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Exodus 5:8

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 5:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the number of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish aught thereof: for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the number of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish aught thereof: for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
Exodus 5:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land are now many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
6And the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
7Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8And the number of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish aught thereof: for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
9Let heavier work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard lying words.
10And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
11Go yourselves, get you straw where ye can find it: for nought of your work shall be diminished.
← Exodus 5:7Exodus 5:9 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, you shall lay upon them, etc.] Oblige them to make and bring in the same number of bricks they used to do, when straw was brought to them and given them; by which it appears, that their daily task was such a number of bricks: you shall not diminish ought thereof; not make any abatement of the number of bricks, in consideration of their loss of time and their labour in going to fetch straw from other places: for they be idle; and want to be indulged in a lazy disposition, which ought by no means to be connived at: therefore they cry, let us go and sacrifice to our God; suggesting, that this request and cry of theirs did not proceed…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“tale--an appointed number of bricks. The materials of their labor were to be no longer supplied, and yet, as the same amount of produce was exacted daily, it is impossible to imagine more aggravated cruelty--a perfect specimen of Oriental despotism.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“They are idle - The cities they built for Pharaoh, were witnesses for them that they were not idle; yet he thus basely misrepresents them, that he might have a pretence to increase their burdens. Exodus 5:9”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“tale: Tale denotes number, from the Anglo-Saxon taellan, to number, count, etc. ye shall lay: Psa 106:41 Exodus 5:9”
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Related study paths

Read Exodus 5 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification