Exodus 5 14

Exodus 5:14 kjv

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?

Exodus 5:14 nkjv

Also the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, "Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as before?"

Exodus 5:14 niv

And Pharaoh's slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, "Why haven't you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?"

Exodus 5:14 esv

And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, "Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?"

Exodus 5:14 nlt

Then they whipped the Israelite foremen they had put in charge of the work crews. "Why haven't you met your quotas either yesterday or today?" they demanded.

Exodus 5 verses

Exodus 5 14 meaning

Exodus 5:14 depicts the immediate and brutal impact of Pharaoh's decree to remove the straw for brick-making while maintaining the production quota. The Israelite foremen, themselves under Pharaoh's command, were severely beaten by Pharaoh's taskmasters because they could not meet the impossible brick quotas. This verse reveals the intensifying oppression and the dire position of those caught between Pharaoh's cruelty and the struggling Israelite laborers.

Exodus 5 14 Context

Exodus chapter 5 marks a critical turning point where Moses and Aaron first confront Pharaoh, delivering God's demand: "Let My people go." Pharaoh's immediate and hardened response is not only to refuse but to intensify the Israelites' suffering. He stops providing straw for brick-making but insists on the same daily quota of bricks. This forces the Israelite laborers to scatter to gather stubble, a time-consuming and inefficient process, making the quota virtually impossible to meet. Verse 14 depicts the immediate brutal consequence of this new policy: the Israelite foremen, caught between Pharaoh's uncompromising decree and the physically impossible task given to their countrymen, are punished by the Egyptian taskmasters for failing to deliver the now unachievable production targets. Historically, forced labor (corvée labor) was common in ancient Egypt for massive building projects, and Pharaoh was viewed as a divine king whose word was absolute. This verse highlights the profound injustice and cruel logic of Pharaoh, setting his unrighteous rule against the righteous deliverance of Yahweh. The entire episode also serves as a polemic against Pharaoh's supposed divine authority, showing his inability to truly control the situation when confronted by God's power and ultimately His people.

Exodus 5 14 Word analysis

• The foremen (הַשֹׁטְרִים, hašōṭrīm): This word refers to Israelite officials or overseers, distinct from the Egyptian "taskmasters" (נֹגְשִׂים, nōḡĕśîm). They were intermediaries, often Israelites, responsible for organizing their countrymen and meeting quotas. Their position was unenviable, caught between the oppressive Egyptians and their fellow suffering Israelites. This detail highlights a level of administrative structure within the enslaved Israelite community.
• of the children of Israel: Explicitly states their Israelite identity, making their beating particularly poignant as it was by foreign rulers, impacting their own kin, demonstrating absolute power of Egyptians even over internal structure of Israel.
• whom Pharaoh's taskmasters (נֹגְשֵׂי פַרְעֹה, nōḡ'šê par'ōh): These are the true Egyptian enforcers. They wield direct authority and violence from Pharaoh, making the link between Pharaoh's will and the suffering concrete.
• had set over them: Indicates these Israelite foremen were officially appointed by Pharaoh's administration to ensure production, implying they were initially viewed as collaborators or extensions of Egyptian authority.
• were beaten (הֻכּוּ, hukku): Passive form of the verb "to strike" or "to beat." It implies physical, violent assault. This was not a mere reprimand but a brutal consequence, signifying corporal punishment for failing to meet demands. The direct nature of this violence underscores the severity of their oppression.
• saying: Introduces the accusation, highlighting the irrational justification for the violence.
• Why have you not fulfilled: A direct accusation of negligence or defiance, despite the impossible circumstances created by Pharaoh himself.
• your quota of bricks (תָּכְנֵת לִבְנֵיכֶם, taḵ'neṯ lib'nêḵem): Takhnet refers to a fixed measure or established amount. This emphasizes the rigidity and exactness of the daily demand, revealing the bureaucratic yet merciless nature of Pharaoh's system.
• both yesterday and today, as before?: The phrase "as before" is key. It refers to the original expectation before the straw was withheld. Pharaoh’s new policy changed the conditions but not the output expectation. This is an inherently contradictory and cruel demand, highlighting the deliberate injustice.

Words-group analysis:

• "The foremen...were beaten": This emphasizes the shift in oppression from general harsh labor to direct physical abuse, even targeting those in leadership roles within the Israelite community. It demonstrates the complete lack of empathy and the ruthless efficiency of the Egyptian regime in enforcing its policies.
• "Why have you not fulfilled your quota...as before?": This rhetorical question is a cruel mockery. It points out the absurdity and inherent contradiction in Pharaoh's demands: he created the impossibility by removing straw, yet punished the workers for the logical consequence of his own actions. This highlights the unjust nature of the regime, which prioritizes output over human capacity and suffering.

Exodus 5 14 Bonus section

The suffering of the Israelite foremen encapsulates the complete helplessness and desperation faced by God's people under Pharaoh. It represents a "trial by fire" that purges any lingering hope in human negotiation or Egyptian mercy, directing all hope solely to the Lord. This increased affliction also serves a theological purpose in God's plan: it showcases the magnitude of Pharaoh's hardening heart and his utter wickedness, thereby amplifying the glory of God's power when He ultimately brings deliverance. The "iron furnace" imagery later used in the Bible to describe Israel's time in Egypt (Deut 4:20; 1 Kgs 8:51; Jer 11:4) is strongly echoed in this verse, where the very act of brick-making in oppressive conditions becomes a symbol of intense refinement through hardship.

Exodus 5 14 Commentary

Exodus 5:14 is a chilling testament to the escalating tyranny of Pharaoh and the plight of the Israelites. Prior to this, the hardship was through increased labor; now, it becomes physically violent. The target of this violence, the Israelite foremen, illustrates the devastating middle-ground predicament of those forced to manage the impossible. They are simultaneously victims and unwilling agents in Pharaoh's oppressive system, pressured from above by Egyptian taskmasters and frustrated from below by their fellow Israelites, who now see Moses as having made their situation worse (Exod 5:21).

Pharaoh’s move to cease straw provision while maintaining brick quotas was not simply about saving resources; it was a deliberate tactic to break the spirit of the Israelites and prevent any hope of freedom by burying them under insurmountable toil and direct brutality. The specific charge—"Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks both yesterday and today, as before?"—is a perverse exercise of power. It's a question with no logical answer under the new, impossible conditions, serving only to justify the foremen's torture and instill fear. This moment represents the nadir of the Israelites' suffering before the major plagues begin, effectively driving them to deeper desperation and, ultimately, to cry out to their God. It demonstrates that liberation often comes through an intensification of suffering before the breakthrough, ensuring that God alone receives the glory for the deliverance.