Exodus 5:14
New International Version
And Pharaoh’s slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?”

New Living Translation
Then they whipped the Israelite foremen they had put in charge of the work crews. “Why haven’t you met your quotas either yesterday or today?” they demanded.

English Standard Version
And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?”

Berean Standard Bible
Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”

King James Bible
And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?

New King James Version
Also the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as before?”

New American Standard Bible
Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not completed your required task of making bricks either yesterday or today, as before?”

NASB 1995
Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?”

NASB 1977
Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?”

Amplified Bible
And the Hebrew foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your required quota of making bricks yesterday and today, as before?”

Christian Standard Bible
Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s slave drivers had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why haven’t you finished making your prescribed number of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s slave drivers had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why haven’t you finished making your prescribed number of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”

American Standard Version
And the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task both yesterday and to-day, in making brick as heretofore?

Contemporary English Version
The bosses beat the men in charge of the slaves and said, "Why didn't you force the slaves to make as many bricks yesterday and today as they did before?"

English Revised Version
And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task both yesterday and today, in making brick as heretofore?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Pharaoh's slave drivers had placed Israelite foremen in charge of the people. The slave drivers beat the foremen and said, "You didn't finish all the bricks you were ordered to make yesterday or today. Why didn't you make as many as you used to?"

Good News Translation
The Egyptian slave drivers beat the Israelite foremen, whom they had put in charge of the work. They demanded, "Why aren't you people making the same number of bricks that you made before?"

International Standard Version
The Israeli supervisors whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had appointed over them were beaten and told, "Why didn't you, both yesterday and today, fulfill your quota for making bricks as before?"

Majority Standard Bible
Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh?s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, ?Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before??

NET Bible
The Israelite foremen whom Pharaoh's slave masters had set over them were beaten and were asked, "Why did you not complete your requirement for brickmaking as in the past--both yesterday and today?"

New Heart English Bible
The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, "Why haven't you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's task-masters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Why have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick, both yesterday and to-day, as heretofore?

World English Bible
The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, “Why haven’t you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the authorities of the sons of Israel, whom the exactors of Pharaoh have placed over them, are beaten, saying, “Why have you not completed your portion in making brick as before, both yesterday and today?”

Young's Literal Translation
And the authorities of the sons of Israel, whom the exactors of Pharaoh have placed over them, are beaten, saying, 'Wherefore have ye not completed your portion in making brick as heretofore, both yesterday and to-day?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the scribes of the sons of Israel will be beaten, which Pharaoh's urgers on set over them, saying, Wherefore did ye not complete your allowance of brick as yesterday and the third day, also yesterday, also this day?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they that were over the works of the children of Israel were scourged by Pharao's taskmasters, saying: Why have you not made up the task of bricks both yesterday and to day as before?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And those who were first in the works of the sons of Israel were scourged by Pharaoh’s taskmasters, saying: “Why have you not filled the quota of bricks, neither yesterday, nor today, just as before?”

New American Bible
The Israelite foremen, whom the taskmasters of Pharaoh had placed over them, were beaten, and were asked, “Why have you not completed your prescribed amount of bricks yesterday and today, as before?”

New Revised Standard Version
And the supervisors of the Israelites, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, “Why did you not finish the required quantity of bricks yesterday and today, as you did before?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the scribes of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had appointed over them, were beaten, and demanded, Why have you not completed your quota of bricks both yesterday and today, as heretofore?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Scribes of the children of Israel were chastised, whom the Rulers of Pharaoh had set over them, and they were saying, “Why have you not handed over the number of bricks as they were completed and as were being completed even yesterday and today?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, saying: 'Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your appointed task in making brick both yesterday and today as heretofore?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the accountants of the race of the children of Israel, who were set over them by the masters of Pharao, were scourged, and questioned, men saying, Why have ye not fulfilled your rates of brick-work as yesterday and the third day, to-day also?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Bricks and Straw
13The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.” 14Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”

Cross References
Exodus 1:11-14
So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. / But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. / They worked the Israelites ruthlessly ...

Exodus 2:23-25
After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God. / So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. / God saw the Israelites and took notice.

Exodus 3:7-9
The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings. / I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. / And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them.

Exodus 6:5-9
Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant. / Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. / I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. ...

Exodus 7:3-4
But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, / Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay My hand on Egypt, and by mighty acts of judgment I will bring the divisions of My people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 26:6-7
But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor. / So we called out to the LORD, the God of our fathers; and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, toil, and oppression.

Nehemiah 9:9-10
You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt; You heard their cry at the Red Sea. / You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day.

Psalm 81:6-7
“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket. / You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

Psalm 105:25
whose hearts He turned to hate His people, to conspire against His servants.

Isaiah 30:12-14
Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “Because you have rejected this message, trusting in oppression and relying on deceit, / this iniquity of yours is like a breach about to fail, a bulge in a high wall, whose collapse will come suddenly—in an instant! / It will break in pieces like a potter’s jar, shattered so that no fragment can be found. Not a shard will be found in the dust large enough to scoop the coals from a hearth or to skim the water from a cistern.”

Isaiah 51:23
I will place it in the hands of your tormentors, who told you: ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you,’ so that you made your back like the ground, like a street to be traversed.”

Jeremiah 50:33-34
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “The sons of Israel are oppressed, and the sons of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to release them. / Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of Hosts is His name. He will fervently plead their case so that He may bring rest to the earth, but turmoil to those who live in Babylon.

Acts 7:24-25
And when he saw one of them being mistreated, Moses went to his defense and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian who was oppressing him. / He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.

Acts 7:34
I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’

Romans 9:17-18
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” / Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.


