Exodus 5:23

KJV

For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

KJV (with Strong's)

For since I came {H935} to Pharaoh {H6547} to speak {H1696} in thy name {H8034}, he hath done evil {H7489} to this people {H5971}; neither hast thou delivered {H5337} thy people {H5971} at all {H5337}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has dealt terribly with this people! And you haven't rescued your people at all!"

Berean Standard Bible

Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.”

American Standard Version

For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath dealt ill with this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 5:23 captures Moses' profound lament and disillusionment following his initial confrontation with Pharaoh. Despite having obeyed God's direct command to demand the Israelites' release, Moses finds that his intervention has not only failed to bring deliverance but has instead intensified the suffering of his people, leading him to question God's apparent inaction and the efficacy of his divine mission.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the climax of Moses' initial, failed attempt to secure Israel's freedom, immediately following Pharaoh's harsh decree to withhold straw while maintaining brick quotas (as detailed in [Exodus 5:6-9](/exodus/5-6-9 "Pharaoh's intensified oppression")). The Israelites, crushed by this increased burden, turn their anger and despair on Moses and Aaron, accusing them of making the people "abhorrent in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants" ([Exodus 5:21](/exodus/5-21 "Israelites' accusation against Moses")). Moses, now bearing the weight of his people's suffering and their accusations, turns to God in a raw, honest lament. This verse sets the stage for God's powerful reaffirmation of His covenant promises and His plan for deliverance in [Exodus 6:1-8](/exodus/6-1-8 "God's reaffirmation of His covenant").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Egypt was a highly centralized, autocratic society where the Pharaoh was considered a divine king, an embodiment of the gods. His word was law, and his power was absolute. Labor was often organized through state-controlled projects, and foreign peoples (like the Israelites) were frequently conscripted for arduous tasks, such as brick-making for monumental construction. The demand for bricks without straw was an extreme form of oppression, designed not merely to extract labor but to break the spirit of the people, making their task impossible and punishing them for even the thought of freedom. Moses' direct address to Pharaoh, speaking in the name of another God, was an act of profound defiance against the very foundation of Egyptian religious and political authority, inherently provoking a severe reaction.
* **Key Themes:** Exodus 5:23 contributes to several major themes within the book of Exodus. It highlights the theme of **divine sovereignty versus human agency**, showing that God's plan unfolds according to His timing and methods, often beyond human comprehension or expectation. It underscores the **cost of obedience**, demonstrating that following God's call does not always lead to immediate ease but can, in fact, intensify opposition before ultimate victory. Furthermore, it introduces the theme of **human lament and doubt**, portraying Moses, a divinely appointed leader, grappling with profound frustration and questioning God's apparent inaction in the face of escalating suffering, a theme echoed in many psalms of lament (e.g., [Psalm 13](/psalms/13 "Psalm 13 - A Psalm of Lament")). This verse also sets up the dramatic revelation of God's power, as the deepening of the crisis serves to magnify God's eventual, undeniable deliverance, ensuring that the Israelites would "know that I am the LORD" ([Exodus 7:5](/exodus/7-5 "God's purpose in the plagues")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **came (Hebrew, _bôwʼ'_):** From H935, a primitive root meaning "to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)." In this context, it signifies Moses' obedient arrival and initiation of the divine mission. Moses emphasizes that he "came" precisely as commanded by God, highlighting his faithfulness despite the negative outcome.
* **speak (Hebrew, _dâbar'_):** From H1696, a primitive root meaning "to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak." This word emphasizes the authoritative and deliberate nature of Moses' communication to Pharaoh. He spoke "in thy name," indicating he was acting as God's authorized messenger, delivering a divine decree, not merely a request.
* **done evil (Hebrew, _râʻaʻ'_):** From H7489, a primitive root meaning "to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally); afflict, harm, hurt, vex." This term powerfully conveys the severe, destructive, and malicious nature of Pharaoh's actions, which went beyond mere inconvenience to actively breaking and afflicting the people.
* **delivered (Hebrew, _nâtsal'_):** From H5337, a primitive root meaning "to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense; defend, deliver (self), escape, rescue, rid, save." Moses' use of this word twice, with the emphatic "at all," underscores his perception of God's complete failure to "snatch away" or "rescue" His people, directly contradicting the divine promise.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name":** Moses begins by grounding his complaint in his obedience. He reminds God that he initiated this confrontation with Pharaoh precisely as instructed, acting as God's authorized representative and speaking with divine authority. This clause establishes the premise for Moses' grievance: he did exactly what God asked, yet the outcome was disastrous.
* **"he hath done evil to this people":** This is the immediate, tangible consequence of Moses' obedience. Pharaoh's response was not merely a refusal but an active intensification of oppression. The "evil" done refers to the brutal decree of brick-making without straw, which inflicted severe physical and emotional suffering on the Israelites, making their lives even more miserable than before.
* **"neither hast thou delivered thy people at all":** This is the core of Moses' lament and accusation. He directly challenges God, expressing his profound disappointment and sense of betrayal. The emphatic "at all" (derived from the doubling of the Hebrew root for "delivered") conveys a complete and utter lack of divine intervention, implying that God has failed to uphold His promise of liberation. It is a raw cry of despair from a leader burdened by the suffering of his people and seemingly abandoned by the very God who sent him.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 5:23 is rich with literary devices that amplify Moses' despair. The primary device is **Lament**, a common biblical form of prayer or complaint directed to God, characterized by an expression of suffering, a plea for help, and sometimes an accusation against God. Moses' words are a classic example, articulating his distress and questioning God's actions. There is also a strong sense of **Irony**: Moses, sent by God to deliver His people, inadvertently causes their suffering to intensify. The intended outcome (deliverance) is starkly contrasted with the actual outcome (increased oppression), creating a poignant sense of tragic irony. Furthermore, Moses' "at all" can be seen as **Hyperbole**, an exaggeration used for emphasis. While God had not yet delivered them, to say He had not delivered them "at all" expresses the depth of Moses' immediate frustration and the feeling of complete failure, rather than a literal assessment of God's long-term plan.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Moses' lament in Exodus 5:23 is a profound theological statement on the nature of divine providence and human faith. It reveals that God's ways are often inscrutable, and His timing rarely aligns with human expectations. The intensification of suffering before deliverance is a recurring pattern in biblical history, serving to demonstrate God's absolute sovereignty and to ensure that His people recognize His hand alone in their salvation. This period of exacerbated affliction also serves to further harden Pharaoh's heart, setting the stage for the dramatic display of God's power through the plagues, ultimately bringing glory to His name and demonstrating His unique identity as the LORD to both Israel and Egypt. This passage normalizes honest lament before God, showing that even His chosen leaders wrestle with doubt and despair, yet it also implicitly calls for patient trust in His ultimate faithfulness.

