“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
Parallel translations
- WEB But he said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to Yahweh.’
- KJV But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.
- NKJV But he said, “You are idle! Idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’
- NASB But he said, “You are lazy, very lazy; for that reason you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’
- NLT But Pharaoh shouted, “You’re just lazy! Lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the Lord.’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Pharaoh repeats that they are idle and only want to sacrifice. He hardens his charge of laziness against the people.
Overview
Pharaoh dismisses the foremen's just complaint by branding them idle, twisting their desire to worship into proof of sloth. His repeated accusation shows a heart unmoved by their suffering and contemptuous of their God. The refusal closes the door on relief from Pharaoh and deepens the people's distress.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- John 6:27Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”
- Exod 5:8But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
- 2 Th 3:10–11For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”
- Matt 26:8When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 5:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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