Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version and worked them ruthlessly. New Living Translation So the Egyptians worked the people of Israel without mercy. English Standard Version So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves Berean Standard Bible They worked the Israelites ruthlessly King James Bible And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: New King James Version So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. New American Standard Bible The Egyptians used violence to compel the sons of Israel to labor; NASB 1995 The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously; NASB 1977 And the Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously; Legacy Standard Bible So the Egyptians brutally compelled the sons of Israel to slave labor; Amplified Bible And the Egyptians made the Israelites serve rigorously [forcing them into severe slavery]. Christian Standard Bible They worked the Israelites ruthlessly Holman Christian Standard Bible They worked the Israelites ruthlessly American Standard Version And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor: Contemporary English Version and made them work so hard English Revised Version And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: GOD'S WORD® Translation So they forced the Israelites to work hard as slaves. International Standard Version The Egyptians ruthlessly forced the Israelis to serve them, Majority Standard Bible They worked the Israelites ruthlessly NET Bible and they made the Israelites serve rigorously. New Heart English Bible And the Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel labor, Webster's Bible Translation And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor. World English Bible The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve, Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand the Egyptians cause the sons of Israel to serve with rigor, Young's Literal Translation and the Egyptians cause the sons of Israel to serve with rigour, Smith's Literal Translation And the Egyptians will make the sons of Israel serve by oppression. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the Egyptians hated the children of Israel, and afflicted them and mocked them: Catholic Public Domain Version And the Egyptians hated the sons of Israel, and they afflicted them and mocked them. New American Bible So the Egyptians reduced the Israelites to cruel slavery, New Revised Standard Version The Egyptians became ruthless in imposing tasks on the Israelites, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo the Egyptians oppressed the children of Israel severely; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the Egyptians were oppressing the children of Israel with hardship: OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the Egyptians tyrannised over the children of Israel by force. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Oppression by a New King…12But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. 13They worked the Israelites ruthlessly 14and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.… Cross References Exodus 5:9 Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.” Exodus 6:9 Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of their broken spirit and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him. Leviticus 25:43 You are not to rule over them harshly, but you shall fear your God. Deuteronomy 26:6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor. Judges 10:16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel. 1 Kings 9:21 their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day. Nehemiah 9:27 So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies. Psalm 81:6 “I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket. Isaiah 14:3 On the day that the LORD gives you rest from your pain and torment, and from the hard labor into which you were forced, Jeremiah 50:33 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. Ezekiel 34:27 The trees of the field will give their fruit, and the land will yield its produce; My flock will be secure in their land. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and delivered them from the hands that enslaved them. Matthew 23:4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Luke 11:46 “Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “For you weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load. John 8:34 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Acts 7:19 He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die. Treasury of Scripture And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor: no reference Jump to Previous Cause Children Compelled Egyptians Harder Harshness Israel Labor Rigor Rigorously Rigour Ruthlessly Serve Work WorkedJump to Next Cause Children Compelled Egyptians Harder Harshness Israel Labor Rigor Rigorously Rigour Ruthlessly Serve Work WorkedExodus 1 1. The children of Israel, after Joseph's death, increase.8. The more they are oppressed by a new king, the more they multiply. 15. The godliness of the midwives in saving the male children alive. 22. Pharaoh commands the male children to be cast into the river They worked the Israelites ruthlessly The phrase "They worked the Israelites ruthlessly" refers to the oppressive labor imposed on the Israelites by the Egyptians. This period marks the beginning of Israel's enslavement in Egypt, a significant event in biblical history. The Egyptians, fearing the growing population of the Israelites, sought to suppress them through harsh labor. This oppression fulfills the prophecy given to Abraham in Genesis 15:13, where God foretold that his descendants would be strangers in a land not their own and would be enslaved and mistreated for 400 years. The term "ruthlessly" indicates the severity and cruelty of the Egyptians' treatment. This harshness is further described in Exodus 1:14, where the Israelites are forced to perform backbreaking labor in brick and mortar and all kinds of fieldwork. The Egyptians' intent was to break the spirit of the Israelites and control their population growth, as seen in Pharaoh's earlier decree to kill all newborn Hebrew boys (Exodus 1:16). Culturally, this period of enslavement is significant as it sets the stage for the eventual deliverance of the Israelites, a central theme in the book of Exodus. The harsh treatment of the Israelites contrasts with God's promise of deliverance and blessing, highlighting the tension between human oppression and divine salvation. Theologically, this oppression can be seen as a type of the bondage of sin, from which Christ delivers believers. Just as God raised Moses to lead the Israelites out of physical slavery, Jesus Christ is seen as the ultimate deliverer who frees humanity from spiritual slavery. This connection is reinforced in the New Testament, where Jesus is often portrayed as the new Moses, leading His people to spiritual freedom. In summary, this phrase encapsulates the beginning of a pivotal period in Israel's history, characterized by severe oppression that ultimately leads to their deliverance and the fulfillment of God's promises. Persons / Places / Events 1. PharaohThe ruler of Egypt who enslaved the Israelites, fearing their growing numbers and potential power. 2. Israelites The descendants of Jacob (Israel) who were living in Egypt and subjected to harsh slavery. 3. Egypt The land where the Israelites were enslaved, representing a place of oppression and bondage. 4. Taskmasters Egyptian overseers appointed by Pharaoh to enforce the harsh labor on the Israelites. 5. Moses Though not directly mentioned in this verse, he is a central figure in the Exodus account, eventually leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Teaching Points Understanding OppressionRecognize that oppression and suffering are not outside of God's knowledge or plan. He is aware and has a purpose even in difficult circumstances. God's Faithfulness Trust in God's promises. Just as He foretold the Israelites' enslavement and eventual deliverance, He is faithful to His word. Cry Out to God In times of distress, follow the example of the Israelites by crying out to God, knowing that He hears and responds to the cries of His people. Spiritual Bondage Reflect on the spiritual bondage of sin and how God offers deliverance through Jesus Christ, paralleling the physical deliverance of the Israelites. Perseverance in Trials Learn to persevere through trials, understanding that God can use them to strengthen faith and character.(13) With rigour.--Forced labour in Egypt was of a very severe character. Those condemned to it worked from morning to night under the rod of a task-master, which was freely applied to their legs or backs, if they rested their weary limbs for a moment. (See Records of the Past, vol. viii. p. 149; Chabas, Melanges Egyptolo-giques, vol. ii. p. 121). The heat of the sun was great; the burthens which the labourers had to carry were heavy, and the toil was incessant. Death often resulted from the, excessive work. According to Herodotus, a single monarch, Neco, destroyed in this way 120,000 of his subjects (Herod, ii. 158).Verse 13. - The Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour. The word translated rigour is a very rare one. It is derived from a root which means "to break in pieces, to crush." The "rigour" would be shown especially in the free use of the stick by the taskmaster, and in the prolongation of the hours of work. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew They workedוַיַּעֲבִ֧דוּ (way·ya·‘ă·ḇi·ḏū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave the Israelites בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son ruthlessly בְּפָֽרֶךְ׃ (bə·p̄ā·reḵ) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6531: Harshness, severity Links Exodus 1:13 NIVExodus 1:13 NLT Exodus 1:13 ESV Exodus 1:13 NASB Exodus 1:13 KJV Exodus 1:13 BibleApps.com Exodus 1:13 Biblia Paralela Exodus 1:13 Chinese Bible Exodus 1:13 French Bible Exodus 1:13 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 1:13 The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children (Exo. Ex) |