Exodus 5:19

KJV

And the officers of the children of Israel did see [that] they [were] in evil [case], after it was said, Ye shall not minish [ought] from your bricks of your daily task.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the officers {H7860} of the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} did see {H7200} that they were in evil {H7451} case, after it was said {H559}, Ye shall not minish {H1639} ought from your bricks {H3843} of your daily {H3117}{H3117} task {H1697}.

Complete Jewish Bible

When they said, "You are not to reduce your daily production quota of bricks," the foremen of the people of Isra'el could see that they were in deep trouble.

Berean Standard Bible

The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”

American Standard Version

And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, when it was said, Ye shall not diminish aught from your bricks, your daily tasks.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 5:19 vividly portrays the grim realization of the Israelite officers, who, as foremen under Egyptian taskmasters, were held directly accountable for the brick production quotas. Having just endured a beating for failing to meet impossible demands after Pharaoh withheld straw, they acutely recognized the truly dire and inescapable "evil case" they were in, facing unachievable tasks and relentless punishment without any human recourse.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated immediately after the Israelite officers have been severely beaten by Pharaoh's taskmasters for failing to meet the daily brick quota, despite the new, impossible condition of having to gather their own straw ([Exodus 5:14](/exodus/5-14 "The Israelite officers are beaten")). It follows Moses and Aaron's initial, unsuccessful appeal to Pharaoh for the Israelites' release to worship God ([Exodus 5:1-3](/exodus/5-1-3 "Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh")). Pharaoh's response was not only a defiant refusal but a deliberate intensification of the Israelites' forced labor, designed to crush any hope of freedom ([Exodus 5:4-9](/exodus/5-4-9 "Pharaoh increases the Israelites' burden")). Verse 19 captures the officers' dawning, painful understanding of the full extent of their predicament, marking a low point of despair before the narrative shifts towards God's more direct and powerful interventions.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Egypt, the production of bricks was a fundamental component of large-scale construction projects, often fueled by slave labor. Straw was a crucial binding agent for sun-dried mud bricks, providing tensile strength and preventing cracking. Withholding straw while maintaining the quota was a deliberate act of extreme cruelty and oppression, designed to make the task literally impossible and to break the spirit of the laborers. The "officers of the children of Israel" were likely Israelite foremen appointed by the Egyptian overseers, serving as intermediaries. This system placed them in an unenviable and dangerous position: they were responsible for their kinsmen's output, yet powerless to change the conditions, making them direct targets for Pharaoh's wrath and a conduit for his oppression. Their beatings and subsequent realization reflect the brutal realities of slavery and the systemic nature of Pharaoh's tyranny.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Exodus. It underscores the theme of **Increased Oppression**, demonstrating Pharaoh's escalating cruelty and his determination to tighten his grip on the Israelites in response to God's demand for their release, rather than loosening it. This intensified suffering directly highlights the **Impossible Demands** placed upon the Israelites, where the expectation to produce the same number of bricks with fewer resources and more labor emphasizes the unjust and unachievable burdens designed to break their spirit. The officers' realization of their "evil case" powerfully conveys the theme of **Despair and Helplessness** that permeated the Israelite community, setting the stage for God's miraculous intervention. Furthermore, it exemplifies the **Cost of Obedience**, as Moses and Aaron's initial, divinely-commissioned appeal paradoxically led to greater suffering for their people, testing their faith and the people's resolve before ultimate deliverance would come, as promised in [Exodus 6:6-7](/exodus/6-6-7 "God's promises of deliverance").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Exodus 5:19 starkly reveals the Israelite officers' grim reality: "And the officers of the children of Israel did see [that] they [were] in evil [case], after it was said, Ye shall not minish [ought] from your bricks of your daily task." This verse follows their brutal beating at the hands of Pharaoh's taskmasters for failing to meet the brick quotas, despite the impossible new conditions. Their "seeing" implies a profound and painful realization of the depth of their predicament, a recognition that their situation was not merely difficult, but truly calamitous and without human remedy. The phrase "Ye shall not minish [ought] from your bricks of your daily task" reiterates Pharaoh's unyielding and cruel decree, cementing their hopeless position.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **minish (Hebrew, _gâraʻ'_):** From a primitive root meaning "to scrape off; by implication, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold; abate, clip, (di-) minish, do (take) away, keep back, restrain, make small, withdraw." In this context, it emphasizes Pharaoh's absolute refusal to reduce the brick quota, highlighting the unyielding nature of the demand and the impossibility of the task. The Israelites were forbidden from reducing *anything* from their required output, regardless of the lack of straw.
* **evil (Hebrew, _raʻ'_):** From a root meaning "bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral); adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong." Here, "evil case" (literally "evil to them") signifies a deeply distressing, harmful, and grievous situation. It is not merely an inconvenience but a profoundly difficult and dangerous state of affairs, emphasizing the severity of their plight and the wickedness of Pharaoh's decree.
* **task (Hebrew, _dâbâr'_):** From a root meaning "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." In this context, "daily task" refers to the specific, mandated amount of work or production required each day. It emphasizes the concrete, inescapable burden placed upon the Israelites, a "word" or "matter" that had become a crushing reality.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the officers of the children of Israel did see":** This opening clause highlights the moment of profound realization. The Israelite foremen, who were directly responsible and had just suffered physical violence, gained a clear, painful understanding of their situation. Their "seeing" is not merely visual but intellectual and emotional, signifying a dawning awareness of the full scope of their predicament.
* **"[that] they [were] in evil [case],":** This phrase describes the nature of their realization. The situation they faced was not just difficult or inconvenient, but profoundly "evil" or calamitous. It was a state of severe distress, harm, and injustice, from which there appeared to be no human escape.
* **"after it was said, Ye shall not minish [ought] from your bricks of your daily task.":** This final clause explains *why* they perceived their case as evil. Pharaoh's decree, reiterated and enforced, made it clear that despite the withdrawal of straw, the brick quota would remain undiminished. This absolute, unyielding demand, coupled with the lack of resources, rendered their task utterly impossible and guaranteed continued suffering and punishment.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey the depth of the Israelites' despair. The phrase "evil case" functions as a form of **understatement** or **euphemism**, as the situation was far more than merely "evil"; it was a brutal, hopeless, and life-threatening predicament. There is significant **irony** in the narrative: Moses and Aaron's divine commission to liberate the people initially leads to an intensification of their suffering, a paradoxical outcome that tests faith. The "bricks" themselves become a **symbol** of their bondage and the crushing weight of Egyptian oppression, while the "daily task" represents the relentless, dehumanizing cycle of slavery. The officers' "seeing" is a moment of profound **anagnorisis** (recognition), where they fully grasp the tragic reality of their impossible situation, evoking **pathos** and emphasizing their utter helplessness before divine intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The officers' despair in Exodus 5:19 serves as a crucial pivot point, highlighting the depth of human helplessness and setting the stage for God's mighty acts of deliverance. This moment underscores the biblical principle that God often allows circumstances to become utterly impossible for human solutions to fail, so that His power and faithfulness can be unmistakably demonstrated. The intensified suffering was part of God's sovereign plan to harden Pharaoh's heart further, preparing the way for the plagues and the ultimate Red Sea deliverance, which would magnify His glory and reveal His covenant faithfulness to Israel.

