Exodus 5 · Verse 17

Exodus 5:17

But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord.
Exodus 5:17, King James Version

Exodus 5:17 in other translations

BSB“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
WEBBut Pharaoh said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
ASVBut he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice to Jehovah.
YLTAnd he saith, ‘Remiss--ye are remiss, therefore ye are saying, Let us go, let us sacrifice to Jehovah;
DARBYAnd he said, Ye are idle, idle! therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice to Jehovah.
BBEBut he said, You have no love for work: that is why you say, Let us go and make an offering to the Lord.
WebsterBut he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go, and do sacrifice to the LORD.

What does Exodus 5:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 5:13-19

13-19. And the taskmasters hasted them ... officers ... beaten--As the nearest fields were bared and the people had to go farther for stubble, it was impossible for them to meet the demand by the usual tale of bricks. "The beating of the officers is just what might have been expected from an Eastern tyrant, especially in the valley of the Nile, as it appears from the monuments, that ancient Egypt, like modern China…

Read the full comment on Exodus 5:13-19 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 Ye are idle - therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice - It is common for those who feel unconcerned about their own souls to attribute the religious earnestness of others, who feel the importance of eternal things, to idleness or a disregard of their secular concerns. Strange that they cannot see there is a medium! He who has commanded them to be diligent in business, has also commanded them to be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. He whose diligence in business is not connected with a true religious fervor of spirit, is a lover of the world; and whatever form he may have he has not the power of godliness, and therefore is completely out of the road to salvation.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 5:10-23

The Egyptian task-masters were very severe. See what need we have to pray that we may be delivered from wicked men. The head-workmen justly complained to Pharaoh: but he taunted them. The malice of Satan has often represented the service and worship of God, as fit employment only for those who have nothing else to do, and the business only of the idle; whereas, it is the duty of those who are most busy in the world…

Read the full comment on Exodus 5:10-23 →

Exodus 5:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
נִרְפִּ֥יםnir.Pim[are] idleH7503
אַתֶּ֖ם'a.TemyouH859
נִרְפִּ֑יםnir.PimidleH7503
עַל\־'al-there-H5921
כֵּן֙ken-foreH3651
אַתֶּ֣ם'a.TemyouH859
אֹֽמְרִ֔ים'o.me.Rim[are] sayingH559
נֵלְכָ֖הne.le.Khahlet us goH1980
נִזְבְּחָ֥הniz.be.Chahlet us sacrificeH2076
לַֽיהוָֽה\׃la.Yah.wehto YahwehH3068

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 5:17

  • Exodus 5:8

    And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

  • John 6:27

    Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

  • Matthew 26:8

    But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11

    For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Mt 26:8; Joh 6:27; 2Th 3:10,11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Exodus 5:16

    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.

  • Exodus 5:17

    But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord.

  • Exodus 5:18

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

Read all of Exodus 5

Exodus 5:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y él respondió: Estáis ociosos, sí, ociosos, y por eso decís: Vamos y sacrifiquemos á Jehová.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il dit: Vous êtes paresseux, paresseux; c’est pourquoi vous dites: Allons, et sacrifions à l’ Éternel.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er sprach: Ihr seid träge, träge seid ihr! darum sprechet ihr: Wir wollen hinziehen, wir wollen Jehova opfern.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui ait: Vacatis otio, et idcirco dicitis: Eamus, et sacrificemus Domino.