Exodus 5 22

Exodus 5:22 kjv

And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, LORD, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

Exodus 5:22 nkjv

So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?

Exodus 5:22 niv

Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me?

Exodus 5:22 esv

Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?

Exodus 5:22 nlt

Then Moses went back to the LORD and protested, "Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me?

Exodus 5 verses

Exodus 5 22 meaning

Exodus 5:22 expresses Moses' profound anguish, confusion, and despair as he returns to the LORD, questioning God's wisdom, timing, and even His very commission after his initial attempts to deliver Israel result in intensified oppression. Moses laments that God's intervention has brought increased suffering upon His people and queries why he was sent at all if the outcome was to be worse. It highlights the human experience of frustration when divine promises encounter earthly resistance and suffering, seemingly contradicting God's declared purpose.

Exodus 5 22 Context

Exodus chapter 5 marks a pivotal turning point in the narrative of Israel's deliverance. Prior to this, Moses has been called by God (Exo 3-4), reassured, and sent to confront Pharaoh. In Exodus 5:1-3, Moses and Aaron bravely go before Pharaoh to convey God's command: "Let My people go." Pharaoh defiantly rejects the demand, famously declaring, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice... I do not know the LORD" (Exo 5:2). Not only does he refuse, but he cruelly retaliates by increasing the forced labor upon the Israelites, denying them straw yet demanding the same brick quota. This leads to intense suffering, with the Israelite foremen being beaten for failing to meet impossible quotas. In their desperation, these foremen accuse Moses and Aaron of making them "abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill them" (Exo 5:21). It is after experiencing this intensified oppression from Pharaoh and the bitter reproach from his own people that Moses returns to God with the cry recorded in verse 22. This emotional outcry sets the stage for God's powerful re-affirmation of His covenant name and redemptive purpose in the beginning of chapter 6, revealing His sovereign plan beyond human understanding and initial appearances.

Exodus 5 22 Word analysis

• Then Moses (וַיָּשָׁב מֹשֶׁה - vayyashav Moshe): "Moses" here identifies the specific human agent called by God, bearing the immense burden of leadership.
• returned (וַיָּשָׁב - vayyashav, from שׁוּב - shuv): This verb implies turning back, physically or spiritually. Moses is turning away from the distressing circumstances with Pharaoh and the people, and turning back to his source of divine commission. It suggests a retreat to God after a confrontation with reality, indicative of his reliance on God rather than self.
• to the LORD (אֶל-יְהוָה - el YHWH): Specifies the divine recipient. "LORD" (יְהוָה - YHWH) is the covenant name of God, revealed to Moses as the one who "I AM" (Exo 3:14), the ever-present, faithful, covenant-keeping God of Israel. Moses addresses Him by this name, which is charged with all of God's promises and power, intensifying the question – how can YHWH allow this?
• and said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer): A standard Hebrew narrative verb for direct speech.
• 'Lord (אֲדֹנָי - Adonai): Moses' form of address, signifying master or sovereign. While deeply questioning God, he still maintains a respectful, subservient stance, acknowledging God's authority. This dual approach of humble address coupled with a vehement complaint demonstrates the deep wrestling of faith.
• why have you brought trouble (לָמָּה הֲרֵעוֹתָה - lamah ha're'ota):
  • why (לָמָּה - lamah): A deeply human lament, expressing bewilderment, protest, and perceived injustice. It's a cry of despair, not simply seeking information but expressing profound distress. It mirrors the common "why" questions found in psalms of lament.
  • brought trouble (הֲרֵעוֹתָה - ha're'ota, from רָעַע - ra'a', 'to make bad' or 'do evil/harm'): This strong verb indicates an active causation of misfortune or calamity. Moses attributes the worsened condition directly to God, believing God's intervention, or lack thereof, has directly caused more harm. It is not accusing God of moral evil, but of bringing a disastrous situation.
• upon this people? (לָעָם הַזֶּה - la'am hazzeh): Emphasizes "this people"—God's own chosen, covenanted people, whose deliverance was God's stated purpose. Moses highlights the incongruity between God's promise of liberation and the immediate, escalating suffering of His people.
• Why have you sent me?' (לָמָּה זֶּה שְׁלַחְתָּנִי - lamah zeh shlakhtani):
  • Why (לָמָּה - lamah): Reiterates the bewildered question, extending it to his own personal commission.
  • have you sent me (שְׁלַחְתָּנִי - shlakhtani, from שָׁלַח - shalach, 'to send'): Directly challenges God's wisdom and foresight in choosing him for a mission that, from his current perspective, seems utterly futile and counterproductive. It reflects a crisis of faith in his own calling and the efficacy of God's plan.

Exodus 5 22 Bonus section

• Moses' lament here echoes the pattern of a "prophetic lament" common in the Old Testament, where the prophet intercedes on behalf of the people but also voices their and his own suffering and confusion directly to God. It highlights the burden of carrying a divine message in the face of harsh realities.
• This specific lament anticipates and sets up God's majestic and definitive revelation of His covenant name, YHWH, in a more comprehensive manner in Exodus 6:2-8, where He assures Moses of the certain fulfillment of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
• The "why" question here finds an echo in the cries of Jesus on the cross ("My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?") and countless believers throughout history, validating the struggle with God's perceived absence or perplexing actions during suffering. It models the right way to approach God even in deep crisis—with honesty, respect, and persistent trust in His character.

Exodus 5 22 Commentary

Exodus 5:22 is a raw, honest expression of a leader wrestling with God in the crucible of escalating difficulty. Moses' "why" is not a question from disbelief, but from deeply committed faith experiencing profound disorientation. He acted precisely as commanded, yet the situation not only failed to improve but became significantly worse, alienating his own people and leaving him in a seemingly hopeless situation. This lament captures the painful tension between divine promise and the often perplexing, delayed, or counter-intuitive reality of its fulfillment.

The verse profoundly illustrates several theological truths: First, it demonstrates that even God's most devoted servants are allowed to question, to grieve, and to express confusion directly to Him without fear of immediate condemnation; this is a model of authentic prayer in suffering. Second, it subtly sets up God's later, grander display of power, as the increased oppression highlights Pharaoh's stubbornness and provides a clearer backdrop for God's intervention to be undeniable. God often allows difficulties to intensify not as a failure, but to set the stage for a greater demonstration of His glory and His unique power, ensuring that salvation is seen as solely His doing, a polemic against reliance on human strength or other deities. Finally, it acts as a critical pivot point, from human frustration and perceived failure to God's ultimate and unyielding sovereign plan, revealed in detail in Exodus 6:1ff. It reminds believers that God's plans unfold according to His perfect timing and wisdom, often beyond human comprehension, requiring steadfast trust even when circumstances are at their bleakest.