Therefore go now and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the quota of bricks.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Go therefore now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”
- KJV Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.
- BSB Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”
- NASB So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, but you must deliver the quota of bricks.”
- NLT Now get back to work! No straw will be given to you, but you must still produce the full quota of bricks.”
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 commands them back to work with no straw yet the same quota. His final word is unyielding cruelty.
Overview
Pharaoh ends the audience by reaffirming the impossible demand: no straw, full output. His obstinacy leaves the people crushed and without recourse from human authority. This hardness, while painful, advances God's purpose, for it leaves Israel with nowhere to turn but the LORD who has promised to deliver them.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Ezek 18:18As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he shall die in his iniquity.
- Dan 2:9–13But if you don’t make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.
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 5:18 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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