* [Psalm 77:7-10](/psalms/77-7-10 "Psalm 77 - A Psalm of Anguish and Remembrance")
* [Habakkuk 1:2-3](/habakkuk/1-2-3 "Habakkuk's Complaint to God")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "God Works All Things for Good")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Moses' raw and honest complaint in Exodus 5:23 offers profound comfort and validation for believers today. In moments when our obedience to God seems to lead to worse outcomes, when prayers feel unanswered, or when suffering intensifies despite our faithfulness, this passage reminds us that it is not only permissible but healthy to voice our frustrations, doubts, and disappointments directly to God. Moses' lament demonstrates that God can handle our honest questions and our deepest despair. His complaint, far from being a sign of weak faith, is a testament to his deep care for his people and his wrestling with God's perceived inaction. This verse encourages us to bring our whole selves before God, trusting that even in the midst of our confusion, He is sovereign and His purposes will ultimately prevail. It challenges us to cultivate a faith that perseveres through the "dark night" of intensified trials, believing that God is at work even when we cannot see it, and that His ultimate deliverance will be glorious and undeniable.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you felt like Moses, that your obedience to God led to worse circumstances rather than better ones?**
* **How does Moses' honest lament encourage you to be more transparent with God about your own struggles and doubts?**
* **In what areas of your life are you being called to trust God's timing and methods, even when they seem to contradict your expectations of deliverance?**

### FAQ
**Is it permissible for believers to complain to God like Moses did?**

Answer: Yes, Moses' lament in [Exodus 5:23](/exodus/5-23 "Moses' complaint to God") demonstrates that it is permissible and even healthy to express honest frustration, doubt, and disappointment to God. The biblical tradition, particularly in the Psalms, is rich with examples of lament, where individuals pour out their hearts to God in times of distress (e.g., [Psalm 22](/psalms/22 "Psalm 22 - A Psalm of Suffering and Praise")). God invites us to bring our whole selves, including our struggles and questions, before Him. Such complaints, when offered in faith, can be a form of prayer that ultimately deepens our trust as we await His response and deliverance.

**Why did God allow the Israelites' suffering to increase after Moses' initial obedience?**

Answer: God allowed the suffering to intensify for several profound theological reasons, all part of His sovereign plan. Firstly, it served to further harden Pharaoh's heart, setting the stage for God to display His overwhelming power through the plagues, ensuring that Pharaoh and Egypt would "know that I am the LORD" ([Exodus 7:5](/exodus/7-5 "God's purpose in the plagues")). This dramatic escalation would leave no doubt about the source of Israel's eventual liberation. Secondly, it deepened the Israelites' desperation, making their eventual deliverance clearly attributable to God alone, rather than to Moses' negotiation or human effort. This process was designed to solidify their faith and reliance on God for their salvation, teaching them that true rescue comes from Him alone. This pattern is often seen in God's dealings, where circumstances worsen before a dramatic divine intervention, magnifying His glory and power.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Moses' experience in [Exodus 5:23](/exodus/5-23 "Moses' lament") powerfully foreshadows the path of Christ and the nature of ultimate deliverance. Just as Moses, sent by God, faced increased opposition and suffering for his people before their liberation, so too did Christ, the ultimate deliverer, face intense suffering and perceived abandonment before accomplishing salvation. The temporary intensification of suffering for Israel highlighted God's sovereign power to deliver, ensuring that the deliverance was His work alone. Similarly, Christ's journey to the cross was marked by escalating opposition, culminating in a moment of profound darkness and apparent defeat, where He cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Jesus' cry on the cross")). Yet, this very moment of perceived failure was God's chosen means to achieve the ultimate victory over sin and death, demonstrating His power and securing eternal deliverance for all who believe. Christ's obedience, even unto death, brought about the true "snatching away" (deliverance) of His people from the bondage of sin, fulfilling the pattern of suffering preceding glorious salvation.

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 28:16

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Jeremiah 11:21

Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand:

Hebrews 10:36

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Hebrews 10:37

For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Psalms 118:26

Blessed [be] he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

Isaiah 26:17

Like as a woman with child, [that] draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, [and] crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.

Isaiah 26:18

We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.