Exodus 5:18

KJV

Go therefore now, [and] work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.

KJV (with Strong's)

Go {H3212} therefore now, and work {H5647}; for there shall no straw {H8401} be given {H5414} you, yet shall ye deliver {H5414} the tale {H8506} of bricks {H3843}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Get going now, and get back to work! No straw will be given to you, and you will still deliver the full amount of bricks."

Berean Standard Bible

Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”

American Standard Version

Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the number of bricks.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
[Exodus 5:18](/exodus/5-18 "The KJV text of Exodus 5:18") records Pharaoh's cruel decree, intensifying the Israelites' forced labor by demanding the same quota of bricks without providing the necessary straw, a direct and oppressive response to Moses and Aaron's initial plea for Israel's liberation. This command was designed to crush the Israelites' spirit and divert their attention from the hope of freedom by imposing an impossible burden.

### CONTEXT
Following Moses and Aaron's bold declaration, "Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go" ([Exodus 5:1](/exodus/5-1 "Moses and Aaron's initial demand to Pharaoh")), Pharaoh, in his hardened heart and arrogant defiance of the LORD, refused to acknowledge God's authority and accused the Israelites of idleness. Rather than granting their request, he immediately increased their burden, commanding the taskmasters and officers to cease providing straw for brick-making while still demanding the exact same daily quota of bricks. This decree, "Go therefore now, [and] work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks," was Pharaoh's calculated act of tyranny, intended to overwhelm the people with impossible labor and extinguish any thoughts of deliverance. This intensification of suffering led to despair among the Israelites, causing them to question God's intervention and even blame Moses ([Exodus 5:21](/exodus/5-21 "The Israelites' complaint to Moses and Aaron")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
[Exodus 5:18](/exodus/5-18 "The KJV text of Exodus 5:18") presents Pharaoh's unyielding response to God's demand for Israel's release, escalating their oppression to an unbearable level. The verse, "Go therefore now, [and] work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks," is a direct, harsh command that lays bare the tyrannical nature of Egyptian bondage.

* **"Go therefore now, [and] work;"**: This opening phrase is a dismissive and authoritative command, stripping the Israelites of any hope of respite or negotiation. It underscores Pharaoh's absolute power and his refusal to consider the divine mandate delivered by Moses and Aaron. It implies that their request for freedom was merely an excuse to avoid labor.
* **"for there shall no straw be given you,"**: This is the core of Pharaoh's cruel innovation. Straw was a vital binding agent for sun-dried mud bricks, preventing them from cracking as they dried. By withholding this essential material, Pharaoh made the brick-making process significantly more difficult, time-consuming, and physically demanding. It forced the laborers to scavenge for straw themselves, adding another layer of burden.
* **"yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks."**: The phrase "the tale of bricks" translates the Hebrew word *matkonet* (מַתְכֹּנֶת), which denotes a "fixed measure," "allotment," or "quota." This emphasizes that despite the removal of a critical resource, the *exact, predetermined number* of bricks was still required. This created an impossible demand, designed to break the spirit of the Israelites and demonstrate Pharaoh's unyielding control, making their lives utterly miserable and diverting their minds from any thought of freedom or divine intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **Divine Sovereignty Amidst Oppression**: Even in the face of intensified suffering, God remains sovereign. This period of increased hardship was not a sign of God's absence but a deliberate part of His plan to magnify His power and ensure that His ultimate deliverance would be undeniably from Him alone, not from human effort.
* **The Nature of Tyranny and Bondage**: Pharaoh's decree exemplifies the inherent cruelty and unreasonableness of oppressive systems. It highlights how those in power often seek to crush the spirit of the oppressed by imposing impossible demands and denying basic resources, aiming to maintain control through despair.
* **Testing and Refinement of Faith**: The intensified suffering served as a profound test for the Israelites' faith in God and Moses's leadership. While it initially led to complaints and doubt, it ultimately prepared them to witness God's mighty acts of deliverance, strengthening their understanding of His faithfulness.
* **God's Awareness of Suffering**: This verse underscores that God is intimately aware of the suffering and cries of His people, even when circumstances appear to worsen. His intervention, though sometimes delayed from a human perspective, is always perfectly timed to achieve His redemptive purposes.
* **Spiritual Warfare**: The escalation of Pharaoh's cruelty can be seen as a manifestation of spiritual warfare. Just as God was about to act powerfully to deliver His people, the enemy intensified his opposition, making conditions appear worse before the great breakthrough.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Exodus 5:18](/exodus/5-18 "The KJV text of Exodus 5:18") offers profound lessons for contemporary believers facing overwhelming or unjust demands. It reminds us that even when circumstances worsen and burdens become seemingly impossible, God is fully aware of our suffering and actively working within our trials. This narrative encourages perseverance, urging us to continue trusting in God's timing and power, knowing that His deliverance often comes at the point of greatest need, transforming despair into a powerful testament to His glory and ensuring that His intervention is unmistakably divine.

### FAQ
**Why did Pharaoh intensify the Israelites' labor instead of letting them go?**

Answer: Pharaoh's decision to intensify the labor was a deliberate act of defiance against the LORD and a strategic move to crush the Israelites' spirit. By making their lives unbearable and their work impossible, he aimed to extinguish any hope of freedom, make them too exhausted to consider leaving, and turn them against Moses and Aaron, thus maintaining his control and demonstrating his own perceived power.

**What was the significance of straw in ancient Egyptian brick-making?**

Answer: Straw was a crucial binding agent for sun-dried mud bricks in ancient Egypt. When mixed with clay and water, the straw fibers provided tensile strength, preventing the bricks from cracking as they dried in the sun. Without straw, the bricks were weaker, more prone to disintegration, and much harder to form, making the production process significantly more difficult and less efficient.

**How did the Israelites react to this decree?**

Answer: The immediate reaction of the Israelite foremen and the people was one of despair and anger. They found themselves in an impossible situation, beaten by Pharaoh's taskmasters for failing to meet quotas, and they blamed Moses and Aaron for making their situation worse ([Exodus 5:21](/exodus/5-21 "The Israelites' complaint to Moses and Aaron")). This period of intensified suffering tested their faith and led to significant discouragement.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Exodus 5:18](/exodus/5-18 "The KJV text of Exodus 5:18") foreshadows Christ's ultimate deliverance from a far greater bondage. Just as the Israelites groaned under the impossible burden of Pharaoh's demands, humanity groans under the impossible burden of sin and the law, unable to meet its demands or earn salvation through works. Christ, however, did not intensify our burden but bore it Himself, fulfilling the law's requirements and offering perfect righteousness. He became the ultimate deliverer, freeing us not by making our tasks harder, but by completing the work for us, liberating us from the tyranny of sin and death and ushering us into the glorious freedom of God's children ([Galatians 5:1](/galatians/5-1 "Paul's exhortation to stand firm in Christian freedom")).

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.