Exodus 5:5
New International Version
Then Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working.”

New Living Translation
Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their work.”

English Standard Version
And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!”

Berean Standard Bible
Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”

King James Bible
And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

New King James Version
And Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!”

New American Standard Bible
Again Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!”

NASB 1995
Again Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!”

NASB 1977
Again Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!”

Legacy Standard Bible
And Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their hard labors!”

Amplified Bible
Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them stop their work!”

Christian Standard Bible
Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are so numerous, and you would stop them from their labor.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are so numerous, and you would stop them from working.”

American Standard Version
And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land are now many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

English Revised Version
And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land are now many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Pharaoh added, "Look how many people there are in the land! Do you want them to quit working?"

Good News Translation
You people have become more numerous than the Egyptians. And now you want to stop working!"

International Standard Version
Then Pharaoh said, "Look, the people in the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working."

Majority Standard Bible
Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”

NET Bible
Pharaoh was thinking, "The people of the land are now many, and you are giving them rest from their labor."

New Heart English Bible
Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

World English Bible
Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Pharaoh also says, “Behold, the people of the land [are] numerous now, and you have caused them to cease from their burdens!”

Young's Literal Translation
Pharaoh also saith, 'Lo, numerous now is the people of the land, and ye have caused them to cease from their burdens!'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Pharaoh will say, Behold, many now are the people of the land, and ye turned them away from their burdens.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Pharao said: The people of the land is numerous: you see that the multitude is increased: how much more if you give them rest from their works?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Pharaoh said: “The people of the land are many. You see that the turmoil has increased: how much more if you give them rest from the works?”

New American Bible
Pharaoh continued, “Look how they are already more numerous than the people of the land, and yet you would give them rest from their labors!”

New Revised Standard Version
Pharaoh continued, “Now they are more numerous than the people of the land and yet you want them to stop working!”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Pharaoh said to them, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and you cause them to stop from their work.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Pharaoh said to them, “Behold, now the people of the land are many, and you stop them from their works.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Pharaoh said: 'Behold, the people of the land are now many, and will ye make them rest from their burdens?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Pharao said, Behold now, the people is very numerous; let us not then give them rest from their work.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Pharaoh's First Refusal
4But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!” 5Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”

Cross References
Exodus 1:11-14
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 ...

Exodus 2:23-25
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.

Exodus 3:7-10
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 6:6-9
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!’” ...

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 8:1
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

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!”

Exodus 14:5
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”

Numbers 20:14-21
From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us, / how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, / and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. ...

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 105:25-36
whose hearts He turned to hate His people, to conspire against His servants. / He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron, whom He had chosen. / They performed His miraculous signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. ...

Isaiah 52:4
For this is what the Lord GOD says: “At first My people went down to Egypt to live, then Assyria oppressed them without cause.


Treasury of Scripture

And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and you make them rest from their burdens.

Exodus 1:7-11
And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them…

Proverbs 14:28
In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

Jump to Previous
Burdens Caused Cease Increasing Keeping Labors Numerous Pharaoh Rest Stopping Wish Work Working
Jump to Next
Burdens Caused Cease Increasing Keeping Labors Numerous Pharaoh Rest Stopping Wish Work Working
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.














Pharaoh also said
The term "Pharaoh" refers to the title used for the ancient Egyptian monarchs. In the context of Exodus, Pharaoh represents the epitome of earthly power and opposition to God's will. Historically, Pharaohs were considered divine or semi-divine figures, which adds to the tension in the narrative as Moses, a servant of the true God, confronts him. This phrase indicates Pharaoh's authoritative voice and his role as the antagonist in the unfolding account of Israel's deliverance.

Look
This word is a call to attention, emphasizing the urgency and importance of the situation. It suggests that Pharaoh is drawing attention to a perceived problem, which in his view, is the growing number of Israelites. The use of "look" here is a rhetorical device to assert his perspective and control over the narrative, attempting to justify his subsequent actions.

the people of the land
This phrase refers to the Israelites, who were living in Egypt at the time. Historically, the Israelites had settled in Egypt during a time of famine, as recounted in the account of Joseph. Over time, they had grown into a large community. The term "people of the land" underscores their identity as a distinct group within Egypt, highlighting the tension between their increasing numbers and their status as foreigners and slaves.

are now numerous
The Hebrew root for "numerous" conveys the idea of multiplication and growth. This reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5). From a historical perspective, the rapid growth of the Israelite population would have been seen as a threat to the Egyptians, who feared being outnumbered and potentially overpowered.

and you would be stopping them
This phrase indicates Pharaoh's accusation against Moses and Aaron, suggesting that their actions are disruptive. The Hebrew root for "stopping" implies a cessation or interruption of activity. Pharaoh perceives the request for a religious observance as a direct challenge to his authority and the economic stability of Egypt, which relied heavily on the labor of the Israelites.

from their labor
The word "labor" here refers to the forced work imposed on the Israelites, which was harsh and oppressive. This labor was central to the Egyptian economy, particularly in construction and agriculture. Theologically, this highlights the bondage from which God intends to deliver His people, setting the stage for the subsequent plagues and the eventual Exodus. The contrast between Pharaoh's desire to keep the Israelites in labor and God's plan for their freedom underscores the central theme of liberation in the book of Exodus.

(5) And Pharaoh said.--Moses and Aaron having retired, re infecta, Pharaoh turns to the officers of his court and reproaches them with allowing the Hebrews to be idle. They have time to hold meetings (Exodus 4:30-31), and listen to inflammatory harangues, and depute leaders to make very inconvenient proposals--why are they not kept closer to their tasks? Some change of system is requisite.

Make them rest.--Rather, "let them rest."

Verse 5. - The people are many. This is added as an aggravation of the offence charged in the last verse. The people are numerous. Therefore the greater damage is done to the crown by putting a stop to their labours. With these words the first interview between the Israelite leaders and the Egyptian monarch ends. Moses and Aaron, we must suppose, retired discomfited from the royal presence.

CHAPTER 5:6-9

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Pharaoh
פַּרְעֹ֔ה (par·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings

also said,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Look,
הֵן־ (hên-)
Interjection
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

the people
עַ֣ם (‘am)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

of the land
הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

are now numerous,
רַבִּ֥ים (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

and you would be stopping
וְהִשְׁבַּתֶּ֥ם (wə·hiš·bat·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7673: To repose, desist from exertion

them
אֹתָ֖ם (’ō·ṯām)
Direct object marker | third person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

from their labor.”
מִסִּבְלֹתָֽם׃ (mis·siḇ·lō·ṯām)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5450: Porterage


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OT Law: Exodus 5:5 Pharaoh said Behold the people (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 5:4
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