Exodus 5:16
New International Version
Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”

New Living Translation
“We are given no straw, but the slave drivers still demand, ‘Make bricks!’ We are being beaten, but it isn’t our fault! Your own people are to blame!”

English Standard Version
No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.”

Berean Standard Bible
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.”

King James Bible
There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

New King James Version
There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, ‘Make brick!’ And indeed your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people.”

New American Standard Bible
There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.”

NASB 1995
“There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.”

NASB 1977
“There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.”

Legacy Standard Bible
There is no straw given to your slaves, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your slaves are being beaten; but it is the sin of your own people.”

Amplified Bible
No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And look, your servants are being beaten, but it is the fault of your own people.”

Christian Standard Bible
No straw has been given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks! ’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but it is your own people who are at fault.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
No straw has been given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but it is your own people who are at fault.”

American Standard Version
There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault it in thine own people.

Contemporary English Version
No one brings us any straw, but we are still ordered to make the same number of bricks. We are beaten with whips, and your own people are to blame."

English Revised Version
There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
We're given no straw, and yet we're told to make bricks. We're being beaten, but your men are at fault."

Good News Translation
We are given no straw, but we are still ordered to make bricks! And now we are being beaten. It is your people that are at fault."

International Standard Version
No straw is being given to us, yet they're saying to us, 'Make bricks!' Look, we are being beaten. It's wrong how you are treating your people!"

Majority Standard Bible
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.?

NET Bible
No straw is given to your servants, but we are told, 'Make bricks!' Your servants are even being beaten, but the fault is with your people."

New Heart English Bible
No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, 'Make brick.' and look, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people."

Webster's Bible Translation
There is no straw given to thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thy own people.

World English Bible
No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, ‘Make brick!’ and behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Straw is not given to your servants, and they are saying to us, Make bricks, and behold, your servants are struck—and your people have sinned.”

Young's Literal Translation
Straw is not given to thy servants, and they are saying to us, Make bricks, and lo, thy servants are smitten -- and thy people hath sinned.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Straw was not given to thy servants, and they said to us, Make bricks: and behold, thy servants were beaten; and the sin, thy people.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Straw is not given us, and bricks are required of us as before: behold we thy servants are beaten with whips, and thy people is unjustly dealt withal.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Straw is not given to us, and yet the same amount of bricks is commanded. So we, your servants, are cut up by scourging, and injustice is done against your people.”

New American Bible
No straw is supplied to your servants, and still we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look how your servants are beaten! It is you who are at fault.”

New Revised Standard Version
No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look how your servants are beaten! You are unjust to your own people.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
There is no straw given to your servants, and yet they say to us, Make bricks: and, behold, your servants are beaten; and you sin against your people.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Straw is not given to your Servants, and they were saying to us, ‘Cast bricks’, and behold, your Servants are beaten and you sin against your people.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us: Make brick; and, behold, thy servants are beaten, but the fault is in thine own people.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Straw is not given to thy servants, and they tell us to make brick; and behold thy servants have been scourged: thou wilt therefore injure thy people.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Cry of the Israelites
15So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? 16No 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.” 17“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’…

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 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 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 7:14-16
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go. / Go to Pharaoh in the morning as you see him walking out to the water. Wait on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. / 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 8:1-2
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. / But if you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs.

Exodus 9:1-2
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. / But if you continue to restrain them and refuse to let them go,

Exodus 10:3-4
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. / But if you refuse to let My people go, I will bring locusts into your territory tomorrow.

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 14:5-8
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.” / So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him. / He took 600 of the best chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. ...

Numbers 20:14-16
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 81:6-7
“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

Isaiah 14:3-4
On the day that the LORD gives you rest from your pain and torment, and from the hard labor into which you were forced, / you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended!


Treasury of Scripture

There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.

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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.














No straw is given
In the ancient process of brick-making, straw was a crucial component, mixed with clay to provide structural integrity. The Hebrew word for "straw" is "teben," which signifies the essential nature of this material in the task at hand. The absence of straw symbolizes a removal of necessary resources, reflecting a deeper spiritual truth about the burdens placed upon the Israelites. This phrase highlights the oppressive nature of Pharaoh's regime, which mirrors the spiritual oppression that sin imposes on humanity. The lack of provision from Pharaoh contrasts with God's provision for His people, reminding believers of the sufficiency found in God's grace.

to your servants
The term "servants" here is translated from the Hebrew word "ebed," which can mean servant, slave, or worker. This word choice emphasizes the Israelites' position of subjugation under Egyptian rule. In a broader theological context, it reflects the human condition of servitude to sin before redemption. The Israelites' cry for relief is a precursor to the ultimate deliverance that God promises, symbolizing the spiritual liberation that comes through faith in Christ.

yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’
The command to "make bricks" without the necessary materials underscores the unreasonable demands placed upon the Israelites. The Hebrew verb "asah" (to make or do) is used here, indicating action and production. This phrase illustrates the futility and frustration of trying to meet impossible standards, akin to the futility of attempting to achieve righteousness through works alone. It serves as a reminder of the need for divine intervention and grace, as human effort is insufficient for true deliverance.

Look, your servants are being beaten
The word "beaten" comes from the Hebrew "nakah," meaning to strike or smite. This harsh treatment of the Israelites is indicative of the cruelty and injustice they faced. Historically, this reflects the brutal reality of slavery in ancient Egypt. Spiritually, it symbolizes the suffering and persecution that God's people may endure in a fallen world. The cry for justice and relief is a recurring theme in Scripture, pointing to God's ultimate justice and the hope of redemption through Christ.

but the fault is with your own people
This phrase shifts the blame from the Israelites to the Egyptians, highlighting the injustice of the situation. The Hebrew word for "fault" is "chata," which can mean sin or offense. This accusation against the Egyptians underscores the moral and ethical failure of their leadership. In a broader sense, it reflects the human tendency to shift blame and avoid responsibility for sin. The verse calls believers to recognize the true source of their struggles and to seek God's righteousness and justice.

(16) The fault is in thine own people.--Heb., thy people is in fault. There can be no reasonable doubt that this clause is antithetical to the preceding one, and means that, though the Hebrews are punished, the people really in fault are the Egyptians.

Verse 16. - They say to us. Or, "they keep saying to us." The participle is used, which implies continuance or repetition. The fruit is in thine own people. Literally, "Thine own people is in fault," or "sins."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
No
אֵ֤ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

straw
תֶּ֗בֶן (te·ḇen)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8401: Material, refuse haum, stalks of grain

has been given
נִתָּן֙ (nit·tān)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

to your servants,
לַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ (la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

yet we are told,
אֹמְרִ֥ים (’ō·mə·rîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Make
עֲשׂ֑וּ (‘ă·śū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

bricks!’
וּלְבֵנִ֛ים (ū·lə·ḇê·nîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 3843: Brick, tile

Look,
וְהִנֵּ֧ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

your servants
עֲבָדֶ֛יךָ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

are being beaten,
מֻכִּ֖ים (muk·kîm)
Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5221: To strike

but the fault
וְחָטָ֥את (wə·ḥā·ṭāṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

[is] with your own people.”
עַמֶּֽךָ׃ (‘am·me·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock


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OT Law: Exodus 5:16 No straw is given to your servants (Exo. Ex)
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