Exodus 5 20

Exodus 5:20 kjv

And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

Exodus 5:20 nkjv

Then, as they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who stood there to meet them.

Exodus 5:20 niv

When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them,

Exodus 5:20 esv

They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh;

Exodus 5:20 nlt

As they left Pharaoh's court, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them.

Exodus 5 verses

Exodus 5 20 meaning

Exodus 5:20 describes the critical moment immediately following Pharaoh's intensified oppression, where the disheartened Israelite foremen confront Moses and Aaron. This encounter reveals the crushing effect of Pharaoh's decree and highlights the people's swift turning against their divine leaders in their immediate suffering. It marks a severe setback in the initial stages of God's plan for deliverance, underscoring the spiritual despondency that gripped the Israelites.

Exodus 5 20 Context

Exodus chapter 5 marks the beginning of the direct confrontation between God (through Moses and Aaron) and Pharaoh. In verses 1-5, Moses and Aaron convey God's command to "Let my people go," but Pharaoh scornfully rejects it, claiming ignorance of Yahweh and refusing to let Israel go. In response, Pharaoh intensifies the Israelites' forced labor, decreeing that they must now gather their own straw yet still produce the same daily quota of bricks (Ex 5:6-9). This new, impossible demand immediately plunges the Israelite foremen, who are held responsible for the quotas, into extreme distress (Ex 5:10-14). When they plead with Pharaoh for relief, he mocks them and reiterates their burden (Ex 5:15-18). Verse 19 explicitly states that the foremen realized their predicament was severe when told their daily quota would not be reduced. Thus, verse 20 takes place right after the foremen have received Pharaoh's harsh and unwavering decision, filling them with bitterness and despair as they exit his presence. Moses and Aaron, positioned outside, are about to face the full brunt of this immediate backlash.

Exodus 5 20 Word analysis

• And they met: The Hebrew verb is yifge'u (יִפְגְּעוּ), from the root paga', which means to meet, encounter, entreat, or even to assault. Here, it signifies an encounter charged with an immediate, adverse purpose on the part of the Israelite officers. It wasn't a casual meeting but a deliberate intercept by individuals filled with complaint. This suggests they were waiting for Moses and Aaron with the intention of expressing their grievance.
• Moses and Aaron: The divinely appointed leaders of Israel, standing at the cusp of severe rejection by the very people they were sent to deliver. This is a crucial test of their call and resilience. They represent God's voice and plan to a disheartened people.
• who stood: The Hebrew participle is nittzavim (נִצָּבִים), from the verb natsav, meaning to stand, take one's stand, be appointed. This indicates an intentional posture, implying Moses and Aaron were waiting in that specific spot. They were positioned, likely expecting to hear an outcome from Pharaoh's meeting with the foremen, possibly hoping for progress.
• in the way: The Hebrew baderekh (בַּדֶּרֶךְ) literally means "on the road" or "on the path." It emphasizes that this encounter happened immediately as the foremen exited Pharaoh's palace. It signifies a public place, a space between the place of oppression and the community, a "threshold" moment.
• as they came forth from Pharaoh: The Hebrew phrase is betzetam mipparʿoh (בְּצֵאתָם מִפַּרְעֹה). This confirms the timing and the direction of the foremen – they were literally emerging from Pharaoh's presence. This emphasizes the freshness of their experience of intensified oppression, making their anger and despair potent and immediate. They were hot from the forge of Pharaoh's tyranny.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And they met Moses and Aaron": This immediate and direct encounter establishes the moment of confrontation. "They" refers to the foremen (as clarified in Ex 5:19). The meeting is presented as significant, a focal point where two parties with vastly different perspectives (hope/divine mandate vs. despair/human burden) converge.
• "who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh": This phrase perfectly sets the scene and atmosphere. Moses and Aaron are ready and waiting (standing), positioned strategically. The foremen's immediate emergence from Pharaoh's oppressive presence implies their deep distress is fresh and raw, setting the stage for their bitter outburst in the next verse (Ex 5:21). It is a highly charged intersection of divine purpose and human despair.

Exodus 5 20 Bonus section

This verse highlights the human tendency to attribute blame for increased hardship to the immediate human agent, rather than seeing it as part of a larger, divinely orchestrated plan. The foremen's vision was entirely earthly; focused on their labor and daily suffering, they could not grasp the spiritual warfare unfolding. It also underscores a common prophetic experience: true messengers of God often bring a word that initially intensifies conflict and suffering before ultimate liberation. This encounter marks the first major test of Moses and Aaron's leadership and resilience, forcing them to turn back to God for reassurance, which God faithfully provides in chapter 6, reminding them of His sovereign power and unchanging covenant promises.

Exodus 5 20 Commentary

Exodus 5:20 captures a pivotal and painful moment in the early narrative of Israel's deliverance. The hope kindled by Moses and Aaron's initial arrival, offering God's promise of freedom, is swiftly extinguished by Pharaoh's harsh and immediate response. The Israelite foremen, the direct bearers of Pharaoh's increased burden, are utterly demoralized. Their encounter with Moses and Aaron is not one of seeking comfort or reassurance, but of confronting those whom they now perceive as the source of their increased misery. Moses and Aaron, though standing ready as God's messengers, are met not with gratitude or patient expectation, but with immediate blame and profound disillusionment. This verse vividly illustrates the profound challenges faced by God's messengers, who often bear the brunt of people's suffering even when their work is divinely ordained. It foreshadows the cycles of complaint and doubt that would plague Israel throughout their wilderness journey and serves as a poignant reminder that God's work often involves escalating difficulties before ultimate victory, severely testing the faith of His people and His leaders.