New International VersionYour servants are given no straw, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”
New Living Translation“We are given no straw, but the slave drivers still demand, ‘Make bricks!’ We are being beaten, but it isn’t our fault! Your own people are to blame!”
English Standard VersionNo straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.”
Berean Standard BibleNo straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”
King James BibleThere is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.
New King James VersionThere is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, ‘Make brick!’ And indeed your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people.”
New American Standard BibleThere is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.”
NASB 1995“There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.”
NASB 1977“There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.”
Legacy Standard BibleThere is no straw given to your slaves, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your slaves are being beaten; but it is the sin of your own people.”
Amplified BibleNo straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And look, your servants are being beaten, but it is the fault of your own people.”
Christian Standard BibleNo straw has been given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks! ’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but it is your own people who are at fault.”
Holman Christian Standard BibleNo straw has been given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but it is your own people who are at fault.”
American Standard VersionThere is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault it in thine own people.
Contemporary English VersionNo one brings us any straw, but we are still ordered to make the same number of bricks. We are beaten with whips, and your own people are to blame."
English Revised VersionThere is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationWe're given no straw, and yet we're told to make bricks. We're being beaten, but your men are at fault."
Good News TranslationWe are given no straw, but we are still ordered to make bricks! And now we are being beaten. It is your people that are at fault."
International Standard VersionNo straw is being given to us, yet they're saying to us, 'Make bricks!' Look, we are being beaten. It's wrong how you are treating your people!"
NET BibleNo straw is given to your servants, but we are told, 'Make bricks!' Your servants are even being beaten, but the fault is with your people."
New Heart English BibleNo straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, 'Make brick.' and look, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people."
Webster's Bible TranslationThere is no straw given to thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thy own people. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleNo straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”
World English BibleNo straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, ‘Make brick!’ and behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionStraw is not given to your servants, and they are saying to us, Make bricks, and behold, your servants are struck—and your people have sinned.”
Young's Literal Translation Straw is not given to thy servants, and they are saying to us, Make bricks, and lo, thy servants are smitten -- and thy people hath sinned.'
Smith's Literal TranslationStraw was not given to thy servants, and they said to us, Make bricks: and behold, thy servants were beaten; and the sin, thy people. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleStraw is not given us, and bricks are required of us as before: behold we thy servants are beaten with whips, and thy people is unjustly dealt withal.
Catholic Public Domain VersionStraw is not given to us, and yet the same amount of bricks is commanded. So we, your servants, are cut up by scourging, and injustice is done against your people.”
New American BibleNo straw is supplied to your servants, and still we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look how your servants are beaten! It is you who are at fault.”
New Revised Standard VersionNo straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look how your servants are beaten! You are unjust to your own people.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThere is no straw given to your servants, and yet they say to us, Make bricks: and, behold, your servants are beaten; and you sin against your people.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedStraw is not given to your Servants, and they were saying to us, ‘Cast bricks’, and behold, your Servants are beaten and you sin against your people.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us: Make brick; and, behold, thy servants are beaten, but the fault is in thine own people.'
Brenton Septuagint TranslationStraw is not given to thy servants, and they tell us to make brick; and behold thy servants have been scourged: thou wilt therefore injure thy people.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Cry of the Israelites15So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? 16Nostrawhas been givento your servants,yet we are told,‘Makebricks!’Look,your servantsare being beaten,but the faultis with your own people.”17“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’…
Cross References Exodus 1:11-14So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. / But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. / They worked the Israelites ruthlessly ...
Exodus 2:23-25After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God. / So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. / God saw the Israelites and took notice.
Exodus 6:6-9Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. / I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. / And I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD!’” ...
Exodus 3:7-9The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings. / I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. / And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them.
Exodus 7:14-16Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go. / Go to Pharaoh in the morning as you see him walking out to the water. Wait on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. / Then say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened.
Exodus 8:1-2Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. / But if you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs.
Exodus 9:1-2Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. / But if you continue to restrain them and refuse to let them go,
Exodus 10:3-4So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. / But if you refuse to let My people go, I will bring locusts into your territory tomorrow.
Exodus 12:31-33Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. / Take your flocks and herds as well, just as you have said, and depart! And bless me also.” / And in order to send them out of the land quickly, the Egyptians urged the people on. “For otherwise,” they said, “we are all going to die!”
Exodus 14:5-8When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.” / So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him. / He took 600 of the best chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. ...
Numbers 20:14-16From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us, / how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, / and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.
Deuteronomy 26:6-8But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor. / So we called out to the LORD, the God of our fathers; and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, toil, and oppression. / Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, signs, and wonders.
Nehemiah 9:9-10You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt; You heard their cry at the Red Sea. / You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day.
Psalm 81:6-7“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket. / You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
Isaiah 14:3-4On the day that the LORD gives you rest from your pain and torment, and from the hard labor into which you were forced, / you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended!
