Exodus 5:10

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The people's slavemasters went out, their foremen too, and said to the people, "Here is what Pharaoh says: 'I will no longer give you straw.

Berean Standard Bible:

So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw.

American Standard Version:

And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the taskmasters^{H5065} of the people^{H5971} went out^{H3318}, and their officers^{H7860}, and they spake^{H559} to the people^{H5971}, saying^{H559}, Thus saith^{H559} Pharaoh^{H6547}, I will not give^{H5414} you straw^{H8401}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Exodus 5:10

**Exodus 5:10 - Themes:**

1. **Oppression and Hardship:** The verse reflects the heightened oppression of the Israelites by the Egyptians. Pharaoh's refusal to provide straw, a necessary material for making bricks, while still demanding the same quota of brick production, signifies an intensification of the Israelites' labor and suffering.

2. **Authority and Resistance:** Pharaoh's decree, delivered by his taskmasters and officers, underscores his absolute authority over the Israelites and sets the stage for a confrontation between his will and the divine plan for Israel's deliverance.

3. **Divine Challenge:** This increased hardship comes after Moses and Aaron initially approached Pharaoh to let the Israelites go to worship in the wilderness. The hardening of Pharaoh's heart and his subsequent actions can be seen as a direct challenge to the power and will of God.

**Historical Context:**

- **The Israelites in Egypt:** According to the biblical narrative, the Israelites had been living in Egypt for several generations, having initially migrated there during a famine. Over time, their population grew significantly, leading to concerns among the Egyptians about their potential to become a fifth column.

- **Slavery and Brickmaking:** The Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians, and a significant part of their labor involved making bricks for building projects. Straw was mixed with clay to strengthen the bricks, making it an essential component of their work.

- **Moses' Mission:** Exodus 5:10 occurs shortly after God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses, along with his brother Aaron, had approached Pharaoh with God's demand to release His people, but Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he not only refused but also increased the Israelites' burdens.

- **The Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart:** A key theme in the story of Exodus is Pharaoh's resistance to God's will, which is attributed to God hardening Pharaoh's heart. This concept has been the subject of much theological discussion regarding free will and divine providence.

In summary, Exodus 5:10 captures a moment of intensified oppression for the Israelites under Pharaoh's rule, setting the stage for the series of plagues that will eventually lead to their liberation from Egypt. It highlights the themes of divine authority versus human power, the suffering of God's people, and the beginnings of the redemptive narrative that is central to Jewish and Christian theology.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5065
   There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָגַשׂ
   Transliteration: nâgas
   Pronunciation: naw-gas'
   Description: a primitive root; to drive (an animal, a workman, a debtor, an army); by implication, to tax, harass, tyrannize; distress, driver, exact(-or), oppress(-or), [idiom] raiser of taxes, taskmaster.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3318
   There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָצָא
   Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.
   
4. Strong's Number: H7860
   There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֹׁטֵר
   Transliteration: shôṭêr
   Pronunciation: sho-tare'
   Description: active participle of an otherwise unused root probably meaning to write; properly, a scribe, i.e. (by analogy or implication) an official superintendent or magistrate; officer, overseer, ruler.
   
5. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6547
   There are 230 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פַּרְעֹה
   Transliteration: Parʻôh
   Pronunciation: par-o'
   Description: of Egyptian derivation; Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings; Pharaoh.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
8. Strong's Number: H8401
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תֶּבֶן
   Transliteration: teben
   Pronunciation: teh'-ben
   Description: probably from בָּנָה; properly, material, i.e. (specifically) refuse haum or stalks of grain (as chopped in threshing and used for fodder); chaff, straw, stubble.