Exodus 5:14

Authorized King James Version

And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֻּכּ֗וּ
over them were beaten
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
#2
שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙
And the officers
properly, a scribe, i.e., (by analogy or implication) an official superintendent or magistrate
#3
בְּנֵ֣י
of the children
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#4
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#5
אֲשֶׁר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#6
שָׂ֣מוּ
had set
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
#7
עֲלֵהֶ֔ם
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#8
נֹֽגְשֵׂ֥י
taskmasters
to drive (an animal, a workman, a debtor, an army); by implication, to tax, harass, tyrannize
#9
פַרְעֹ֖ה
which Pharaoh's
paroh, a general title of egyptian kings
#10
לֵאמֹ֑ר
and demanded
to say (used with great latitude)
#11
מַדּ֡וּעַ
what (is) known?; i.e., (by implication) (adverbially) why?
#12
לֹא֩
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#13
כִלִּיתֶ֨ם
Wherefore have ye not fulfilled
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
#14
חָקְכֶ֤ם
your task
an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)
#15
לִלְבֹּן֙
in making brick
to make bricks
#16
תְּמ֖וֹל
both yesterday
properly, ago, i.e., a (short or long) time since; especially yesterday, or day before yesterday
#17
שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם
as heretofore
trebly, i.e., (in time) day before yesterday
#18
גַּם
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
#19
תְּמ֖וֹל
both yesterday
properly, ago, i.e., a (short or long) time since; especially yesterday, or day before yesterday
#20
גַּם
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
#21
הַיּֽוֹם׃
and to day
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the period of Egyptian bondage and wilderness wandering (c. 1440-1400 BCE) provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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