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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 5:17 "You are slackers!" Pharaoh replied. "Slackers! That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.'</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/5-17.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/02_Exo_05_17.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 5:17 - The Cry of the Israelites" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You are slackers! Pharaoh replied. Slackers! That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.'" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/exodus/5-17.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/exodus/5-17.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/exodus/">Exodus</a> > <a href="/exodus/5.htm">Chapter 5</a> > Verse 17</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad17.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/5-16.htm" title="Exodus 5:16">◄</a> Exodus 5:17 <a href="/exodus/5-18.htm" title="Exodus 5:18">►</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 />Pharaoh said, &#8220Lazy, that&#8217s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, &#8216Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But Pharaoh shouted, “You’re just lazy! Lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the LORD.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But he said, Ye <i>are</i> idle, <i>ye are</i> idle: therefore ye say, Let us go <i>and</i> do sacrifice to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But he said, “You <i>are</i> idle! Idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go <i>and</i> sacrifice to the LORD.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But he said, “You are lazy, <i>very</i> lazy; for that reason you say, ‘Let us go <i>and</i> sacrifice to the LORD.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />But he said, &#8220You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, &#8216Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />But he said, “You are lazy, <i>very</i> lazy; therefore you say, ‘Let us go <i>and</i> sacrifice to the LORD.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But he said, “You are lazy—lazy! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go <i>and</i> sacrifice to Yahweh.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But Pharaoh said, “You are lazy, very lazy <i>and</i> idle! That is why you say, ‘Let us go <i>and</i> sacrifice to the LORD.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But he said, “You are slackers. Slackers! That is why you are saying, ‘Let us go sacrifice to the LORD.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But he said, &#8220You are slackers. Slackers! That is why you are saying, &#8216Let us go sacrifice to the LORD.&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice to Jehovah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The king replied, "You are lazy--nothing but lazy! That's why you keep asking me to let you go and sacrifice to your LORD. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"You're lazy! [Just plain] lazy!" Pharaoh answered. "That's why you keep saying, 'Let us go offer sacrifices to the LORD.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The king answered, "You are lazy and don't want to work, and that is why you ask me to let you go and offer sacrifices to the LORD. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Pharaoh said, "You are lazy, lazy! That's why you're saying, 'Let's go offer sacrifices to the LORD.' <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?You are slackers!? Pharaoh replied. ?Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ?Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But Pharaoh replied, "You are slackers! Slackers! That is why you are saying, 'Let us go sacrifice to the LORD.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />But he said, "You are idle. You are idle. Therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to God.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go, and do sacrifice to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />But Pharaoh said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to Yahweh.’ <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And he says, “Remiss—you are remiss, therefore you are saying, Let us go, let us sacrifice to YHWH;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And he saith, 'Remiss -- ye are remiss, therefore ye are saying, Let us go, let us sacrifice to Jehovah;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will say, Ye are idle, ye are idle: for this ye said, We will go to sacrifice to Jehovah.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he said: You are idle, and therefore you say: Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he said: “You are idle. And for this reason you say, ‘We shall go and sacrifice to the Lord.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He answered, “Lazy! You are lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to the LORD.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He said, “You are lazy, lazy; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But Pharaoh said to them, You are surely idle; therefore you say, Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Pharaoh said to them, “Idle, you are idle, because of this you are saying, ‘Let us go, we will sacrifice to LORD JEHOVAH.’<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />But he said: 'Ye are idle, ye are idle; therefore ye say: Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he said to them, Ye are idle, ye are idlers: therefore ye say, Let us go <i>and</i> do sacrifice to our God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/5-17.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=1080" 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">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.” <span class="reftext">17</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at·tem (Pro-2mp) -- You (masc. sing.). ">“You</a> <a href="/hebrew/7503.htm" title="7503: nir·pîm (V-Nifal-Prtcpl-mp) -- Sink, relax. A primitive root; to slacken.">are slackers!”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">Pharaoh replied.</a> <a href="/hebrew/7503.htm" title="7503: nir·pîm (V-Nifal-Prtcpl-mp) -- Sink, relax. A primitive root; to slacken.">“Slackers!</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">That is why</a> <a href="/hebrew/3651.htm" title="3651: kên (Adv) -- So, thus. From kuwn; properly, set upright; hence just; but usually rightly or so."