Exodus 5:4

Verse

But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!”

American Standard Version (1901)

And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, loose the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.

Bible in Basic English

And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people away from their work? get back to your work.

Douay-Rheims 1899

The king of Egypt said to them: Why do you Moses and Aaron draw off the people from their works? Get you gone to your burdens.

Free Bible Version

“Moses and Aaron, why are you trying to take people away from their assigned labor?” Pharaoh asked. “Get back to work!” he ordered.

Geneva Bible 1599

Then saide the King of Egypt vnto them, Moses and Aaron, why cause ye the people to cease from their workes? get you to your burdens.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

One Unity Resource Bible

The king of Egypt [Abode of slavery] said to them, “Why do you, Moses [Drawn out] and Aaron [Light-bringer], take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!”

Translation for Translators

But the king of Egypt said to them/us, “Moses and Aaron, ◄stop trying to keep the Israeli people from working/why are you preventing the Israeli people from working?► [RHQ] Tell those slaves to return to work!”

Unlocked Literal Bible

But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people from their work? Go back to your work.”

Noah Webster Bible

And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, hinder the people from their works; go you to your burdens.

World English Bible

The king of Egypt said to them, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!”

Young's Literal Translation

And the king of Egypt saith unto them, 'Why, Moses and Aaron, do ye free the people from its works? go to your burdens.'

Context

Pharaoh’s First Refusal

³“The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”⁴But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!”⁵Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”

Summary

In this verse, Pharaoh commands the Israelite taskmasters to increase the workload of the Hebrew slaves by demanding the same quota of bricks without providing straw as before. This harsh decree reflects Pharaoh's oppressive rule and disregard for the well-being of the Israelites. It sets the stage for the escalating conflict between Moses, representing God's deliverance, and Pharaoh, symbolizing the forces of oppression. The verse highlights the theme of struggle against injustice and the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promise to rescue His people from bondage.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Keil-Delitzsch
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron - He hints that the Hebrews are in a state of revolt, and charges Moses and Aaron as being ringleaders of the sedition. This unprincipled charge has been, in nearly similar circumstances, often repeated since. Men who have labored to bring the mass of the common people from ignorance, irreligion, and general profligacy of manners, to an acquaintance with themselves and God, and to a proper knowledge of their duty to him and to each other, have been often branded as being disaffected to the state, and as movers of sedition among the people! See Clarke on Exo 5:17 (note). Let the people - תפריעו taphriu, from פרע para, to loose or disengage, which we translate to let, from the Anglo-Saxon lettan, to hinder. Ye hinder the people from working. Get ye to your burdens. "Let religion alone, and mind your work." The language not only of tyranny, but of the basest irreligion also.