King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.
Complete Jewish Bible:
You go, yourselves, and get straw wherever you can find it. But your output is not to be reduced.'"
Berean Standard Bible:
Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’”
American Standard Version:
Go yourselves, get you straw where ye can find it: for nought of your work shall be diminished.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Go{H3212} ye, get{H3947} you straw{H8401} where{H834} ye can find{H4672} it: yet{H3588} not ought{H1697} of your work{H5656} shall be diminished{H1639}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 5:13
- And the taskmasters hasted [them], saying, Fulfil your works, [your] daily tasks, as when there was straw.
Exodus 5:14
- 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?
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 5:11
1. **Themes:**
- **Oppression and Hardship:** The verse reflects the increased oppression of the Israelites by the Egyptians, as they are commanded to produce the same quota of bricks without any reduction, despite the added burden of gathering their own straw.
- **Slavery and Labor:** It highlights the harsh conditions of slavery, where the laborers are not only deprived of necessary resources but also are demanded to maintain an unreasonable level of productivity.
- **Divine Challenge:** This command sets the stage for a confrontation between the authority of Pharaoh and the will of God, as Moses has demanded the release of the Israelites from Pharaoh, leading to a hardening of Pharaoh's heart and increased suffering for the Israelites.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Israelite Slavery in Egypt:** The Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for generations. This verse is part of the narrative where Moses, acting on God's command, has asked Pharaoh to let the Israelites go to worship in the wilderness.
- **Pharaoh's Response:** Instead of complying, Pharaoh intensifies the labor demands on the Israelites. This is a direct response to Moses' and Aaron's initial request for freedom, which Pharaoh sees as laziness and an excuse to avoid work.
- **Pre-Exodus Struggle:** This event occurs before the Ten Plagues and the eventual liberation of the Israelites. It is a turning point that exacerbates the conflict between the Israelites and Pharaoh, leading to a series of miraculous events orchestrated by God to secure the Israelites' release.
In summary, Exodus 5:11 captures the intensification of the Israelites' oppression in Egypt as they face the impossible task of maintaining their work output without the necessary resources, setting the stage for the dramatic events of the Exodus.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3212
There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַךְ
Transliteration: yâlak
Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - 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. - Strong's Number: H834
There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲשֶׁר
Transliteration: ʼăsher
Pronunciation: ash-er'
Description: a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.; [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection. - Strong's Number: H4672
There are 425 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָצָא
Transliteration: mâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: maw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present; [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on. - Strong's Number: H3588
There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כִּי
Transliteration: kîy
Pronunciation: kee
Description: a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed; and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. - Strong's Number: H1697
There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּבָר
Transliteration: dâbâr
Pronunciation: daw-baw'
Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work. - Strong's Number: H5656
There are 125 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֲבֹדָה
Transliteration: ʻăbôdâh
Pronunciation: ab-o-daw'
Description: or עֲבוֹדָה; from עָבַד; work of any kind; act, bondage, [phrase] bondservant, effect, labour, ministering(-try), office, service(-ile, -itude), tillage, use, work, [idiom] wrought. - Strong's Number: H1639
There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּרַע
Transliteration: gâraʻ
Pronunciation: gaw-rah'
Description: a primitive root; to scrape off; by implication, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold; abate, clip, (di-) minish, do (take) away, keep back, restrain, make small, withdraw.