* [Exodus 3:7](/exodus/3-7 "God sees the affliction of His people"): This verse underscores God's deep awareness of the suffering of His people, even when circumstances worsen. The cries of the oppressed reach His ears, setting the stage for divine intervention.
* [Exodus 6:1](/exodus/6-1 "God promises to deliver Israel"): The "evil case" of the Israelites illustrates a recurring biblical theme: sometimes, circumstances must become utterly impossible for human solutions to fail, so that God's power and faithfulness can be unmistakably demonstrated. This moment of heightened despair precedes God's mighty acts of deliverance.
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "All things work together for good"): Despite the seemingly counterproductive outcome of Moses's initial appeal, God remained sovereign. The increased suffering was part of God's plan to harden Pharaoh's heart further, setting the stage for the plagues and the Red Sea deliverance, ultimately magnifying His glory.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound despair experienced by the Israelite officers in Exodus 5:19 resonates deeply with the human condition across all ages. We, too, often find ourselves in "evil cases"—situations where demands seem impossible, resources are scarce, and the path forward appears blocked by unyielding forces or systemic oppression. This verse serves as a poignant reminder to cultivate empathy for those trapped in such seemingly hopeless circumstances, whether due to injustice, illness, or overwhelming life burdens. It compels us to recognize that true liberation, whether personal or corporate, often begins precisely when human efforts utterly fail, and our self-reliance is completely exhausted. This moment of profound helplessness is not an end but a prelude, preparing the way for God's power to be fully revealed. It calls us to trust that even in our darkest moments, when our "case" seems utterly hopeless, the sovereign God is attentive to our cries and is orchestrating a greater deliverance, working all things for His ultimate purpose and glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you experienced an "evil case" in your life, where circumstances seemed utterly impossible and beyond your control?**
* **How does the officers' despair challenge our tendency to rely solely on human solutions when facing overwhelming problems?**
* **What does this verse teach us about God's timing and the way He sometimes allows suffering to intensify before His mighty acts of deliverance?**
* **How can we cultivate a deeper trust in God's sovereignty even when our obedience to His call seems to lead to increased hardship?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Israelite officers bear the brunt of Pharaoh's cruelty?**

Answer: The Israelite officers, or foremen, were appointed by the Egyptian taskmasters to oversee their own people. This made them crucial intermediaries, directly responsible for meeting the quotas set by Pharaoh. When the quotas became impossible to meet due to the withholding of straw, the Egyptian taskmasters beat the Israelite officers as a means of enforcing compliance and punishing perceived failure, as clearly depicted in [Exodus 5:14](/exodus/5-14 "The Israelite officers are beaten"). They were caught in an impossible and agonizing position, suffering from Pharaoh's wrath while also being responsible for the suffering of their kinsmen, embodying the cruel efficiency of the oppressive system.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The "evil case" of the Israelite officers in [Exodus 5:19](/exodus/5-19 "The officers' dire situation") powerfully foreshadows humanity's own "evil case" under the pervasive bondage of sin and the impossible demands of the Law. Just as the Israelites were trapped in an unachievable task of brick-making, humanity is trapped in the impossible task of earning righteousness or salvation through works, for "by the works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin" ([Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "The Law reveals sin")). Jesus Christ, the ultimate Deliverer, steps into this very "evil case" of humanity. He perfectly fulfilled the Law's righteous demands on our behalf ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Jesus fulfills the Law")) and, through His perfect obedience and sacrificial death on the cross, He met the ultimate impossible demand of God's justice. By bearing our sin and its penalty, Christ delivered us from the greater bondage of sin and death, offering a freedom and rest that no human effort or "daily task" could ever achieve ([Galatians 5:1](/galatians/5-1 "Christ has set us free")). He is the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")), providing the ultimate rescue from our impossible plight.

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

Ecclesiastes 5:8

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for [he that is] higher than the highest regardeth; and [there be] higher than they.

Ecclesiastes 4:1

¶ So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of [such as were] oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors [there was] power; but they had no comforter.

Deuteronomy 32:36

For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that [their] power is gone, and [there is] none shut up, or left.