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Exodus 5:15 So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: "Why are you treating your servants this way?
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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad15.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/5-14.htm" title="Exodus 5:14">◄</a> Exodus 5:15 <a href="/exodus/5-16.htm" title="Exodus 5:16">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/exodus/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/exodus/5.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why have you treated your servants this way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him. “Please don’t treat your servants like this,” they begged.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why are you dealing thus with your servants?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your slaves?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then the Hebrew foremen came to Pharaoh and cried, “Why do you deal like this with your servants?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So the Israelite foremen went in and cried for help to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So the Israelite foremen went in and cried for help to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Finally, the men in charge of the slaves went to the king and said, "Why are you treating us like this? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Then the Israelite foremen complained to Pharaoh. They asked, "Why are you treating us this way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then the foremen went to the king and complained, "Why do you do this to us, Your Majesty? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The Israeli supervisors came and cried out to Pharaoh, "Why are you doing this to us?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: ?Why are you treating your servants this way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The Israelite foremen went and cried out to Pharaoh, "Why are you treating your servants this way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, Why dealest thou thus with thy servants?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And the authorities of the sons of Israel come in and cry to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you do thus to your servants?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And the authorities of the sons of Israel come in and cry unto Pharaoh, saying, 'Why dost thou thus to thy servants?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the scribes of the sons of Israel will come in, and will cry to Pharaoh, saying, For what wilt thou do this to thy servants?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the officers of the children of Israel came, and cried out to Pharao, saying: Why dealest thou so with thy servants? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And the first among the sons of Israel came, and they cried out to Pharaoh, saying: “Why do act against your servants in this way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Then the Israelite foremen came and cried out to Pharaoh: “Why do you treat your servants in this manner?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the Israelite supervisors came to Pharaoh and cried, “Why do you treat your servants like this?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Then the scribes of the children of Israel came and complained to Pharaoh, saying, Why are your servants treated in this manner?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the Scribes of the children of Israel came and they complained before Pharaoh, and they were saying, “Why is this done so to your Servants?<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying: 'Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the accountants of the children of Israel went in and cried to Pharao, saying, Why dost thou act thus to thy servants?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/5-15.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=1065" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/5.htm">The Cry of the Israelites</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">15</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bə·nê (N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">So the Israelite</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7860.htm" title="7860: šō·ṭə·rê (N-mpc) -- Active participle of an otherwise unused root probably meaning to write; properly, a scribe, i.e. an official superintendent or magistrate.">foremen</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: way·yā·ḇō·’ū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">went</a> <a href="/hebrew/6817.htm" title="6817: way·yiṣ·‘ă·qū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To cry, cry out, call. A primitive root; to shriek; to proclaim.">and appealed</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/6547.htm" title="6547: par·‘ōh (N-proper-ms) -- A title of Eg. kings. Of Egyptian derivation; Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings.">Pharaoh:</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: lê·mōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: lām·māh (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">“Why</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ṯa·‘ă·śeh (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">are you treating</a> <a href="/hebrew/5650.htm" title="5650: la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā (Prep-l:: N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Slave, servant. From abad; a servant.">your servants</a> <a href="/hebrew/3541.htm" title="3541: ḵōh (Adv) -- Thus, here. From the prefix k and huw'; properly, like this, i.e. By implication, thus; also here; or now.">this way?</a> </span><span class="reftext">16</span>No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/1-11.htm">Exodus 1:11-14</a></span><br />So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. / But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. / They worked the Israelites ruthlessly ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/2-23.htm">Exodus 2:23-25</a></span><br />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. / So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. / God saw the Israelites and took notice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/3-7.htm">Exodus 3:7-9</a></span><br />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. / I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. / And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/6-5.htm">Exodus 6:5-9</a></span><br />Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant. / Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. / I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/14-10.htm">Exodus 14:10-12</a></span><br />As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD. / They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? / 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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/20-3.htm">Numbers 20:3-5</a></span><br />The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD! / 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!