Exodus 5:19
New International Version
The Israelite overseers realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.”

New Living Translation
The Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the number of bricks you make each day.”

English Standard Version
The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.”

Berean Standard Bible
The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”

King James Bible
And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

New King James Version
And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble after it was said, “You shall not reduce any bricks from your daily quota.”

New American Standard Bible
The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble, since they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.”

NASB 1995
The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.”

NASB 1977
And the foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.”

Amplified Bible
The Hebrew foremen saw that they were in a bad situation because they were told, “You must not reduce [in the least] your daily quota of bricks.”

Christian Standard Bible
The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You cannot reduce your daily quota of bricks.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You cannot reduce your daily quota of bricks.”

American Standard Version
And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, when it was said, Ye shall not diminish aught from your bricks, your daily tasks.

Contemporary English Version
The men knew they were in deep trouble when they were ordered to make the same number of bricks each day.

English Revised Version
And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, when it was said, Ye shall not minish aught from your bricks, your daily tasks.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, "Don't make fewer bricks each day than you're supposed to."

Good News Translation
The foremen realized that they were in trouble when they were told that they had to make the same number of bricks every day as they had made before.

International Standard Version
The Israeli supervisors realized they were in trouble when he said, "You won't reduce each day's quota of bricks!"

Majority Standard Bible
The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, ?You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.?

NET Bible
The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, "You must not reduce the daily quota of your bricks."

New Heart English Bible
The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble, when it was said, "You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not diminish aught from your bricks of your daily task.

World English Bible
The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble when it was said, “You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks!”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the authorities of the sons of Israel see them in affliction, saying, “You do not diminish from your bricks; the matter of a day in its day.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the authorities of the sons of Israel see them in affliction, saying, 'Ye do not diminish from your bricks; the matter of a day in its day.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the scribes of the sons of Israel will see themselves in evil, for saying, Ye shall not take away from the bricks the word of a day in its day.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in evil case, because it was said to them: There shall not a whit be diminished of the bricks for every day.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the first among the sons of Israel saw themselves in a crisis, because it was said to them, “Nothing at all will be lessened from the bricks throughout each day.”

New American Bible
The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble, having been told, “Do not reduce your daily amount of bricks!”

New Revised Standard Version
The Israelite supervisors saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You shall not lessen your daily number of bricks.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the scribes of the children of Israel saw that they were in a bad situation, for it was said to them, You must not reduce the number of your bricks, of your daily task.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Scribes saw that things went badly for the children of Israel and they were saying to them, “Do not reduce from your building, but continue as on every day before.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were set on mischief, when they said: 'Ye shall not diminish aught from your bricks, your daily task.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the accountants of the children of Israel saw themselves in an evil plight, men saying, Ye shall not fail to deliver the daily rate of the brick-making.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Cry of the Israelites
18Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.” 19The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.” 20When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.…

Cross References
Exodus 1:13-14
They worked the Israelites ruthlessly / and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.

Exodus 6:9
Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of their broken spirit and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him.

Exodus 2:23
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.

Exodus 3:7
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.

Exodus 4:31
and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites and had seen their affliction, they bowed down and worshiped.

Exodus 14:12
Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Numbers 20:4-5
Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? / Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates—and there is no water to drink!”

Deuteronomy 26:6
But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor.

Nehemiah 9:9
You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt; You heard their cry at the Red Sea.

Psalm 81:6
“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.

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.’

Acts 7:39
But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

Hebrews 11:24-25
By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. / He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.

1 Corinthians 10:1-2
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Romans 9:17
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.”


Treasury of Scripture

And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, You shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

evil case

Deuteronomy 32:36
For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.

Ecclesiastes 4:1
So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

Ecclesiastes 5:8
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

Jump to Previous
Affliction Amount Aught Authorities Bricks Case Children Daily Diminish Evil Foremen Ill Israel Israelite Lessen Matter Means Mischief Officers Ought Plight Purposing Quota Realized Reduce Required Responsible Stood Task Tasks Trouble Work
Jump to Next
Affliction Amount Aught Authorities Bricks Case Children Daily Diminish Evil Foremen Ill Israel Israelite Lessen Matter Means Mischief Officers Ought Plight Purposing Quota Realized Reduce Required Responsible Stood Task Tasks Trouble Work
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.














