Exodus 5:9

9 Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.”

Exodus 5:9 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
English Standard Version (ESV)
9 Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words."
New Living Translation (NLT)
9 Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies!”
The Message Bible (MSG)
9 Crack down on them. That'll cure them of their whining, their god-fantasies."
American Standard Version (ASV)
9 Let heavier work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard lying words.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
9 Make the work harder for these people so that they will be too busy to listen to lies."
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
9 Impose heavier work on the men. Then they will be occupied with it and not pay attention to deceptive words."
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
9 Make them work harder. Then they will be too busy to pay attention to lies."

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.


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 “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw.
8 But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
9 Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.”
10 Then the slave drivers and the overseers went out and said to the people, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you any more straw.
11 Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.’ ”
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.