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/26-6.htm">Deuteronomy 26:6-7</a></span><br />But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor. / So we called out to the LORD, the God of our fathers; and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, toil, and oppression.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/9-9.htm">Nehemiah 9:9-10</a></span><br />You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt; You heard their cry at the Red Sea. / You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/81-6.htm">Psalm 81:6-7</a></span><br />“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket. / You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/105-25.htm">Psalm 105:25-26</a></span><br />whose hearts He turned to hate His people, to conspire against His servants. / He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron, whom He had chosen.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/19-20.htm">Isaiah 19:20</a></span><br />It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender to rescue them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/50-33.htm">Jeremiah 50:33-34</a></span><br />This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “The sons of Israel are oppressed, and the sons of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to release them. / Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of Hosts is His name. He will fervently plead their case so that He may bring rest to the earth, but turmoil to those who live in Babylon.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-24.htm">Acts 7:24-25</a></span><br />And when he saw one of them being mistreated, Moses went to his defense and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian who was oppressing him. / He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-34.htm">Acts 7:34</a></span><br />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.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-17.htm">Romans 9:17-18</a></span><br />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.” / Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, Why deal you thus with your servants?</p><p class="hdg">no reference </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/19-9.htm">Acting</a> <a href="/2_peter/1-3.htm">Appealed</a> <a href="/exodus/5-10.htm">Authorities</a> <a href="/genesis/50-18.htm">Bondmen</a> <a href="/exodus/5-14.htm">Children</a> <a href="/exodus/2-23.htm">Cried</a> <a href="/exodus/5-8.htm">Cry</a> <a href="/exodus/1-10.htm">Deal</a> <a href="/isaiah/33-1.htm">Dealest</a> <a href="/exodus/5-10.htm">Foremen</a> <a href="/exodus/5-14.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/genesis/36-31.htm">Israelite</a> <a href="/exodus/5-14.htm">Officers</a> <a href="/exodus/5-10.htm">Pharaoh</a> <a href="/exodus/5-10.htm">Responsible</a> <a href="/genesis/50-18.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/genesis/42-30.htm">Treated</a> <a href="/exodus/4-24.htm">Way</a> <a href="/exodus/5-14.htm">Wherefore</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/31-10.htm">Acting</a> <a href="/joshua/10-3.htm">Appealed</a> <a href="/exodus/5-19.htm">Authorities</a> <a href="/exodus/5-16.htm">Bondmen</a> <a href="/exodus/5-19.htm">Children</a> <a href="/exodus/8-12.htm">Cried</a> <a href="/exodus/6-5.htm">Cry</a> <a href="/exodus/8-22.htm">Deal</a> <a href="/numbers/11-15.htm">Dealest</a> <a href="/exodus/5-19.htm">Foremen</a> <a href="/exodus/5-19.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/exodus/5-19.htm">Israelite</a> <a href="/exodus/5-19.htm">Officers</a> <a href="/exodus/5-17.htm">Pharaoh</a> <a href="/exodus/5-19.htm">Responsible</a> <a href="/exodus/5-16.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/exodus/5-22.htm">Treated</a> <a href="/exodus/5-20.htm">Way</a> <a href="/exodus/5-22.htm">Wherefore</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 5</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/5-1.htm">Pharaoh chides Moses and Aaron for their message.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/5-6.htm">He increases the Israelites' task.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/5-16.htm">He ignores their complaints.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/5-19.htm">They cry out to Moses and Aaron.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/5-22.htm">Moses complains to God.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/exodus/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh:</b><br>The Israelite foremen were likely Hebrew overseers appointed by the Egyptians to manage the labor of their fellow Israelites. This reflects the hierarchical structure of labor in ancient Egypt, where native overseers were often used to control foreign labor forces. The act of appealing to Pharaoh indicates a level of desperation and a belief that Pharaoh might be reasonable or unaware of the harsh conditions. This moment highlights the increasing oppression of the Israelites, setting the stage for God's deliverance. It also foreshadows the hardening of Pharaoh's heart, a recurring theme in the narrative.<p><b>“Why are you treating your servants this way?:</b><br>The term "servants" here is significant, as it reflects the Israelites' subjugated status under Egyptian rule. This question underscores the injustice and harshness of their treatment, which had escalated since Moses and Aaron's initial request to let the Israelites go. The foremen's plea is a cry for justice and fair treatment, resonating with the broader biblical theme of God's concern for the oppressed. This situation also prefigures the ultimate liberation that God will bring, contrasting human injustice with divine justice. The question posed by the foremen can be seen as a type of intercession, a role that Jesus Christ fulfills as the ultimate mediator between God and humanity.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelite_foremen.htm">Israelite Foremen</a></b><br>These were the 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.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/p/pharaoh.htm">Pharaoh</a></b><br>The ruler of Egypt, representing the oppressive power that enslaved the Israelites. His heart was hardened against the pleas of the Israelites and their God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a></b><br>The land where the Israelites were enslaved. It symbolizes bondage and oppression in the biblical account.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses_and_aaron.htm">Moses and Aaron</a></b><br>Though not directly mentioned in this verse, they are key figures in the surrounding account, tasked by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_appeal.htm">The Appeal</a></b><br>The act of the Israelite foremen going to Pharaoh represents a desperate plea for relief from their harsh conditions.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_burden_of_leadership.htm">The Burden of Leadership</a></b><br>The Israelite foremen were in a difficult position, highlighting the challenges leaders face when caught between authority and the welfare of their people. Leaders today must navigate similar tensions with wisdom and integrity.