Treasury of Scripture There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people. no reference Jump to Previous BeatenBlowsBondmenBrickBricksDryFaultMakeServantsSinnedSmittenStemsStrawWrongJump to Next BeatenBlowsBondmenBrickBricksDryFaultMakeServantsSinnedSmittenStemsStrawWrongExodus 5 1.Pharaoh chides Moses and Aaron for their message.6.He increases the Israelites' task.16.He ignores their complaints.19.They cry out to Moses and Aaron.22.Moses complains to God.No straw has been given to your servantsIn ancient Egypt, straw was a crucial component in brick-making, providing the necessary binding to hold the clay together. The Israelites, as slaves, were responsible for producing bricks for Pharaoh's building projects. The removal of straw by the Egyptians was a strategic move to increase the Israelites' burden, reflecting the harshness of their oppression. This phrase highlights the increased difficulty in their labor, symbolizing the intensification of their suffering. The lack of straw can be seen as a metaphor for the absence of resources or support, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible when God's people face trials without apparent means of relief. yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’
The command to continue producing bricks without the necessary materials underscores the unreasonable demands placed upon the Israelites. This reflects the broader theme of unjust suffering and oppression, which is a recurring motif in the biblical narrative. The Israelites' plight can be compared to other instances in Scripture where God's people are called to endure hardship, such as the trials faced by Job or the persecution of early Christians. This situation also foreshadows the deliverance that God will provide, as He often allows His people to reach a point of desperation before intervening. Look, your servants are being beaten
The physical punishment of the Israelites for failing to meet their quotas despite the lack of resources illustrates the cruelty of their Egyptian taskmasters. This phrase highlights the severity of their bondage and the inhumanity of their treatment. The beating of the servants can be seen as a representation of the suffering of the righteous, a theme that is echoed in the New Testament with the persecution of Jesus and His followers. It also serves as a reminder of the cost of discipleship and the endurance required of believers. but the fault is with your own people.
This accusation points to the injustice of the situation, as the blame for the Israelites' inability to meet their quotas lies with the Egyptians who withheld the straw. It reflects the broader biblical theme of unjust suffering and the misplacement of blame, which is seen in the stories of Joseph, Daniel, and ultimately Jesus Christ, who was blameless yet suffered for the sins of others. This phrase also highlights the moral blindness of the oppressors, a condition that is often addressed in the prophetic literature, where God calls out the injustices of the nations and promises eventual judgment and vindication for His people. Persons / Places / Events 1. PharaohThe ruler of Egypt who enslaved the Israelites and increased their burdens. 2. Israelite ForemenThe leaders among the Israelites who were responsible for meeting the brick quotas and were punished when the quotas were not met. 3. Egyptian TaskmastersThe overseers appointed by Pharaoh to enforce the labor demands on the Israelites. 4. Moses and AaronGod's chosen leaders who were sent to deliver the Israelites from slavery. 5. EgyptThe land where the Israelites were enslaved and where these events took place. Teaching Points Understanding OppressionThe Israelites' cry highlights the reality of unjust demands and the suffering that comes from oppressive systems. Believers are called to recognize and stand against injustice in their own contexts. God's Awareness and DeliveranceDespite the immediate suffering, God is aware of His people's plight and has a plan for their deliverance. Trust in God's timing and sovereignty is crucial. The Burden of LegalismThe Israelites' experience can be likened to the spiritual burden of legalism, where people are expected to meet impossible standards without the necessary means. Jesus offers freedom from such burdens. Intercession and AdvocacyThe role of the Israelite foremen as advocates for their people can inspire believers to intercede and advocate for those who are oppressed or in need. Faith in AdversityThe Israelites' situation teaches the importance of maintaining faith and hope even when circumstances seem to worsen before they improve. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 5
What is building a spiritual house?
Exodus 5:8-9: Is there any record or historical precedent indicating such sudden changes in Egyptian labor policy?
Exodus 5:7: How could the Israelites maintain the same brick quota without Egyptian-provided straw under harsh labor conditions?
In 2 Chronicles 25:4, how can Amaziah's execution of his father's assassins yet sparing their children be reconciled with other Old Testament commands on punishment and inheritance of guilt?(16) The fault is in thine own people.--Heb., t hy people is in fault. There can be no reasonable doubt that this clause is antithetical to the preceding one, and means that, though the Hebrews are punished, the people really in fault are the Egyptians. Verse 16. - They say to us. Or, "they keep saying to us." The participle is used, which implies continuance or repetition. The fruit is in thine own people. Literally, "Thine own people is in fault," or "sins."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Noאֵ֤ין(’ên)Adverb
Strong's 369:A non-entity, a negative particlestrawתֶּ֗בֶן(te·ḇen)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8401:Material, refuse haum, stalks of grainhas been givenנִתָּן֙(nit·tān)Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5414:To give, put, setto your servants,לַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ(la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650:Slave, servantyet we are told,אֹמְרִ֥ים(’ō·mə·rîm)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 559:To utter, say‘Makeעֲשׂ֑וּ(‘ă·śū)Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 6213:To do, makebricks!’וּלְבֵנִ֛ים(ū·lə·ḇê·nîm)Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 3843:Brick, tileLook,וְהִנֵּ֧ה(wə·hin·nêh)Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009:Lo! behold!your servantsעֲבָדֶ֛יךָ(‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650:Slave, servantare being beaten,מֻכִּ֖ים(muk·kîm)Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5221:To strikebut the faultוְחָטָ֥את(wə·ḥā·ṭāṯ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2398:To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn[is] with your own people.”עַמֶּֽךָ׃(‘am·me·ḵā)Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5971:A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock
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OT Law: Exodus 5:16 No straw is given to your servants (Exo. Ex) |