></a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at·tem (Pro-2mp) -- You (masc. sing.). ">you</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: ’ō·mə·rîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">keep saying,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: nê·lə·ḵāh (V-Qal-Imperf.Cohort-1cp) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">‘Let us go</a> <a href="/hebrew/2076.htm" title="2076: niz·bə·ḥāh (V-Qal-Imperf.Cohort-1cp) -- To slaughter for sacrifice. A primitive root; to slaughter an animal.">and sacrifice</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">to the LORD.’</a> </span><span class="reftext">18</span>Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”…<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/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/6-6.htm">Exodus 6:6-9</a></span><br />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. / And I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD!’” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/14-11.htm">Exodus 14:11-12</a></span><br />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/20-4.htm">Numbers 20:4-5</a></span><br />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="/isaiah/30-12.htm">Isaiah 30:12-14</a></span><br />Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “Because you have rejected this message, trusting in oppression and relying on deceit, / this iniquity of yours is like a breach about to fail, a bulge in a high wall, whose collapse will come suddenly—in an instant! / It will break in pieces like a potter’s jar, shattered so that no fragment can be found. Not a shard will be found in the dust large enough to scoop the coals from a hearth or to skim the water from a cistern.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/34-13.htm">Jeremiah 34:13-14</a></span><br />“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your forefathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, saying: / Every seventh year, each of you must free his Hebrew brother who has sold himself to you. He may serve you six years, but then you must let him go free. But your fathers did not listen or incline their ear.<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="/acts/13-17.htm">Acts 13:17</a></span><br />The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.<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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-1.htm">1 Corinthians 10:1-4</a></span><br />I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. / They all ate the same spiritual food ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/3-7.htm">Hebrews 3:7-9</a></span><br />Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, / do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But he said, You are idle, you are idle: therefore you say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/26-8.htm">Matthew 26:8</a></b></br> But when his disciples saw <i>it</i>, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose <i>is</i> this waste?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/6-27.htm">John 6:27</a></b></br> Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_thessalonians/3-10.htm">2 Thessalonians 3:10,11</a></b></br> For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/5-8.htm">Idle</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-12.htm">Lazy</a> <a href="/genesis/35-14.htm">Offering</a> <a href="/exodus/5-15.htm">Pharaoh</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-9.htm">Remiss</a> <a href="/exodus/5-8.htm">Sacrifice</a> <a href="/acts/24-25.htm">That's</a> <a href="/exodus/5-13.htm">Work</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/deuteronomy/32-47.htm">Idle</a> <a href="/proverbs/10-4.htm">Lazy</a> <a href="/exodus/8-8.htm">Offering</a> <a href="/exodus/5-20.htm">Pharaoh</a> <a href="/joshua/18-3.htm">Remiss</a> <a href="/exodus/8-8.htm">Sacrifice</a> <a href="/exodus/10-11.htm">That's</a> <a href="/exodus/5-18.htm">Work</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 />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <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>“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied.</b><br>Pharaoh's accusation of the Israelites as "slackers" reflects his perception of their request to worship as an excuse to avoid work. In the ancient Egyptian context, the Israelites were enslaved and expected to meet rigorous labor demands. Pharaoh's response reveals his hardened heart and lack of understanding of the Israelites' spiritual needs. This accusation also highlights the oppressive conditions under which the Israelites lived, emphasizing their need for deliverance. The term "slackers" underscores Pharaoh's dismissive attitude towards their plight, contrasting with God's compassion and plan for their freedom.<p><b>“Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’”</b><br>The repetition of "slackers" emphasizes Pharaoh's contempt and disbelief in the sincerity of the Israelites' request. The phrase "Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD" is significant as it represents the Israelites' desire to fulfill their covenantal obligations to God, which Pharaoh neither respects nor understands. This request is rooted in the cultural and religious practices of the time, where sacrifices were a central aspect of worship. The insistence on sacrificing to the LORD highlights the Israelites' identity as God's chosen people, set apart for His purposes. This narrative foreshadows the eventual Exodus, where God demonstrates His power over Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt, affirming His sovereignty and faithfulness to His promises.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/pharaoh.htm">Pharaoh</a></b><br>The ruler of Egypt, representing the oppressive power and authority that resists God's will. His heart is hardened against the Israelites and their God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses_and_aaron.htm">Moses and Aaron</a></b><br>God's chosen leaders to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. They are the ones who convey God's command to Pharaoh.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God who are enslaved in Egypt. They are suffering under harsh labor and are seeking deliverance.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a></b><br>The land where the Israelites are enslaved. It symbolizes a place of bondage and opposition to God's purposes.