Exodus 5:14

KJV

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?

KJV (with Strong's)

And the officers {H7860} of the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, which Pharaoh's {H6547} taskmasters {H5065} had set {H7760} over them, were beaten {H5221}, and demanded {H559}, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled {H3615} your task {H2706} in making brick {H3835} both yesterday {H8543} and to day {H3117}, as heretofore {H8032}{H8543}?

Complete Jewish Bible

The foremen of the people of Isra'el, whom Pharaoh's slavemasters had appointed to be over them, were flogged and asked, "Why haven't you fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday and today, as you did formerly?"

Berean Standard Bible

Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”

American Standard Version

And the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task both yesterday and to-day, in making brick as heretofore?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 5:14 vividly portrays the immediate and brutal escalation of Pharaoh's oppression following Moses and Aaron's initial demand for Israel's freedom. As a direct consequence of Pharaoh's refusal to release the Israelites and his subsequent order to cease providing straw while maintaining brick quotas, the Israelite officers, caught between their people and the Egyptian taskmasters, were severely beaten for failing to meet impossible demands, highlighting the cruel realities of intensified bondage.

### CONTEXT
This verse is a pivotal moment following Moses and Aaron's first appeal to Pharaoh in [Exodus 5:1](/exodus/5-1 "Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh"). Instead of granting their request for Israel to worship God in the wilderness, Pharaoh defiantly intensified their labor, ordering that the Israelites would no longer be supplied with straw for brick-making yet were still expected to produce the same quota ([Exodus 5:6-8](/exodus/5-6 "Pharaoh increases the Israelites' burden")). This forced the laborers to scatter throughout Egypt to gather stubble, making their already arduous work virtually impossible, and specifically resulted in the cruel physical abuse of the Israelite officers who were held accountable for the unachievable output of their brethren.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Exodus 5:14 details the harsh reality faced by the "officers of the children of Israel," who were not Egyptian overseers but fellow Israelites appointed by Pharaoh's taskmasters to supervise their own people. These officers found themselves in an impossible predicament: compelled by their Egyptian superiors to meet an unachievable quota, and responsible for the output of their brethren, they became the immediate targets of Pharaoh's intensified cruelty when the quotas were not met. The KJV phrase "were beaten" comes from the Hebrew word *nakah* (נָכָה), which broadly means "to strike," "to smite," or "to beat," clearly denoting physical violence and punishment. The subsequent phrase, "and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and and to day, as heretofore?", clarifies that it was the Egyptian taskmasters who, after beating the Israelite officers, then demanded an explanation for the unmet quotas. The term "task" is derived from the Hebrew *mas* (מַס), referring to forced labor, a levy, or tribute, underscoring the compulsory and burdensome nature of their work under Egyptian rule. This verse powerfully illustrates Pharaoh's tyrannical nature, his utter disregard for human dignity, and the immediate, painful cost of confronting oppressive power.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **Escalation of Oppression:** The verse vividly portrays the immediate and brutal escalation of Pharaoh's oppression, demonstrating that spiritual resistance to God's will often leads to increased cruelty from those in power.
* **The Cost of Divine Intervention:** God's plan of deliverance often involves an initial period of intensified suffering, designed to deepen His people's reliance on Him and to expose the true, unyielding nature of their oppressor.
* **The Burden of Intermediary Leadership:** The plight of the Israelite officers highlights the immense pressure and suffering faced by those caught between oppressive systems and their own people, often bearing the brunt of impossible demands and injustice.
* **God's Sovereignty Amidst Suffering:** Even in this moment of intensified hardship, God remains sovereign, using these very trials to demonstrate His power more profoundly and to prepare His people for a complete and undeniable deliverance.
* **Justice and Injustice:** The arbitrary and unjust demands imposed by Pharaoh, leading to the beating of innocent officers, starkly contrast with God's ultimate justice, which will prevail and bring about the liberation of His people.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 5:14 serves as a stark reminder of the realities of oppression and injustice that arise when powerful leaders refuse to acknowledge God's authority or the inherent dignity of humanity. It speaks to the profound suffering of those caught between tyrannical systems and their own communities, often bearing the brunt of impossible demands. For believers, this verse also highlights that the path to deliverance and freedom may paradoxically involve an initial period of increased hardship. It encourages perseverance and unwavering trust in God's ultimate plan, even when immediate circumstances seem to worsen, knowing that divine power will ultimately prevail over seemingly insurmountable obstacles and bring about true liberation.

### FAQ
**Who were the "officers of the children of Israel" mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: These were Israelite foremen, appointed by Pharaoh's Egyptian taskmasters to oversee the labor of their own people. They were intermediaries, responsible for ensuring brick quotas were met, and thus bore the immediate consequences when targets were not achieved.

**Why were these Israelite officers beaten?**

Answer: They were beaten because the Israelites under their supervision failed to meet the impossible brick quotas. Pharaoh had ceased providing straw for brick-making but maintained the same production demands, making fulfillment unachievable. The officers, being directly accountable to the Egyptian taskmasters, suffered the physical punishment for these unmet targets.

**Did Moses's confrontation with Pharaoh make the Israelites' situation worse?**

Answer: Temporarily, yes. Moses and Aaron's initial demand for freedom led Pharaoh to intensify the Israelites' labor, resulting in greater suffering as seen in this verse. This immediate hardship tested the people's faith and even led them to complain against Moses ([Exodus 5:21](/exodus/5-21 "Israelites complain to Moses")). However, this intensification was part of God's larger plan to demonstrate His power more clearly and to break Pharaoh's will, ultimately leading to a more profound and undeniable deliverance.

**What does "task" refer to in Exodus 5:14?**

Answer: The word "task" (Hebrew: *mas*) refers to the forced labor, levy, or tribute imposed on the Israelites by the Egyptians. In this context, it specifically denotes the mandatory quota of bricks they were required to produce daily, which became impossible to fulfill without the necessary straw.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 5:14, with its depiction of intensified suffering and the bearing of an impossible burden before ultimate deliverance, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. Just as the Israelite officers bore the brutal consequences of an unjust system and an impossible "task," Christ willingly bore the ultimate burden of humanity's sin and the impossible demands of divine justice on the cross. His suffering was not a temporary setback but the necessary path to our true liberation from spiritual bondage. He is the ultimate Deliverer who, through His own "beating" and crucifixion, secured our freedom, leading us out of the slavery of sin and death into the promised land of eternal life and true worship, fulfilling the pattern of suffering preceding glory.

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

Isaiah 10:24

¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.