Exodus 5:17

17 And he said to them, Ye are idle, ye are idlers: therefore ye say, Let us go do sacrifice to our God.

Exodus 5:17 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 5:17

But he said, ye are idle, ye are idle
Instead of expressing indignation at the taskmasters, and relieving the officers and the people, he insults them in a flouting sarcastic way, charging them with sloth and idleness; and which, for the certainty of it, or, however, to show how strongly persuaded and fully assured he was of the truth of it, repeats it, and gives the following as a proof of it,

therefore ye say, let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord;
suggesting that it was not so much the service and honour of God they regarded, as that they might have a leisure day from work and labour.

Exodus 5:17 In-Context

15 And the accountants of the children of Israel went in and cried to Pharao, saying, Why dost thou act thus to thy servants?

16 Straw is not given to thy servants, and they tell us to make brick; and behold thy servants have been scourged: thou wilt therefore injure thy people.

17 And he said to them, Ye are idle, ye are idlers: therefore ye say, Let us go do sacrifice to our God.

18 Now then go and work, for straw shall not be given to you, yet ye shall return the rate of bricks.

19 And the accountants of the children of Israel saw themselves in an evil plight, saying, Ye shall not fail to deliver the daily rate of the brick-making.