The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble
The role of the Israelite foremen was to oversee the labor of their fellow Israelites under the harsh rule of the Egyptians. These foremen were likely chosen from among the Israelites themselves, creating a difficult position as they were caught between the demands of Pharaoh and the suffering of their people. The realization of being in trouble highlights the increasing oppression and the impossible demands placed upon them. This situation reflects the broader theme of suffering and deliverance that runs throughout the book of Exodus. The foremen's predicament foreshadows the need for divine intervention, as human efforts alone could not alleviate their plight.

when they were told,
The communication of Pharaoh's decree to the foremen underscores the hierarchical structure of Egyptian society, where orders were passed down through layers of authority. This phrase indicates the direct and unyielding nature of Pharaoh's command, leaving no room for negotiation or mercy. It also reflects the broader theme of communication in Exodus, where God's messages through Moses contrast with the oppressive decrees of Pharaoh.

“You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”
The demand to maintain the daily quota of bricks, despite the removal of straw, represents the extreme cruelty and unrealistic expectations placed upon the Israelites. Bricks were a fundamental building material in ancient Egypt, and the production process required straw to bind the clay. This demand is a direct response to Moses and Aaron's request for the Israelites to be allowed to worship in the wilderness, illustrating Pharaoh's hardened heart and resistance to God's will. The situation serves as a backdrop for the subsequent plagues, which demonstrate God's power and ultimately lead to the liberation of His people. This phrase also connects to the broader biblical theme of burdens and the promise of rest and deliverance found in Christ, who invites the weary to find rest in Him (Matthew 11:28-30).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Israelite Foremen
These were Hebrew overseers appointed by the Egyptians to manage the labor of the Israelite slaves. They were caught between the demands of Pharaoh and the suffering of their people.

2. Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt who refused to let the Israelites go and increased their burdens by demanding the same quota of bricks without providing straw.

3. Moses and Aaron
God's chosen leaders who were sent to Pharaoh to demand the release of the Israelites. Their initial request led to increased oppression.

4. Egypt
The land where the Israelites were enslaved. It represents a place of bondage and oppression in the biblical account.

5. Bricks without Straw
This event symbolizes the increased hardship and impossible demands placed on the Israelites, reflecting their deepening suffering under Egyptian rule.
Teaching Points
Understanding Oppression
Recognize that the Israelites' increased burdens reflect the reality of spiritual and physical oppression. In our lives, we may face situations where demands seem impossible, yet God is aware and working for our deliverance.

Leadership Challenges
The Israelite foremen faced a difficult position, highlighting the challenges leaders may encounter when mediating between authority and those they lead. Christian leaders are called to seek God's wisdom in such situations.

Faith Amidst Trials
The Israelites' plight teaches us about maintaining faith in God's promises, even when circumstances worsen. Trusting in God's plan is crucial, even when immediate outcomes seem bleak.

God's Sovereignty
Despite Pharaoh's oppressive rule, God's sovereignty is evident. He uses even the hardest circumstances to fulfill His purposes, reminding us that no earthly power can thwart God's plans.

Intercession and Advocacy
Moses and Aaron's role as advocates for the Israelites encourages believers to intercede for others, trusting that God hears and responds to the cries of His people.Verse 19. - The officers... did see that they were in evil case. See the "Introductory paragraph" to this section, and comp. ver. 21.

CHAPTER 5:20, 21

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The Israelite
בְנֵֽי־ (ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

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

realized
וַיִּרְא֞וּ (way·yir·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

they were in trouble
בְּרָ֣ע (bə·rā‘)
Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

when they were told,
לֵאמֹ֑ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“You must not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

reduce
תִגְרְע֥וּ (ṯiḡ·rə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 1639: To scrape off, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold

your daily
י֥וֹם (yō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

quota
דְּבַר־ (də·ḇar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of bricks.”
מִלִּבְנֵיכֶ֖ם (mil·liḇ·nê·ḵem)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3843: Brick, tile


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OT Law: Exodus 5:19 The officers of the children of Israel (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 5:18
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