The Meaning of Exodus 5:15 Explained

Exodus 5:15

KJV: Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

YLT: And the authorities of the sons of Israel come in and cry unto Pharaoh, saying, 'Why dost thou thus to thy servants?

Darby: Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, Why dost thou deal thus with thy bondmen?

ASV: Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then the officers  of the children  of Israel  came  and cried  unto Pharaoh,  saying,  Wherefore dealest  thou thus with thy servants? 

What does Exodus 5:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 5:15-23 - Moses Appeals From Pharaoh To God
God's way is to bring men to an end of themselves before He arises to their help. Our efforts to deliver ourselves only end in increasing our perplexities. The tale of bricks is doubled; the burdens augment; the strength of our purpose is broken; we are brought to the edge of despair. Probably this was the darkest hour in the life of the great leader. But from all the obloquy that was heaped on him, he took refuge in God. There is no other refuge for a limited man than "to return unto the Lord," Exodus 5:22. Return unto the Lord with your story of failure! Return unto Him for fresh instructions! Return unto Him with your appeal for his interposition! Be perfectly natural with your Heavenly Father! Humble yourself under His mighty hand! Even dare to reason with Him, saying: "Why!" Then the Lord will say to you, as to Moses: "Now thou shalt see what I will do." [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Exodus 5:15 mean?

and came the officers of the sons of Israel and cried out to Pharaoh saying why are you dealing thus with your servants
וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ אֶל־ פַּרְעֹ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֧מָּה תַעֲשֶׂ֦ה כֹ֖ה ؟ לַעֲבָדֶֽיךָ

וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ  and  came 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙  the  officers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: שָׁטַר  
Sense: (Qal) official, officer.
בְּנֵ֣י  of  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ  and  cried  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: צָעַק  
Sense: to cry, cry out, call, cry for help.
פַּרְעֹ֖ה  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.
לֵאמֹ֑ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לָ֧מָּה  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
תַעֲשֶׂ֦ה  are  you  dealing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
כֹ֖ה  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
؟ לַעֲבָדֶֽיךָ  with  your  servants 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.

What are the major concepts related to Exodus 5:15?

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