‹ Chapter 4Exodus 5 of 40Chapter 6

Exodus 5:1

וְאַחַ֗ר
ʼachar
and — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
בָּ֚אוּ
bôwʼ
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
מֹשֶׁ֣ה
Môsheh
Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
וְאַהֲרֹ֔ן
ʼAhărôwn
and — Aharon, the brother of Moses
וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ
ʼâmar
and — to say (used with great latitude)
אֶל
ʼêl
near, with or among; often in general, to
פַּרְעֹ֑ה
Parʻôh
Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings
כֹּֽה
kôh
properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
אָמַ֤ר
ʼâmar
to say (used with great latitude)
יְהוָה֙
Yᵉhôvâh
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
ʼĕlôhîym
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
Yisrâʼêl
he will rule as God; Jisraël, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
שַׁלַּח֙
shâlach
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
אֶת
ʼêth
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
עַמִּ֔י
ʻam
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
וְיָחֹ֥גּוּ
châgag
and — properly, to move in a circle, i.e. (specifically) to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; by implication, to be giddy
לִ֖י
le-
to/for me/my
בַּמִּדְבָּֽר
midbâr
in/with/by — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs)
Exodus 5:1 · Masoretic Text (WLC)
AMPLIFIED · 1 of 3
Afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel,
Structural Refrain
This is the first of seven times Moses and Aaron will say these exact words to Pharaoh across the plague narrative to come (7:16, 8:1, 8:20,…
Let
Structural Refrain
This is the first of seven times Moses and Aaron will say these exact words to Pharaoh across the plague narrative to come (7:16, 8:1, 8:20,…
My people go,
Structural Refrain
This is the first of seven times Moses and Aaron will say these exact words to Pharaoh across the plague narrative to come (7:16, 8:1, 8:20,…
so that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ”
Rabbi's unlock
Exodus 5:1New

Everything from this verse through chapter 12 follows one basic pattern, repeated with variations: Moses demands release, Pharaoh refuses, a plague follows, Pharaoh briefly relents, then hardens again. The pattern starts here, with the demand itself, well before the first plague actually lands - the confrontation is a whole movement of the book in its own right, not just a lead-in to the miracles.

that's everything Rabbi's current library has flagged for this passage — new sources are added every week
Today's memory verse · from this session
Afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go, so that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ”
Exodus 5:1
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