But Pharaoh shouted, “You’re just lazy! Lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices 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.
- BSB “You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and 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.’
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 6:27Don’t work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him.”
- Exod 5:8The number of the bricks, which they made before, you require from them. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
- 2 Th 3:10–11For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone will not work, don’t let him eat.”
- Matt 26:8But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “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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