"And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh…" — Exodus 5:10

Exodus 5:10 · KJV

“And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.”

— Exodus 5:10

Verse 9

Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words. {Let there...: Heb. Let the work be heavy upon the men}

Verse 11

Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.

Exodus 5 — Context

And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish {ought} thereof: for they {be} idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go {and} sacrifice to our God.

Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words. {Let there...: Heb. Let the work be heavy upon the men}

And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.

So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.

Cross References

Exodus 1:11

Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

Proverbs 29:12

If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants {are} wicked.

Exodus 3:7

And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which {are} in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;