What is the meaning of Exodus 5:4? But the king of Egypt said to them • This opening phrase highlights Pharaoh’s authority and immediate resistance. Just as Exodus 3:19 foretold, the ruler of Egypt would not release Israel willingly, and Romans 9:17 reminds us that God raised up this very king to display divine power. Pharaoh’s words set the stage for the confrontation between earthly power and the LORD’s command (Exodus 5:1). Moses and Aaron • Pharaoh addresses the brothers by name, underscoring that he knows exactly who is challenging him. God had paired them for this mission (Exodus 4:14–16), so Pharaoh’s direct address is also a confrontation with the God who commissioned them (Exodus 6:13). Why do you draw the people away from their work? • Pharaoh accuses them of disrupting the economic engine of Egypt. – In Exodus 1:11 the taskmasters were instituted to keep Israel busy and subjugated. – Verses 5:17–18 show Pharaoh doubling down: “You are slackers.” – His question exposes his worldview: productivity over worship, bondage over freedom. Jesus later contrasts that burden with His own rest (Matthew 11:28). Get back to your labor! • A curt command that reveals Pharaoh’s hard heart (Exodus 7:13). – He tries to reassert control (Exodus 5:9) and ignore the LORD’s demand (Exodus 5:1). – God will answer this command with His own: “Let My people go” (Exodus 6:1), showing whose word truly stands. summary Pharaoh’s response in Exodus 5:4 reveals a ruler who prioritizes forced labor over divine worship, challenges God’s messengers outright, and tightens Israel’s chains in defiance of the LORD. The verse sets the tone for the coming plagues, contrasting Pharaoh’s futile orders with God’s unstoppable plan to liberate His people. |
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