Exodus 5:6 - The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

Generated Verse: Exodus 5:6

What does "Exodus 5:6" mean?


Exodus 5:6, "The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying," means that immediately following the meeting where Moses and Aaron demanded the Israelites' freedom, Pharaoh gave an order to his supervisors (taskmasters) and their subordinates (officers) regarding the Israelites.

Let's break it down:

"The same day": This emphasizes the immediacy of Pharaoh's response. He didn't wait to reflect; he acted quickly after hearing Moses and Aaron.
"Pharaoh commanded": This highlights Pharaoh's authority and control. He is the ultimate ruler and his word is law.
"the taskmasters of the people, and their officers": This refers to the Egyptian officials in charge of overseeing and directing the Israelite laborers.
Taskmasters (Nogeshim): Were Egyptians in charge of quotas and making sure the Israelites met production demands.
Officers (Shotrim): Were Israelites placed below the taskmasters to help organize the Israelite laborers. The officers were responsible for reporting to the taskmasters.
"saying": This indicates that Pharaoh is about to give specific instructions to the taskmasters and officers. The next verse will reveal what those instructions are.

In essence, this verse is setting the stage for Pharaoh's cruel escalation of oppression against the Israelites in response to Moses and Aaron's demand. He's gathering his supervisors to give them new orders, which will soon make the Israelites' lives even harder.

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