Exodus 5:15

KJV

¶ Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

KJV (with Strong's)

Then the officers {H7860} of the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} came {H935} and cried {H6817} unto Pharaoh {H6547}, saying {H559}, Wherefore dealest {H6213} thou thus with thy servants {H5650}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Then the foremen of the people of Isra'el came and complained to Pharaoh: "Why are you treating your servants this way?

Berean Standard Bible

So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way?

American Standard Version

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 5:15 vividly portrays the profound desperation of the Israelite officers, who, having been brutally beaten for failing to meet impossible brick quotas without straw, appeal directly to Pharaoh. This verse underscores the escalating cruelty of their oppression and their initial, yet ultimately futile, recourse to their human tormentor rather than to the divine deliverance promised through Moses and Aaron, highlighting the depths of their suffering and misplaced hope.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows a critical turning point in the narrative of Israel's oppression. Moses and Aaron's initial confrontation with Pharaoh, demanding freedom for God's people, resulted not in liberation but in a severe intensification of their forced labor. Pharaoh's decree to withhold straw while maintaining the same brick quota ([Exodus 5:6-9](/exodus/5-6-9 "Pharaoh Increases Israel's Burden")) created an impossible situation. Consequently, the Israelite officers, who served as foremen, were held directly accountable and brutally beaten when the quotas inevitably went unmet ([Exodus 5:14](/exodus/5-14 "The Israelite Officers are Beaten")). Their desperate appeal to Pharaoh in [Exodus 5:15](/exodus/5-15 "The Officers' Plea for Justice") is a direct, logical consequence of this escalating cruelty, demonstrating their immediate, albeit misplaced, attempt to find relief from their human oppressor.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Egypt, forced labor was common, particularly for large-scale building projects. The role of "officers" or foremen (_shoterim_) within a slave population was to oversee the work and ensure quotas were met, often under threat of severe punishment. These Israelite officers were caught in an agonizing position: they were fellow Israelites, yet they were compelled by their Egyptian masters to enforce impossible demands on their own people. The withholding of straw, a binding agent for bricks, was a deliberate act of economic and physical oppression, designed to break the spirit of the laborers and prevent any thought of rebellion or departure. Their direct appeal to Pharaoh, though seemingly audacious, reflects a desperate attempt to invoke a sense of justice or even self-interest from their ultimate master, a common, though often fruitless, tactic for those in bondage.
* **Key Themes:** [Exodus 5:15](/exodus/5-15 "Themes of Oppression and Deliverance") contributes significantly to several major themes in the book of Exodus. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the **intensification of oppression**, showing how Pharaoh's response to God's demand was to increase, rather than alleviate, Israel's suffering. This serves to highlight the depth of their bondage and the need for a truly supernatural deliverance. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **human futility** in the face of divine opposition. The officers' appeal to Pharaoh, a human authority, proves ineffective, setting the stage for God alone to demonstrate His power. This period of heightened suffering also contributes to the theme of **God's sovereign plan**, as it reveals that even the worsening of circumstances is part of His design to prepare His people for a full reliance on His mighty hand, as promised in [Exodus 6:1](/exodus/6-1 "God's Promise of Deliverance").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
[Exodus 5:15](/exodus/5-15 "Analysis of the Officers' Cry") captures a pivotal moment of despair and injustice for the Israelite foremen under Pharaoh's cruel dominion. The phrase "Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh" indicates a formal, yet desperate, appeal by those directly responsible for the laborers. These officers, likely Israelites themselves, were caught between Pharaoh's impossible demands and the suffering of their own people, enduring beatings when quotas were not met. Their direct question, "Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?", is a plea for justice and an end to the unbearable cruelty, highlighting their status as bondservants who, even in their servitude, felt they deserved a measure of fairness.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **officers (Hebrew, _shôṭêr'_):** From H7860, this term refers to a scribe, and by implication, an personal superintendent or magistrate. In this context, it designates the Israelite foremen or overseers who were responsible for managing the labor of their people under the Egyptian taskmasters. Their position was unenviable, as they were the direct recipients of punishment when quotas were not met, as seen in [Exodus 5:14](/exodus/5-14 "The Officers are Beaten").
