Exodus 5:4
“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.”
Exodus 5:4 in 7 translations
- KJVKing James 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.
- DRADouay–Rheims
- 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.
- ASVAmerican Standard Version
- 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.
- DARBYDarby
- And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, wish to have the people go off from their works? Away, to your burdens!
- WEBThe 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!
- YLTYoung'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.'
- BPVBiblePics Version
- But the king of Egypt said, "Why are you, Moses and Aaron, taking the people away from their work? Go back to your burdens."
Context: Exodus 5
2And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
3And 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.
4And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.
5And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
6And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
About Exodus 5: Pharaoh Refuses to Let the Israelites Go
The Pharaoh increases the workload of the Israelites, but Moses and Aaron continue to press him to let them go.
Commentary
Exodus chapter 5 is a pivotal chapter in the book of Exodus, as it marks the beginning of the Israelites’ struggle with Pharaoh. After Moses and Aaron have gone to Pharaoh to demand the release of the Israelites, Pharaoh responds by increasing the workload of the Israelites and denying their request. This is a significant moment in the story, as it sets the stage for the plagues that will follow.