Exodus 5:11

KJV

Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
[Exodus 5:11](/exodus/5-11 "Pharaoh's decree regarding straw and brick quotas") captures Pharaoh's intensified oppression of the Israelites, commanding them to gather their own straw for brickmaking while maintaining the exact same daily quota of bricks. This decree, issued in response to Moses and Aaron's request for freedom, was designed to crush the Israelites' spirit, increase their suffering, and make their labor so unbearable that they would abandon any hope of deliverance or worshiping their God.

### CONTEXT
This verse is a direct consequence of Moses and Aaron's initial confrontation with Pharaoh, where they delivered God's command to "Let my people go" [Exodus 5:1](/exodus/5-1 "Moses and Aaron's first request to Pharaoh"). Instead of relenting, Pharaoh accused the Israelites of idleness and sought to make their servitude even more arduous. Previously, the Egyptian taskmasters provided straw, a vital component for brick production. Pharaoh's new edict in [Exodus 5:7-8](/exodus/5-7 "Pharaoh's command to stop providing straw") and [Exodus 5:11](/exodus/5-11 "Pharaoh's decree regarding straw and brick quotas") forced the Israelite slaves to procure their own straw, yet without any reduction in their demanding daily brick quotas, thereby escalating their suffering significantly.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Pharaoh's command in [Exodus 5:11](/exodus/5-11 "Pharaoh's decree regarding straw and brick quotas") represents a calculated escalation of cruelty, transforming an already burdensome task into an impossible one. By demanding that the Israelites "Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it," Pharaoh shifted the responsibility and added a significant new labor burden onto an already enslaved people. This was not a reduction in work, but an addition of a time-consuming and difficult task. The second part of the decree, "yet not ought of your work shall be diminished," underscores the absolute and unyielding nature of Pharaoh's tyranny.

* The Hebrew verb for "diminished" is *gara'* (גָּרַע), meaning "to hold back," "to lessen," or "to decrease." This specific word choice emphasizes Pharaoh's complete refusal to reduce the workload, even as he imposed an additional, time-consuming burden. It highlights his lack of mercy and his determination to maintain absolute control.
* This dual demand—to find straw *and* meet the same quota—created an inherently unjust and impossible situation. It was designed to overwhelm the Israelites, leaving them no time or energy to contemplate freedom or worship, effectively breaking their will and spirit.
* The decree exemplifies the nature of intensified oppression: a deliberate increase in hardship aimed at dehumanizing the oppressed and suppressing any hope of liberation. It reveals Pharaoh's hardened heart and his direct defiance of God's command.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **Intensified Oppression and Human Evil:** Pharaoh's command vividly portrays the cruelty of an oppressive regime determined to maintain control, illustrating the depths of human evil and the abuse of power.
* **Unjust Burden and Slavery:** The demand to gather straw while maintaining the same brick quota created an impossible and unjust burden, highlighting the heartless nature of the Egyptian taskmasters and the inherent injustice of slavery.
* **Futility of Human Efforts Without God:** The Israelites' initial attempts to appeal to Pharaoh failed, leading only to greater suffering. This sets the stage for God's powerful intervention, demonstrating that only divine strength could deliver them from such tyranny ([Deuteronomy 26:8](/deuteronomy/26-8 "God's deliverance with a mighty hand")).
* **God's Sovereignty in Adversity:** While the situation appears hopeless, this increased suffering is paradoxically part of God's plan to demonstrate His power and glory, leading to a more profound and undeniable deliverance ([Exodus 6:6](/exodus/6-6 "God's promise to deliver Israel")). God often allows circumstances to worsen to reveal His power more clearly.
* **Divine Purpose in Suffering:** This episode teaches that sometimes, when God is about to act powerfully, circumstances may appear to worsen before they improve, serving to deepen dependence on Him.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Exodus 5:11](/exodus/5-11 "Pharaoh's decree regarding straw and brick quotas") serves as a powerful reminder that the path to deliverance or spiritual breakthrough can sometimes involve an intensification of difficulties before the ultimate victory. Like the Israelites, we may face increased burdens and seemingly impossible demands when seeking to follow God's call or break free from spiritual bondage. This verse encourages perseverance in suffering, reminding us not to lose heart but to trust in God's ultimate deliverance, even when circumstances appear to worsen. It also offers insight into the tactics of oppressors, who often seek to overwhelm and dehumanize their victims, prompting us to rely on divine intervention when facing insurmountable obstacles, knowing that true freedom comes from God alone.

### FAQ
**Why did God allow the Israelites' suffering to increase after Moses's intervention?**

Answer: God allowed the suffering to increase to demonstrate His absolute power over Pharaoh and Egypt, ensuring that their deliverance would be clearly seen as a divine act, not a result of human negotiation or strength. This intensification also served to deepen the Israelites' desperation and reliance on God alone, preparing them to witness His mighty hand at work and to recognize Him as their sole deliverer ([Exodus 14:31](/exodus/14-31 "Israel's belief in the Lord")).

**What does "not ought of your work shall be diminished" reveal about Pharaoh's character?**

Answer: This phrase reveals Pharaoh's unyielding pride, cruelty, and absolute refusal to show mercy or compromise. It underscores his determination to maintain total control and crush the Israelites' spirit, even at the cost of extreme injustice. It highlights his hardened heart, which directly opposed God's will and ultimately led to his downfall.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The intensified oppression of Israel under Pharaoh, particularly the impossible burden of making bricks without straw, powerfully foreshadows humanity's bondage to sin and the impossible burden of achieving righteousness through human effort alone. Just as Israel could not free themselves from Pharaoh's tyranny, humanity cannot free itself from the tyranny of sin and death. Christ fulfills this narrative as the ultimate Deliverer. He bore the impossible burden of the world's sin, taking upon Himself the full weight of divine judgment that we could not bear ([Isaiah 53:4-6](/isaiah/53-4 "Christ bearing our sorrows")). His suffering on the cross, seemingly a worsening of circumstances, was the necessary act for our liberation, leading to the ultimate victory of resurrection and the offer of true freedom from sin's impossible demands ([Galatians 5:1](/galatians/5-1 "Freedom in Christ")). Through Christ, we are delivered from a greater Pharaoh—Satan—and a greater bondage—sin—into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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?