Exodus 5:9

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Give these people harder work to do. That will keep them too busy to pay attention to speeches full of lies."

Berean Standard Bible:

Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”

American Standard Version:

Let heavier work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard lying words.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Let there more work^{H5656} be laid^{H3513} upon the men^{H582}, that they may labour^{H6213} therein; and let them not regard^{H8159} vain^{H8267} words^{H1697}.

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Commentary for Exodus 5:9

**Exodus 5:9 Summary:**

**Themes:**
- Oppression and Hardship: The verse reflects the harsh treatment of the Israelites by the Egyptian Pharaoh, who intensifies their labor to weaken their spirit and resistance.
- Resilience of the Israelites: Despite the increased workload, the Israelites are implicitly being challenged to remain steadfast and not be swayed by the oppressor's attempts to demoralize them.
- Divine Plan vs. Human Resistance: The command to increase the workload is a human attempt to thwart the divine plan for Israel's deliverance, highlighting the tension between human power structures and God's sovereignty.

**Historical Context:**
- Enslavement of the Israelites: The Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for generations. Exodus 5:9 occurs after Moses and Aaron initially approach Pharaoh to demand the release of the Israelites, as per God's command.
- Pharaoh's Response: Instead of acquiescing, Pharaoh responds with defiance, ordering an increase in the labor and quota of brick production without providing the necessary straw, thereby making the task more difficult and the conditions harsher.
- Moses' Mission: This event is part of the narrative arc where Moses, as God's chosen leader, is tasked with liberating the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, leading up to the dramatic showdown between the God of Israel and Pharaoh through the plagues.

The verse encapsulates the escalation of conflict between the Israelites' desire for freedom and Pharaoh's determination to maintain control, setting the stage for the powerful demonstrations of God's power and faithfulness in the subsequent chapters of Exodus.

*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: 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3513
   There are 109 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּבַד
   Transliteration: kâbad
   Pronunciation: kaw-bad'
   Description: or כָּבֵד; a primitive root; to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable; causatively, to make weighty (in the same two senses); abounding with, more grievously afflict, boast, be chargeable, [idiom] be dim, glorify, be (make) glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden, be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to, do, get, be had in) honour (self), (be) honourable (man), lade, [idiom] more be laid, make self many, nobles, prevail, promote (to honour), be rich, be (go) sore, stop.
   
3. Strong's Number: H582
   There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ
   Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh
   Pronunciation: en-oshe'
   Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
5. Strong's Number: H8159
   There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁעָה
   Transliteration: shâʻâh
   Pronunciation: shaw-aw'
   Description: a primitive root; to gaze at or about (properly, for help); by implication, to inspect, consider, compassionate, be nonplussed (as looking around in amazement) or bewildered; depart, be dim, be dismayed, look (away), regard, have respect, spare, turn.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8267
   There are 109 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֶׁקֶר
   Transliteration: sheqer
   Pronunciation: sheh'-ker
   Description: from שָׁקַר; an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial); without a cause, deceit(-ful), false(-hood, -ly), feignedly, liar, [phrase] lie, lying, vain (thing), wrongfully.
   
7. 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.