Exodus 5:18
New International Version
Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.”

New Living Translation
Now get back to work! No straw will be given to you, but you must still produce the full quota of bricks.”

English Standard Version
Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.”

Berean Standard Bible
Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”

King James Bible
Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.

New King James Version
Therefore go now and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the quota of bricks.”

New American Standard Bible
So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, but you must deliver the quota of bricks.”

NASB 1995
“So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks.”

NASB 1977
“So go now and work; for you shall be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, go and labor; but straw will not be given to you, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks.”

Amplified Bible
Get out now and get to work; for no straw will be given to you, yet you are to deliver the same quota of bricks.”

Christian Standard Bible
Now get to work. No straw will be given to you, but you must produce the same quantity of bricks.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now get to work. No straw will be given to you, but you must produce the same quantity of bricks.”

American Standard Version
Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the number of bricks.

Contemporary English Version
Get back to work! You won't be given straw, but you must still make the same number of bricks."

English Revised Version
Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Now get back to work! You won't be given any straw, but you must still make the same number of bricks."

Good News Translation
Now get back to work! You will not be given any straw, but you must still make the same number of bricks."

International Standard Version
Now, go! Get to work! And straw won't be given to you, but you are to deliver the same number of bricks!"

Majority Standard Bible
Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”

NET Bible
So now, get back to work! You will not be given straw, but you must still produce your quota of bricks!"

New Heart English Bible
Go therefore now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks."

Webster's Bible Translation
Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the number of bricks.

World English Bible
Go therefore now, and work; for no straw shall be given to you; yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and now, go, serve; and straw is not given to you, and you give the [required] measure of bricks.”

Young's Literal Translation
and now, go, serve; and straw is not given to you, and the measure of bricks ye do give.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And now go, work; and straw shall not be given to you, and ye shall give the measure of bricks.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Go therefore, and work: straw shall not be given you, and you shall deliver the accustomed number of bricks.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, go and work. Straw will not be given to you, and you will return the customary number of bricks.”

New American Bible
Now off to work! No straw will be supplied to you, but you must supply your quota of bricks.”

New Revised Standard Version
Go now, and work; for no straw shall be given you, but you shall still deliver the same number of bricks.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Go therefore now and work; and straw shall not be given you, yet you shall deliver the number of bricks.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Now go and work, and straw will not be given to you and you shall give the number of the bricks.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Now then go and work, for straw shall not be given to you, yet ye shall return the rate of bricks.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Cry of the Israelites
17“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ 18Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.” 19The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”…

Cross References
Exodus 1:13-14
They worked the Israelites ruthlessly / and 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.

Exodus 2:23
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.

Exodus 6:6-7
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.

Exodus 3:7-9
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.

Exodus 4:29-31
Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the Israelites, / and Aaron relayed everything the LORD had said to Moses. And Moses performed the signs before the people, / and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites and had seen their affliction, they bowed down and worshiped.

Exodus 7:16
Then say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened.

Exodus 9:1
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

Exodus 10:3
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

Exodus 12:31-33
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. / Take your flocks and herds as well, just as you have said, and depart! And bless me also.” / And in order to send them out of the land quickly, the Egyptians urged the people on. “For otherwise,” they said, “we are all going to die!”

Leviticus 25:43
You are not to rule over them harshly, but you shall fear your God.

Deuteronomy 26:6-8
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. / Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, signs, and wonders.

Nehemiah 9:9-10
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.

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 50:33-34
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.


Treasury of Scripture

Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall you deliver the tale of bricks.

yet shall ye deliver

Ezekiel 18:18
As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.

Daniel 2:9-13
But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof…

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Bricks Deliver Dry Full Measure Produce Quota Serve Stems Straw Tale Work
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Bricks Deliver Dry Full Measure Produce Quota Serve Stems Straw Tale Work
Exodus 5
1. Pharaoh chides Moses and Aaron for their message.
6. He increases the Israelites' task.
16. He ignores their complaints.
19. They cry out to Moses and Aaron.
22. Moses complains to God.














So now, get to work
This phrase is a direct command from Pharaoh to the Israelites, emphasizing the harshness and oppression they faced. The Hebrew root for "get to work" is עֲבֹדָה (avodah), which means labor or service. This word is often used in the context of servitude or forced labor, highlighting the Israelites' suffering under Egyptian bondage. Historically, this reflects the brutal conditions of slavery in ancient Egypt, where the Israelites were forced to build cities and work in the fields without respite.

You will be given no straw
Straw was a crucial component in brick-making in ancient Egypt, used to bind the clay and make the bricks stronger. The Hebrew word for straw is תֶּבֶן (teben). By withholding straw, Pharaoh increased the Israelites' workload, forcing them to gather their own materials while maintaining their production quota. This act of cruelty is symbolic of the increasing oppression and serves as a test of faith for the Israelites, who are being pushed to their limits.

yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks
The phrase "full quota" in Hebrew is מַתְכֹּנֶת (matkonet), meaning the full measure or tally. This demand was unreasonable and impossible to meet without the necessary materials, illustrating Pharaoh's tyrannical rule and disregard for the well-being of the Israelites. Scripturally, this situation sets the stage for God's intervention, as it becomes clear that human efforts alone cannot deliver the Israelites from their plight. It underscores the need for divine deliverance and foreshadows the miraculous events that will follow.

Verse 18. - Go therefore now and work - i.e. "Off with you to the brickfields at once, and get to your own special work of superintendence, which you are neglecting so long as you remain here. It is useless to remain. I reject both of your requests. Straw shall not be given; and the tale of bricks required shall be no less."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now
וְעַתָּה֙ (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

get to
לְכ֣וּ (lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

work.
עִבְד֔וּ (‘iḇ·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

You
לָכֶ֑ם (lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

will be given
יִנָּתֵ֣ן (yin·nā·ṯên)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

no
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

straw,
וְתֶ֖בֶן (wə·ṯe·ḇen)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8401: Material, refuse haum, stalks of grain

yet you must deliver
תִּתֵּֽנּוּ׃ (tit·tên·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

the full quota
וְתֹ֥כֶן (wə·ṯō·ḵen)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8506: A fixed quantity

of bricks.”
לְבֵנִ֖ים (lə·ḇê·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 3843: Brick, tile


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OT Law: Exodus 5:18 Go therefore now and work for no (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 5:17
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