Exodus 5:21

And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

And they said {H559} unto them, The LORD {H3068} look {H7200} upon you, and judge {H8199}; because ye have made our savour {H7381} to be abhorred {H887} in the eyes {H5869} of Pharaoh {H6547}, and in the eyes {H5869} of his servants {H5650}, to put {H5414} a sword {H2719} in their hand {H3027} to slay {H2026} us.

and they said to them, "May ADONAI look at you and judge accordingly, because you have made us utterly abhorrent in the view of Pharaoh and his servants, and you have put a sword in their hands to kill us!"

โ€œMay the LORD look upon you and judge you,โ€ the foremen said, โ€œfor you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!โ€

and they said unto them, Jehovah look upon you, and judge: because ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

Commentary

Exodus 5:21 captures a moment of intense despair and accusation from the Israelite officers towards Moses and Aaron, following their initial, unsuccessful confrontation with Pharaoh. This verse highlights the immediate, negative consequences of divine intervention as perceived by those enduring severe hardship.

Context

This verse occurs after Moses and Aaron have delivered God's command to Pharaoh: "Let my people go" (Exodus 5:1). Pharaoh's response was not compliance but increased oppression. He ceased providing straw for brick-making, forcing the Israelite laborers to gather their own straw while still demanding the same quota of bricks (Exodus 5:7-8). When the Israelite foremen, who were responsible for the quotas, failed to meet the impossible demands, they were beaten (Exodus 5:14). Feeling betrayed and subjected to even greater suffering, these officers confronted Moses and Aaron, expressing their bitter complaint.

Key Themes

  • Blame and Despair: The Israelites, seeing their suffering worsen, immediately blamed Moses and Aaron. Their words reflect deep despair and a sense of betrayal, as the promised deliverance seemed to bring only greater affliction.
  • Human Reaction to Hardship: This verse illustrates a common human tendency to react with anger and accusation when circumstances deteriorate, even when actions are taken in faith or obedience to a higher call. The immediate pain overshadowed the long-term promise.
  • The Cost of Deliverance: The path to freedom is rarely easy. This moment foreshadows the many trials and periods of intense suffering the Israelites would endure before their ultimate liberation, demonstrating that God's plan often involves initial hardship to achieve a greater purpose.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "made our savour to be abhorred" is particularly vivid. The Hebrew word for "savour" (ืจึตื™ื—ึท, re'ach) can mean smell, but here it refers to their reputation or standing. To make their "savour to be abhorred" (ื‘ึธึผืึทืฉื, ba'ash, meaning to stink or become foul) means they have become detestable or offensive in the eyes of Pharaoh and his servants. This suggests that Moses and Aaron's actions had ruined any goodwill or tolerance Pharaoh might have had for the Israelites, leading to their increased mistreatment and the fear of death ("to put a sword in their hand to slay us").

Practical Application

Exodus 5:21 serves as a powerful reminder that God's plan for deliverance often involves initial difficulties and increased pressure. For believers today, it highlights the importance of:

  • Perseverance in Faith: Even when circumstances worsen after an act of obedience, trusting in God's ultimate purpose is crucial. God was aware of their affliction (Exodus 3:7) and had a plan.
  • Understanding God's Process: Deliverance is not always immediate or without trials. God often uses challenges to refine character and demonstrate His power more profoundly.
  • Avoiding Blame: While understandable, the Israelites' blaming of Moses and Aaron distracted from God's overarching sovereignty. It reminds us to seek God's perspective even amidst frustration, rather than immediately accusing those who lead in faith. God Himself would soon reaffirm His covenant and plan for liberation to Moses (Exodus 6:1-8).
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 34:30

    And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I [being] few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

  • Exodus 6:9

    And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

  • 1 Chronicles 19:6

    ยถ And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah.

  • 2 Samuel 10:6

    ยถ And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.

  • Genesis 16:5

    And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong [be] upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

  • 1 Samuel 27:12

    And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.

  • 1 Samuel 13:4

    And all Israel heard say [that] Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and [that] Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.
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