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/crying_out_for_justice.htm">Crying Out for Justice</a></b><br>The foremen's appeal to Pharaoh reflects a universal human cry for justice. Believers are encouraged to bring their pleas to God, who hears and responds to the cries of the oppressed.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_hardness_of_heart.htm">The Hardness of Heart</a></b><br>Pharaoh's refusal to listen is a warning against the dangers of a hardened heart. Christians are called to remain open to God's voice and the needs of others.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_oppression.htm">God's Sovereignty in Oppression</a></b><br>Despite Pharaoh's harshness, God was at work to fulfill His promises. Believers can trust in God's sovereignty and timing, even in difficult circumstances.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/intercession_and_advocacy.htm">Intercession and Advocacy</a></b><br>The foremen's role as intermediaries points to the importance of intercession and advocacy for those who are suffering. Christians are called to stand in the gap for others in prayer and action.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 5</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_the_ten_plagues_in_the_bible.htm">What were the Ten Plagues of Egypt in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_did_moses_mean_by_'let_my_people_go'.htm">What did Moses mean by 'Let my people go'?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/could_enslaved_leaders_safely_confront_pharaoh.htm">Exodus 5:20-21: Would enslaved leaders realistically have such direct access to Pharaoh and survive speaking against him?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_aren't_babylon_egypt_judged_like_ezekiel_22_15.htm">Why is there no mention of any other civilizations, such as Babylon or Egypt, being judged in the same manner as described in Ezekiel 22:15, despite historical records of their own atrocities?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(15) <span class= "bld">The officers . . . came and cried unto Pharaoh.</span>--The Egyptian monarchs were accessible to all. It was a part of their duty to hear complaints personally; and they, for the most part, devoted to this employment the earlier hours of each day (see Herod. ii. 173;. Those who came to them generally <span class= "ital">cried</span> to them for justice, as is the Oriental wont.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 15-19.</span> - Smarting under the sense of injustice, the Israelite officers "came and cried to Pharaoh" (ver. 15), supposing that he could not have intended such manifest unfairness and cruelty. They were conscious to themselves of having done their utmost, and of having failed simply because the thing required was impossible. Surely the king would understand this, if they pointed it out, and would either allow straw as before, or diminish the number of the bricks. But the king had no desire for justice, and did not even pretend to it. He asked for no particulars, ordered no inquiry into the ground of complaint; but turned upon the complainants with the cuckoo cry - "Idle, <span class="accented">idle</span> yourselves - else ye had no time to come here; go, work - go, work." Then the officers felt that they were indeed "in evil case" (ver. 19) - the king was determined not to do justice - no hope remained - they must be beaten again and again, until they died of the punishment (ver. 21). <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 15.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Came and cried</span>. The shrill "cry" of Orientals when making complaint has often been noticed by travellers, and is probably here alluded to. <span class="cmt_word">To Pharaoh</span>. See the "Introductory paragraph" at the beginning of the chapter, where it has been noticed that complainants had free access to the presence of Egyptian kings. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/5-15.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">So the Israelite</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּנֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(bə·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">foremen</span><br /><span class="heb">שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙</span> <span class="translit">(šō·ṭə·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7860.htm">Strong's 7860: </a> </span><span class="str2">A scribe, an official superintendent, magistrate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">went</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yā·ḇō·’ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and appealed</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiṣ·‘ă·qū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6817.htm">Strong's 6817: </a> </span><span class="str2">To shriek, to proclaim</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Pharaoh:</span><br /><span class="heb">פַּרְעֹ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(par·‘ōh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6547.htm">Strong's 6547: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Why</span><br /><span class="heb">לָ֧מָּה</span> <span class="translit">(lām·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> </span><span class="str2">What?, what!, indefinitely what</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are you treating</span><br /><span class="heb">תַעֲשֶׂ֦ה</span> <span class="translit">(ṯa·‘ă·śeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your servants</span><br /><span class="heb">לַעֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃</span> <span class="translit">(la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5650.htm">Strong's 5650: </a> </span><span class="str2">Slave, servant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this way?</span><br /><span class="heb">כֹ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(ḵōh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3541.htm">Strong's 3541: </a> </span><span class="str2">Like this, thus, here, now</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/5-15.htm">Exodus 5:15 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/5-15.htm">Exodus 5:15 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/5-15.htm">Exodus 5:15 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/5-15.htm">Exodus 5:15 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/5-15.htm">Exodus 5:15 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/5-15.htm">Exodus 5:15 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/5-15.htm">Exodus 5:15 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/5-15.htm">Exodus 5:15 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/5-15.htm">Exodus 5:15 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/5-15.htm">Exodus 5:15 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/5-15.htm">OT Law: Exodus 5:15 Then the officers of the children (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/5-14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 5:14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 5:14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/5-16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 5:16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 5:16" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>