3588your workloadמֵעֲבֹדַתְכֶ֖םme.'a.vo.dat.KhemH5656will in no wayאֵ֥ין'einH369דָּבָֽר׃da.VarH1697be reducedנִגְרָ֛עnig.Ra'H1639.’”

12So the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971scatteredוַיָּ֥פֶץvai.Ya.fetzH6327all overבְּכָל־be.kholH3605the landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776of Egyptמִצְרָ֑יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714to gatherלְקֹשֵׁ֥שׁle.ko.SheshH7197stubbleקַ֖שׁkashH7179for strawלַתֶּֽבֶן׃la.Te.venH8401.

13The taskmastersוְהַנֹּגְשִׂ֖יםve.ha.no.ge.SimH5065kept pressing themאָצִ֣ים'a.TzimH213,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, “Fulfillכַּלּ֤וּka.LuH3615your quotaמַעֲשֵׂיכֶם֙ דְּבַר־ma.'a.sei.Khem de.var-H1697 H4639each dayH3117,just as you did whenכַּאֲשֶׁ֖רka.'a.SherH834strawהַתֶּֽבֶן׃ha.Te.venH8401was providedבִּהְי֥וֹתbih.YotH1961.”

14Then the Israeliteבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לbe.Nei Yis.ra.'ElH1121 H3478foremenשֹֽׁטְרֵי֙sho.te.ReiH7860,whomאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834Pharaoh’sפַרְעֹ֖הfar.'OhH6547taskmastersנֹגְשֵׂ֥יno.ge.SeiH5065had setשָׂ֣מוּSa.muH7760over the peopleעֲלֵהֶ֔ם'a.le.HemH5921,were beatenוַיֻּכּ֗וּvai.yu.KuH5221and askedלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, “Whyמַדּ֡וּעַma.Du.a'H4069have you notלֹא֩lo'H3808fulfilledכִלִּיתֶ֨םkhi.li.TemH3615your quotaחָקְכֶ֤םcha.ke.ChemH2706of bricksלִלְבֹּן֙lil.BonH3835yesterdayכִּתְמ֣וֹלkit.MolH8543or todayגַּם־ הַיּֽוֹם׃gam- hai.YomH1571 H3117,as you did beforeשִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם תְּמ֖וֹל גַּם־shil.Shom te.Mol gam-H8543 H1571 H8032?”

The Cry of the Israelites

15So the Israeliteבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לbe.Nei Yis.ra.'ElH1121 H3478foremenשֹֽׁטְרֵי֙sho.te.ReiH7860wentוַיָּבֹ֗אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935and appealedוַיִּצְעֲק֥וּvai.yitz.'a.KuH6817toאֶל־'el-H413Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑רpar.'Oh le.MorH6547 H559: “Whyלָ֧מָּהLa.mahH4100are you treatingתַעֲשֶׂ֦הta.'a.SehH6213your servantsלַעֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃la.'a.va.Dei.khaH5650this wayכֹ֖הkhohH3541?

16Noאֵ֤ין'einH369strawתֶּ֗בֶןTe.venH8401has been givenנִתָּן֙ni.TanH5414to your servantsלַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָla.'a.va.Dei.khaH5650,yet we are toldאֹמְרִ֥ים'o.me.RimH559, ‘Makeעֲשׂ֑וּ'a.SuH6213bricksוּלְבֵנִ֛יםu.le.ve.NimH3843!’Lookוְהִנֵּ֧הve.hi.NehH2009,your servantsעֲבָדֶ֛יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650are being beatenמֻכִּ֖יםmu.KimH5221,but the faultוְחָטָ֥אתve.cha.TatH2398iswith your own peopleעַמֶּֽךָ׃'a.Me.khaH5971.”

17“Youאַתֶּ֖ם'a.TemH859are slackersנִרְפִּ֥יםnir.PimH7503!”Pharaoh repliedוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559. “Slackersנִרְפִּ֑יםnir.PimH7503!That is whyעַל־ כֵּן֙'al- kenH5921 H3651youאַתֶּ֣ם'a.TemH859keep sayingאֹֽמְרִ֔ים'o.me.RimH559, ‘Let us goנֵלְכָ֖הne.le.KhahH1980and sacrificeנִזְבְּחָ֥הniz.be.ChahH2076to the LORDלַֽיהוָֽה׃la.Yah.wehH3068.’