* **cried (Hebrew, _tsâʻaq'_):** From H6817, this primitive root means "to shriek" or "to proclaim (an assembly)." It signifies a deep cry of distress, a call for help, or an outcry of anguish. While here directed to Pharaoh, it is the same word often used to describe Israel's cry to God in their affliction ([Exodus 2:23](/exodus/2-23 "God Hears Israel's Groaning")), highlighting the profound depth of their suffering and their desperate need for intervention.
* **dealest (Hebrew, _ʻâsâh'_):** From H6213, this primitive root means "to do or make" in the broadest sense and widest application. Here, it refers to Pharaoh's actions or treatment of the Israelite officers. The officers' question, "Wherefore dealest thou thus," is a direct challenge to the injustice of his actions, implying that his conduct is beyond what is reasonable or just, even for servants.
* **servants (Hebrew, _ʻebed'_):** From H5650, this word denotes a "servant" or "bondman." By using this term, the officers emphasize their status as Pharaoh's property, implicitly appealing to his responsibility towards his own possessions. The plea suggests that even slaves should not be subjected to such extreme and unjust cruelty, highlighting the violation of implicit norms of master-servant relationships.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then the officers of the children of Israel came":** This phrase marks a direct and intentional approach by the Israelite foremen. Having endured beatings and impossible demands, they took the initiative to confront Pharaoh personally, indicating the severity of their plight and their desperate need for intervention.
* **"and cried unto Pharaoh":** The word "cried" (Hebrew _tsâʻaq_) conveys a deep, anguished outcry, not merely a polite request. It signifies a desperate plea for help, born out of intense suffering and injustice. Directing this cry to Pharaoh shows their immediate focus on the source of their torment.
* **"saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?":** This is a direct, rhetorical question expressing both bewilderment and indignation. The officers are challenging Pharaoh's unjust and cruel treatment, appealing to him on the basis of their status as his "servants," implying that even as bondmen, they should not be subjected to such excessive and unreasonable burdens. It is a plea for fairness, even within the confines of their servitude.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Pathos** is evident in the officers' desperate "cry" and their rhetorical question, which evokes sympathy for their suffering and unjust treatment. The phrase "Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?" also functions as a form of **Rhetorical Question**, designed not to elicit an answer but to highlight the absurdity and cruelty of Pharaoh's actions. There is also a subtle **Irony** in their appeal to Pharaoh, the very source of their oppression, rather than to Moses and Aaron, who represent God's promised deliverance. This misplaced hope underscores the depth of their human despair and their inability to see beyond their immediate tormentor, foreshadowing the need for a divine intervention far beyond human negotiation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[Exodus 5:15](/exodus/5-15 "God Hears the Cry of the Oppressed") powerfully illustrates the reality of severe oppression and the futility of human appeals to an unmerciful authority. The officers' desperate cry, though directed at Pharaoh, ultimately echoes the groaning of all Israel, which God had already heard and remembered ([Exodus 2:23-25](/exodus/2-23-25 "God Remembers His Covenant")). This serves as a profound reminder that while human efforts and pleas may fail in the face of overwhelming injustice, God is always attentive to the cries of the afflicted. The intensified suffering, though painful, was part of God's sovereign plan to deepen Israel's reliance on Him alone for deliverance, demonstrating that true liberation comes not through human negotiation but through divine power.

