Exodus 5 15

Exodus 5:15 kjv

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

Exodus 5:15 nkjv

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why are you dealing thus with your servants?

Exodus 5:15 niv

Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: "Why have you treated your servants this way?

Exodus 5:15 esv

Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, "Why do you treat your servants like this?

Exodus 5:15 nlt

So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him. "Please don't treat your servants like this," they begged.

Exodus 5 verses

Exodus 5 15 meaning

The foremen of the Israelites approached Pharaoh with a desperate appeal, challenging his new decree that intensified their already brutal labor. They questioned the justice and purpose behind his cruel treatment, specifically forcing them to produce bricks without being provided with the necessary straw, which had been previously supplied. This highlights their direct and immediate plea against increased oppression.

Exodus 5 15 Context

This verse occurs immediately after Pharaoh has responded to Moses and Aaron's demand for Israel's freedom (Exo 5:1-3) by refusing and instead drastically increasing the labor burden. Pharaoh commanded the Egyptian taskmasters and the Israelite foremen (verse 6) to stop providing straw for brick production, while maintaining the same daily quota of bricks (verses 7-8). This cruel edict was designed to oppress the Israelites further, making them too busy to listen to "empty words" (Exo 5:9) and extinguish any hope of freedom. Consequently, the taskmasters severely beat the foremen when the quotas were not met (verse 14). It is in the aftermath of this intensified suffering and physical abuse that these foremen, who are Israelites tasked with overseeing their brethren, directly approach Pharaoh. Their plea reflects the immediate and brutal impact of Pharaoh's decree and their desperation, as they are now caught between the impossible demands of Pharaoh and the suffering of their people.

Exodus 5 15 Word analysis

• Then: Indicates a direct and immediate sequence of events, a reaction to the escalating oppression described in the preceding verses.
• foremen (שֹׁטְרֵי - shoterê): Refers to officials or overseers, likely Israelites themselves, who were appointed by the Egyptian taskmasters to supervise their own people's work. They were intermediaries, often bearing the brunt of Pharaoh's cruelty. This highlights the hierarchical oppression within the system of slavery, where those "in charge" among the enslaved are held responsible for the impossible quotas.
• of the Israelites: Clearly identifies the ethnicity of these overseers, making their appeal directly represent the suffering of their own people.
• came (וַיָּבֹאוּ - vayavó’u): Suggests a deliberate act of presenting themselves, a formal or desperate audience sought with Pharaoh. It wasn't a casual encounter but a purposeful approach to power.
• and cried out (וַיִּצְעֲקוּ - vayitz'aku): A strong verb, often used for a desperate, loud cry for help or an urgent plea. It signifies distress and anguish, similar to the cries of the Israelites that reached God's ears (Exo 2:23, 3:7). Here, their cry is directed to the earthly oppressor, reflecting their immediate sense of hopelessness.
• to Pharaoh: Emphasizes that their complaint is addressed to the ultimate human authority responsible for their suffering.
• 'Why do you treat (מַדּוּעַ תַּעֲשֶׂה - madu'a ta'aseh)': This is a direct challenge and an accusatory question. It's an expression of disbelief and an appeal to reason or justice from a tyrannical ruler. It conveys their bewilderment at such unprovoked cruelty.
• your servants (לָמָּה עֲבָדֶיךָ - lama avadeykha)': A term that acknowledges their enslaved status and appeals to Pharaoh's self-interest as the owner of their labor. It subtly suggests a plea for a master's basic care for his property, hoping for empathy or recognition of their worth as his workforce.
• this way (כָּכָה - kakha)?': Refers specifically to the new, increased cruelty of requiring bricks without providing straw and beating them for unmet quotas. It encapsulates the full extent of the immediate, unbearable injustice.
• "foremen of the Israelites came and cried out": Highlights the profound desperation and the bold (or perhaps desperate) action of these intermediaries, who had themselves just been beaten (Exo 5:14). Their appeal is an act of utter desperation.
• "Why do you treat your servants this way?": This phrase perfectly articulates the plea for understanding and cessation of the increased hardship, questioning the ethical and practical grounds of Pharaoh's decree. It represents the immediate, human lament of those subjected to unbearable, illogical cruelty.

Exodus 5 15 Bonus section

• The Israelite foremen were effectively caught in the middle: they were Israelites and thus slaves themselves, yet they were tasked with supervising their fellow Israelites for Pharaoh. This precarious position made them immediate recipients of the escalated oppression.
• Pharaoh's objective in increasing the burden (Exo 5:9) was not merely to exploit labor, but to break the spirit of the Israelites, to ensure "they may labor at it and pay no attention to lying words" (referring to Moses's message). This demonstrates the calculated cruelty behind the edict.
• This verse contributes to the growing tension and frustration among the Israelites (seen more fully in Exo 5:21), creating a backdrop against which God's subsequent, even more powerful intervention in Exodus 6:1ff is highlighted as a true act of sovereign redemption, not reliant on human negotiation or might.
• The desperate plea of these foremen serves as a reminder of how, even in great distress, human beings often first turn to earthly authorities or solutions before fully comprehending or relying on God's divine deliverance.

Exodus 5 15 Commentary

Exodus 5:15 encapsulates a pivotal moment of human response to escalating oppression. The Israelite foremen, already burdened by their intermediate role, now face the immediate consequence of Moses and Aaron's failed initial demand: an impossible work quota enforced by brutal beatings. Their "cry" to Pharaoh is a desperate, formal appeal for redress from the source of their suffering. It is a moment of raw human desperation, a questioning of fundamental fairness to an unjust ruler. While God has already heard the general groaning of Israel, this specific complaint shows their initial recourse is to their earthly master. Their lament underscores the extreme conditions and serves as an indictment of Pharaoh's tyranny. This event further reveals that God's plan for deliverance often begins with an intensification of the hardship, a test of faith, and a necessary exposure of the enemy's utter wickedness, setting the stage for God's undeniable intervention. It teaches that our deepest distress can sometimes be the precursor to God's greatest display of power.