Exodus 5:18

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

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Pharaoh speaks to the Israelite foremen immediately after labeling them slackers for requesting leave to worship the LORD. He commands them to resume labor while simultaneously revoking their straw supply.

The words — The imperative לְכ֣וּ עִבְד֔וּ (le.Khu 'iv.Du) literally commands "go work," and the passive לֹא יִנָּתֵ֣ן (lo'- yi.na.Ten) states "it will not be given" regarding the straw.

The thread — This imposition of impossible labor without resources parallels the extortion and robbery condemned in Ezekiel 18:18, while the demand to maintain output under false pretices mirrors the fraud warned against in Daniel 2:9.

Why it lands — The text states that oppressive authority can remove necessary materials while demanding unchanged output. It requires the reader to recognize coercive control rather than accept the stated terms as reasonable.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְעַתָּה֙ve./'a.Tahand/ now לְכ֣וּle.Khugo עִבְד֔וּ'iv.Duwork וְתֶ֖בֶןve./Te.venand/ straw לֹא־lo'-not יִנָּתֵ֣ןyi.na.Tenit will be givenלָכֶ֑םla./Khemto <the>/ youוְתֹ֥כֶןve./To.khenand/ [the] measurement of לְבֵנִ֖יםle.ve.Nimbricks תִּתֵּֽנּוּ׃ti.Te.nuyou will give

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Ezekiel 18:18 As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was wrong among his people.
Daniel 2:9 If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one decree for you. You have conspired to speak before me false and fraudulent words, hoping the situation will change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can give me its interpretation.”