18Nowוְעַתָּה֙ve.'a.TahH6258get toלְכ֣וּle.KhuH1980workעִבְד֔וּ'iv.DuH5647. Youwill be givenיִנָּתֵ֣ןyi.na.TenH5414noלֹא־lo'-H3808strawוְתֶ֖בֶןve.Te.venH8401,yet you must deliverתִּתֵּֽנּוּ׃ti.Te.nuH5414the full quotaוְתֹ֥כֶןve.To.khenH8506of bricksלְבֵנִ֖יםle.ve.NimH3843.”

19The Israeliteבְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛לve.nei- Yis.ra.'ElH1121 H3478אֹתָ֖ם'o.TamH853foremenשֹֽׁטְרֵ֧יsho.te.ReiH7860realizedוַיִּרְא֞וּvai.yir.'UH7200they were in troubleבְּרָ֣עbe.Ra'H7451when they were toldלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, “You must notלֹא־lo'-H3808reduceתִגְרְע֥וּtig.re.'UH1639your dailyH3117quotaדְּבַר־de.var-H1697of bricksמִלִּבְנֵיכֶ֖םmi.liv.nei.KhemH3843.”

20When they leftבְּצֵאתָ֖ם מֵאֵ֥תbe.tze.Tam me.'EtH3318 H854Pharaohפַּרְעֹֽה׃par.'OhH6547,they confrontedוַֽיִּפְגְּעוּ֙vai.yif.ge.'UH6293אֶת־'et-H853Mosesמֹשֶׁ֣הmo.ShehH4872וְאֶֽת־ve.'EtH853and Aaronאַהֲרֹ֔ן'a.ha.RonH175,who stoodנִצָּבִ֖יםni.tza.VimH5324waiting to meet themלִקְרָאתָ֑םlik.ra.TamH7122.

21“May the LORDיְהוָ֛ה עֲלֵיכֶ֖םYah.weh 'a.lei.KhemH3068 H5921look upon youיֵ֧רֶאYe.re'H7200and judge youוְיִשְׁפֹּ֑טve.yish.PotH8199,” the foremensaidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵהֶ֔םvai.yo.me.Ru 'a.le.HemH559 H413, “forאֲשֶׁ֧ר'a.SherH834you have made us a stenchהִבְאַשְׁתֶּ֣םhiv.'ash.TemH887אֶת־'et-H853רֵיחֵ֗נוּrei.Che.nuH7381beforeבְּעֵינֵ֤יbe.'ei.NeiH5869Pharaohפַרְעֹה֙ וּבְעֵינֵ֣יfar.'Oh u.ve.'ei.NeiH6547 H5869and his officialsעֲבָדָ֔יו'a.va.DavH5650;you have placedלָֽתֶת־la.tet-H5414in their handבְּיָדָ֖םbe.ya.DamH3027a swordחֶ֥רֶבChe.revH2719to kill usלְהָרְגֵֽנוּ׃le.ha.re.Ge.nuH2026!”

22So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872returnedוַיָּ֧שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725toאֶל־'el-H413the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068and askedוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559, “Lordאֲדֹנָ֗י'a.do.NaiH136,whyלָמָ֤הla.MahH4100have You brought troubleהֲרֵעֹ֙תָה֙ha.re.'O.tahH7489upon thisהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088peopleלָעָ֣םla.'AmH5971?Is thisזֶּ֖הzehH2088whyלָ֥מָּהLa.mahH4100You sent meשְׁלַחְתָּֽנִי׃she.lach.Ta.niH7971?

23Ever sinceוּמֵאָ֞זu.me.'AzH227I wentבָּ֤אתִיBa.tiH935toאֶל־'el-H413Pharaohפַּרְעֹה֙par.'OhH6547to speakלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696in Your nameבִּשְׁמֶ֔ךָbish.Me.khaH8034,he has brought troubleהֵרַ֖עhe.Ra'H7489on thisהַזֶּ֑הha.ZehH2088peopleלָעָ֣םla.'AmH5971,and You have notלֹא־lo'-H3808deliveredוְהַצֵּ֥לve.ha.TzelH5337אֶת־'et-H853Your peopleעַמֶּֽךָ׃'a.Me.khaH5971in any wayהִצַּ֖לְתָּhi.Tzal.taH5337.”

Bricks and Straw

The Cry of the Israelites

Commentaries on Exodus 5