Exodus 5:4

NETBible

The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you cause the people to refrain from their work? 1  Return to your labor!”

NIV ©

But the king of Egypt said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labour? Get back to your work!"

NASB ©

But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labors!"

NLT ©

"Who do you think you are," Pharaoh shouted, "distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work!

MSG ©

But the king of Egypt said, "Why on earth, Moses and Aaron, would you suggest the people be given a holiday? Back to work!"

BBE ©

And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people away from their work? get back to your work.

NRSV ©

But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get to your labors!"

NKJV ©

Then the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back to your labor."

KJV
And the king
<04428>
of Egypt
<04714>
said
<0559> (8799)
unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses
<04872>
and Aaron
<0175>_,
let
<06544> (8686)
the people
<05971>
from their works
<04639>_?
get
<03212> (8798)
you unto your burdens
<05450>_.
NASB ©
But the king
<4428>
of Egypt
<4714>
said
<559>
to them, "Moses
<4872>
and Aaron
<175>
, why
<4100>
do you draw
<6544>
the people
<5971>
away
<6544>
from their work
<4639>
? Get
<1980>

back
to your labors
<5450>
!"
LXXM
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
eipen {V-AAI-3S} autoiv
<846> 
D-DPM
o
<3588> 
T-NSM
basileuv
<935> 
N-NSM
aiguptou
<125> 
N-GSF
ina
<2443> 
CONJ
ti
<5100> 
I-NSN
mwush {N-VSM} kai
<2532> 
CONJ
aarwn
<2> 
N-PRI
diastrefete
<1294> 
V-PAI-2P
ton
<3588> 
T-ASM
laon
<2992> 
N-ASM
mou
<1473> 
P-GS
apo
<575> 
PREP
twn
<3588> 
T-GPN
ergwn
<2041> 
N-GPN
apelyate
<565> 
V-AAD-2P
ekastov
<1538> 
A-NSM
umwn
<4771> 
P-GP
prov
<4314> 
PREP
ta
<3588> 
T-APN
erga
<2041> 
N-APN
autou
<846> 
D-GSM
NET [draft] ITL
The king
<04428>
of Egypt
<04714>
said
<0559>
to
<0413>
them, “Moses
<04872>
and Aaron
<0175>
, why
<04100>
do you cause the people
<05971>
to refrain
<06544>
from their work
<04639>
? Return
<01980>
to your labor
<05450>
!”
HEBREW
Mkytlbol
<05450>
wkl
<01980>
wyvemm
<04639>
Meh
<05971>
ta
<0853>
weyrpt
<06544>
Nrhaw
<0175>
hsm
<04872>
hml
<04100>
Myrum
<04714>
Klm
<04428>
Mhla
<0413>
rmayw (5:4)
<0559>
NETBible

The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you cause the people to refrain from their work? 1  Return to your labor!”

NET Notes

1 sn The clause is a rhetorical question. Pharaoh is not asking them why they do this, but rather is accusing them of doing it. He suspects their request is an attempt to get people time away from their labor. In Pharaoh’s opinion, Moses and Aaron were “removing the restraint” (פָּרַע, para’) of the people in an effort to give them rest. Ironically, under the Law the people would be expected to cease their labor when they went to appear before God. He would give them the rest that Pharaoh refused to give. It should be noted also that it was not Israel who doubted that Yahweh had sent Moses, as Moses had feared – but rather Pharaoh.