Exodus 5:15

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: "Why are you treating your servants this way?"

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֧מָּה תַעֲשֶׂ֦ה כֹ֖ה לַעֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃

Transliteration

And wayyāḇōʾû šōṭərê bənê Yiśrāʾēl and wayyiṣʿăqû to ʾel-p̄arʿōh lēʾmōr: lāmmâ ṯaʿăśeh thus ḵōh to your laʿăḇāḏêḵā?

Grammar Details

• *wayyāḇōʾû*: qal imperfect with waw consecutive, 3rd masculine plural - and they came
• *šōṭərê*: noun, masculine plural construct - officers of
• *bənê*: noun, masculine plural construct - sons of, children of
• *Yiśrāʾēl*: proper noun - Israel
• *wayyiṣʿăqû*: qal imperfect with waw consecutive, 3rd masculine plural - and they cried out
• *ʾel*: preposition - to
• *p̄arʿōh*: proper noun, masculine singular - Pharaoh
• *lēʾmōr*: qal infinitive construct - saying
• *lāmmâ*: interrogative adverb - why?
• *ṯaʿăśeh*: qal imperfect, 2nd masculine singular - you do
• *ḵōh*: adverb - thus, so
• *la*: preposition - to
• *ʿăḇāḏêḵā*: noun, masculine plural with 2nd masculine singular suffix - your servants

Word Meanings

• *wayyāḇōʾû*: and they came, entered, approached
• *šōṭərê*: officers of, foremen of
• *bənê*: sons of, children of, descendants of
• *wayyiṣʿăqû*: and they cried out, called out, complained
• *lēʾmōr*: saying, declaring
• *lāmmâ*: why?, for what reason?
• *ṯaʿăśeh*: you do, act, deal
• *ḵōh*: thus, so, this way
• *ʿăḇāḏêḵā*: your servants, slaves, workers

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Why do you deal this way with your servants?

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Than went the officers of the childern of Israel ad complayned vnto Pharao saynge: wherfore dealest thou thus with thy servauntes?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Than wente the officers of the children of Israel, & coplayned vnto Pharao: Wherfore wilt thou deale thus wt thy seruauntes?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then the officers of the children of Israel came, & cryed vnto Pharaoh, saying, Wherfore dealest thou thus with thy seruants?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  The officers also of the children of Israel, came & complayned vnto Pharao, saying: Wherfore dealest thou thus with thy seruauntes?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants?

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And the authorities of the sons of Israel come in and cry unto Pharaoh, saying, `Why dost thou thus to thy servants?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Then the responsible men of the children of Israel came to Pharaoh, protesting and saying, Why are you acting in this way to your servants?

• World English Bible (2000)

  Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants?

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The Israelite foremen went and cried out to Pharaoh,“Why are you treating your servants this way?