* [Exodus 2:23-25](/exodus/2-23-25 "God Hears Israel's Groaning"): God hears the groaning of the Israelites and remembers His covenant, setting the stage for His intervention.
* [Psalm 10:17-18](/psalm/10-17-18 "God Defends the Oppressed"): The Lord hears the desire of the afflicted and will execute justice for the fatherless and the oppressed.
* [Luke 18:7-8](/luke/18-7-8 "God Will Avenge His Elect"): Jesus teaches that God will swiftly bring about justice for His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Exodus 5:15](/exodus/5-15 "Lessons from Suffering and Deliverance") offers enduring lessons for understanding human suffering, the nature of injustice, and the pathway to true deliverance. It compels us to empathize with those caught in systems of oppression, highlighting the profound human desire for fairness and relief from undue burdens. The officers' desperate cry, though initially directed to Pharaoh, ultimately resonates with the universal human experience of crying out from affliction. Their plight reminds us that even when human efforts or appeals fail, God hears the cries of the afflicted and acts in His perfect timing, often allowing circumstances to worsen before His ultimate plan of redemption unfolds. This passage challenges us to consider where we place our hope when facing overwhelming difficulties: in human solutions that may prove futile, or in the sovereign power of God, who alone can bring true and lasting liberation. It encourages perseverance in faith, even when the path to deliverance seems to involve increased hardship.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you feel an "impossible burden" or overwhelming oppression, similar to the Israelites?**
* **To whom do you first "cry out" when facing such burdens—human authorities, personal efforts, or God? What does this reveal about your trust?**
* **How does the officers' misplaced hope in Pharaoh challenge or affirm your understanding of where true deliverance comes from?**
* **Can you identify times in your life when circumstances seemed to worsen just before God's breakthrough or intervention? What did you learn from those experiences?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Israelite officers appeal to Pharaoh instead of Moses or God?**

Answer: The officers were caught in an immediate, brutal situation where they were being beaten for failing to meet impossible quotas. Their appeal to Pharaoh was a direct, pragmatic response to their immediate oppressor, seeking relief from the source of their suffering. At this point, their faith in Moses's promised divine deliverance may have been wavering due to the *increased* hardship that followed Moses's initial request. This led them to revert to what seemed like the most direct course of action to alleviate their pain, demonstrating a human tendency to appeal to the visible source of power, even if it is the source of their oppression.

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

Answer: These "officers" (Hebrew: _shoterim_, H7860) were Israelite foremen or overseers. They were appointed by the Egyptian taskmasters to supervise the labor of their fellow Israelites. This placed them in an extremely difficult position: they were Israelites, yet they were held accountable by the Egyptians for the productivity of their own people. When quotas were not met, they were the ones who suffered the beatings, as detailed in [Exodus 5:14](/exodus/5-14 "The Officers are Beaten"). They served as a tragic intermediary, caught between the cruelty of Pharaoh and the suffering of their own brethren.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The suffering of the Israelite officers in [Exodus 5:15](/exodus/5-15 "Christ, Our Ultimate Deliverer") points powerfully to the deeper human condition of bondage to sin and the futility of human efforts to escape its oppressive weight. Just as the Israelites cried out under an impossible burden, humanity groans under the burden of sin and its consequences, a burden that no amount of human effort or appeal can alleviate ([Romans 7:24](/romans/7-24 "Paul's Cry of Despair")). Pharaoh's unyielding cruelty and the officers' desperate, yet futile, appeal foreshadow the ultimate enemy, Satan, and the pervasive power of sin, from which no human negotiation or self-redemption can secure true liberation ([Ephesians 2:1-3](/ephesians/2-1-3 "Dead in Sins")). Christ, however, is the ultimate Deliverer, who, unlike Pharaoh, did not increase the burden but bore the full weight of sin's demands on the cross ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "Christ Became Sin for Us")). His perfect obedience and sacrificial death provide the true and lasting freedom that the Israelites' temporary deliverance from Egypt prefigured ([John 8:36](/john/8-36 "The Son Sets You Free")). He is the one to whom the truly desperate cry, and He alone has the power to set the captives free from the impossible demands of sin and death, offering rest for the weary and burdened souls ([Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28-30 "Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")).

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.