Exodus 5:9

Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

Let there more work {H5656} be laid {H3513} upon the men {H582}, that they may labour {H6213} therein; and let them not regard {H8159} vain {H8267} words {H1697}.

Give these people harder work to do. That will keep them too busy to pay attention to speeches full of lies."

Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”

Let heavier work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard lying words.

Commentary

Commentary on Exodus 5:9

Exodus 5:9 marks a critical turning point in the confrontation between Pharaoh and God's chosen people. After Moses and Aaron deliver God's demand to "Let my people go" (Exodus 5:1), Pharaoh, in his arrogance and defiance, not only refuses but intensifies the Israelites' suffering. This verse is his direct decree to his taskmasters regarding the Hebrew slaves.

Context

Prior to this verse, Moses and Aaron have approached Pharaoh, requesting a three-day journey into the wilderness for the Israelites to worship the Lord. Pharaoh's immediate reaction is one of contempt and disbelief in the Lord's authority. He dismisses Moses and Aaron, accusing them of making the people idle and distracting them from their forced labor. To counteract their "vain words" and crush any hope of freedom, Pharaoh commands an increase in their workload. This is a deliberate tactic to prevent the Israelites from listening to God's messengers and to maintain their oppression.

Key Themes

  • Escalated Oppression: Pharaoh's response is not merely a refusal but an active increase in the Israelites' suffering. He believes that by making their lives harder, he can break their spirit and loyalty to Moses and Aaron. This highlights the cruel nature of the Egyptian bondage and Pharaoh's hardened heart.
  • Resistance to God's Will: Pharaoh's actions are a direct defiance of the Almighty. His decree to "let there more work be laid upon the men" is an attempt to thwart God's plan for deliverance. This sets the stage for the escalating plagues that follow, demonstrating God's ultimate sovereignty over human rulers, as seen in Romans 9:17.
  • Distraction and Despair: By imposing heavier labor, Pharaoh aims to exhaust the people, leaving them no time or energy to "regard vain words." He wants to strip them of hope and focus, ensuring their attention remains solely on their arduous tasks rather than on the promise of liberation.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "vain words" translates from the Hebrew divrei shav (Χ“Χ‘Χ¨Χ™ שווא). Shav denotes emptiness, worthlessness, or deceit. Pharaoh considers Moses' message of freedom and worship to be empty, idle talk, and a dangerous distraction from the 'real work' of slavery. From his perspective, these words are unproductive and disruptive, a dangerous influence on his workforce.

Practical Application

Exodus 5:9 serves as a powerful reminder that resistance to God's truth often leads to increased hardship. When people or systems reject divine instruction, they may resort to oppressive tactics to silence dissenting voices or prevent the spread of liberating truth. Spiritually, this can manifest as overwhelming burdens or distractions that seek to prevent believers from focusing on God's promises or pursuing spiritual growth. It underscores the importance of perseverance and trusting in God's ultimate deliverance, even when circumstances seem to worsen before the breakthrough, much like the Israelites eventually experienced the mighty hand of God at the Red Sea.

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Cross-References

  • Ephesians 5:6 (2 votes)

    Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

  • Job 16:3 (2 votes)

    Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

  • Jeremiah 43:2 (2 votes)

    Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there:

  • Zechariah 1:6 (2 votes)

    But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

  • Malachi 3:14 (2 votes)

    Ye have said, It [is] vain to serve God: and what profit [is it] that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?

  • 2 Kings 18:20 (2 votes)

    Thou sayest, (but [they are but] vain words,) [I have] counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?