Exodus 5:9

9 Impose heavier work on the men. Then they will be occupied with it and not pay attention to deceptive words."

Exodus 5:9 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 5:9

Let there more work be laid upon the men
Instead of lessening it, let it be increased, or "be heavy" ^F11 upon them, that it may oppress and afflict them and keep them down, and weaken their strength and their spirits, and diminish them:

that they may labour therein;
and have no leisure time to spend in idleness and sloth:

and let them not regard vain words;
or "words of falsehood" ^F12 and lies, such as were spoken by Moses and Aaron, promising them liberty and deliverance from their bondage, which he was determined never to grant, and so eventually make such words to appear to be vain and empty, falsehood and lies.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 (dbkt) "aggravetur", Pagninus, Montanus
F12 (yrbdb) "in verbis mendacii", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus. "Verbis falsis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Exodus 5:9 In-Context

7 "Don't continue to supply the people with straw for making bricks, as before. They must go and gather straw for themselves.

8 But require the same quota of bricks from them as they were making before; do not reduce it. For they are slackers-that is why they are crying out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'

9 Impose heavier work on the men. Then they will be occupied with it and not pay attention to deceptive words."

10 So the overseers and foremen of the people went out and said to them, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I am not giving you straw.

11 Go get straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but there will be no reduction at all in your workload.' "