Treasury of Scripture

And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?

no reference

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Amount Appointed Beaten Brick Children Completed Demanded Either Fulfilled Heretofore Hitherto Israel Making Moreover Officers Pharaoh's Previously Quota Required Task Taskmasters Task-Masters Today Wherefore Yesterday
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Amount Appointed Beaten Brick Children Completed Demanded Either Fulfilled Heretofore Hitherto Israel Making Moreover Officers Pharaoh's Previously Quota Required Task Taskmasters Task-Masters Today Wherefore Yesterday
Exodus 5
1. Pharaoh chides Moses and Aaron for their message.
6. He increases the Israelites' task.
16. He ignores their complaints.
19. They cry out to Moses and Aaron.
22. Moses complains to God.














Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people,
In the context of ancient Egypt, the Israelites were enslaved and forced into hard labor. The foremen were Israelites themselves, appointed by Egyptian taskmasters to oversee their fellow Hebrews. This hierarchical structure was common in ancient labor systems, where local leaders were used to enforce the will of the ruling power. This situation reflects the oppressive conditions under which the Israelites lived, highlighting their need for deliverance.

were beaten and asked,
Physical punishment was a typical method of enforcing compliance in ancient times, especially among slaves. The beating of the foremen underscores the harshness of the Egyptian regime and the suffering of the Israelites. This brutality is a recurring theme in the narrative, emphasizing the severity of their bondage and setting the stage for God's intervention.

“Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today,
The demand for a quota of bricks reflects the economic and construction activities in ancient Egypt, where large-scale building projects required massive amounts of labor. The Israelites were expected to produce a set number of bricks daily, a task made more difficult by Pharaoh's decree to withhold straw (Exodus 5:7-8). This situation illustrates the increasing burden placed on the Israelites, symbolizing the spiritual bondage from which God would deliver them.

as you did before?”
This phrase indicates a change in circumstances, as the Israelites were previously able to meet their quotas. The increased demands without the necessary resources highlight the injustice and impossible expectations placed upon them. This mirrors the spiritual truth that humanity cannot meet God's standards through their own efforts, pointing to the need for divine intervention and grace. The Israelites' plight foreshadows the redemptive work of Christ, who fulfills the law on behalf of humanity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Israelite Foremen
These were Hebrew overseers appointed by Pharaoh's taskmasters to manage the labor of the Israelites. They were caught in a difficult position, being responsible for meeting the demands of the Egyptians while also being part of the oppressed community.

2. Pharaoh's Taskmasters
Egyptian officials responsible for enforcing labor demands on the Israelites. They were the enforcers of Pharaoh's harsh policies and were directly involved in the oppression of the Hebrew people.

3. Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt who refused to let the Israelites go, increasing their burdens instead. His heart was hardened against the pleas of Moses and Aaron.

4. Egypt
The land where the Israelites were enslaved. It represents a place of bondage and oppression for God's people.

5. Bricks
The product that the Israelites were forced to produce in large quantities. The demand for bricks symbolizes the harsh and unreasonable expectations placed upon the Israelites.
Teaching Points
Understanding Oppression
The plight of the Israelite foremen illustrates the harsh realities of oppression. As believers, we are called to recognize and stand against injustice in our world today.

Faith in Adversity
Despite the increased burdens, the Israelites were part of God's unfolding plan of deliverance. We are reminded to trust in God's sovereignty, even when circumstances seem overwhelming.

Leadership Challenges
The Israelite foremen faced the difficult task of leading under oppressive conditions. This teaches us about the complexities of leadership and the importance of seeking God's wisdom in challenging situations.

The Cost of Disobedience
Pharaoh's refusal to heed God's command through Moses led to increased suffering for the Israelites. This serves as a warning about the consequences of hardening one's heart against God's will.

Hope in God's Promises
Despite the immediate suffering, God's promise of deliverance was sure. Believers can find hope in God's faithfulness to His promises, even when fulfillment seems distant.(14) The officers . . . were beaten.--This is the usual practice in the East. When any requisition is made on a town or a village, or any body of persons, the procuring of it is left to the "head men," who are alone responsible to the Government, and are punished in case they fail to exact the full amount.

And demanded.--Rather, and asked, or (as Kalisch renders it) "with the words."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the Israelite
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

foremen,
שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ (šō·ṭə·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7860: A scribe, an official superintendent, magistrate

whom
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

Pharaoh’s
פַרְעֹ֖ה (p̄ar·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings

taskmasters
נֹגְשֵׂ֥י (nō·ḡə·śê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5065: To drive, to tax, harass, tyrannize

had set
שָׂ֣מוּ (śā·mū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

over the people,
עֲלֵהֶ֔ם (‘ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

were beaten
וַיֻּכּ֗וּ (way·yuk·kū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hofal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5221: To strike

and asked,
לֵאמֹ֑ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Why
מַדּ֡וּעַ (mad·dū·a‘)
Interrogative
Strong's 4069: Why? for what reason?

have you not
לֹא֩ (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

fulfilled
כִלִּיתֶ֨ם (ḵil·lî·ṯem)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

your quota
חָקְכֶ֤ם (ḥā·qə·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 2706: Something prescribed or owed, a statute

of bricks
לִלְבֹּן֙ (lil·bōn)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3835: To be, white, to make bricks

yesterday
כִּתְמ֣וֹל (kiṯ·mō·wl)
Preposition-k | Adverb
Strong's 8543: Ago, a, time since, yesterday, day before yesterday

or today,
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

as you did before?”
תְּמ֖וֹל (tə·mō·wl)
Adverb
Strong's 8543: Ago, a, time since, yesterday, day before yesterday


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OT Law: Exodus 5:14 The officers of the children of Israel (Exo. Ex)
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