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/s/sacrifice_to_the_lord.htm">Sacrifice to the LORD</a></b><br>The request made by Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh, representing the Israelites' desire to worship and serve God freely.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_nature_of_oppression.htm">The Nature of Oppression</a></b><br>Pharaoh's accusation of laziness highlights how oppressors often dismiss legitimate spiritual needs and demands for freedom. Believers should be aware of how worldly systems can resist God's purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_cost_of_obedience.htm">The Cost of Obedience</a></b><br>Moses and Aaron's persistence in the face of Pharaoh's accusations teaches us the importance of steadfastness in obeying God's commands, even when faced with opposition.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a></b><br>Pharaoh's resistance is a reminder of the spiritual battle believers face. Just as Pharaoh resisted God's will, we must be prepared for spiritual resistance in our own lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_worship.htm">The Importance of Worship</a></b><br>The request to sacrifice to the LORD underscores the centrality of worship in the life of God's people. Worship is not just a ritual but a declaration of allegiance to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_deliverance.htm">Trust in God's Deliverance</a></b><br>Despite Pharaoh's harsh response, the account encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate plan for deliverance and freedom.<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_happens_in_exodus.htm">What events occur in the biblical book of Exodus?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_circumcision's_role_in_the_bible.htm">How does God's wrath manifest in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_of_moses_confronting_pharaoh.htm">Exodus 5:1: Where is the historical or archaeological evidence of Moses confronting an Egyptian Pharaoh as described?</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><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17) <span class= "bld">Ye are idle.</span>--Idleness was regarded by the Egyptians as one of the worst sins. It had to be specially disclaimed in the final judgment before Osiris (Birch, in Bunsen's <span class= "ital">Egypt,</span> vol. v. p. 254). Men sometimes disclaimed it in the epitaphs which they placed upon their tombs (<span class= "ital">Records of the Past,</span> vol. vi. p. 137). Pharaoh had already made the charge, by implication, against Moses and Aaron (<a href="/exodus/5-4.htm" title="And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do you, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you to your burdens.">Exodus 5:4</a>). No doubt, among the Egyptians themselves, a good deal of idleness resulted from the frequent attendance upon religious festivals (Herod. ii. 59-64). Hence the charge might seem plausible.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Ye are idle</span>, etc. Compare ver. 8. Pharaoh is evidently pleased with his "happy thought." It seems to him clever, witty, humorous, to tax overworked people with idleness; and equally clever to say to religious people - "Your religion is a mere pretence. You do not want to worship. You want a holiday." We may remark further that idleness and hypocrisy were two sins of the deepest dye, according to Egyptian notions. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/5-17.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">“You</span><br /><span class="heb">אַתֶּ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(’at·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are slackers,”</span><br /><span class="heb">נִרְפִּ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(nir·pîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7503.htm">Strong's 7503: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sink, relax</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Pharaoh replied.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֛אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Slackers!</span><br /><span class="heb">נִרְפִּ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(nir·pîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7503.htm">Strong's 7503: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sink, relax</span><br /><br /><span class="word">That is why</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you</span><br /><span class="heb">אַתֶּ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(’at·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">keep saying,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֹֽמְרִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·mə·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘Let us go</span><br /><span class="heb">נֵלְכָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(nê·lə·ḵāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, come, walk</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and sacrifice</span><br /><span class="heb">נִזְבְּחָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(niz·bə·ḥāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2076.htm">Strong's 2076: </a> </span><span class="str2">To slaughter for sacrifice</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the LORD.’</span><br /><span class="heb">לַֽיהוָֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/5-17.htm">Exodus 5:17 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/5-17.htm">Exodus 5:17 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/5-17.htm">Exodus 5:17 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/5-17.htm">Exodus 5:17 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/5-17.htm">Exodus 5:17 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/5-17.htm">Exodus 5:17 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/5-17.htm">Exodus 5:17 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/5-17.htm">Exodus 5:17 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/5-17.htm">Exodus 5:17 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/5-17.htm">Exodus 5:17 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/5-17.htm">OT Law: Exodus 5:17 But he said You are idle! (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/5-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 5:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 5:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/5-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 5:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 5:18" /></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>