Exodus 5:4 (KJV)

Words Then and Now

Wherefore why; therefore Still heard today: the whys and wherefores, the reasons Webster’s 1828 · Wherefore
let to hinder; to prevent Still heard today: a let, in tennis, a serve played again because the net hindered it Webster’s 1828 · Let

What these words mean in the King James Bible, and where you’ll still hear them today.

Thou and Ye

ye, you, your more than one

In the King James Bible, thee, thou, thy, and thine always mean one person, and ye, you, and your more than one: a difference modern English lost. Why keep these words?

Matthew Henry

Pharaoh's displeasure, He increases the tasks of the IsraelitesGod will own his people, though poor and despised, and will find a time to plead their cause. Pharaoh treated all he had heard with contempt. He had no...

Thompson Chains

King's WrathSee the chain from Proverbs 16:14 · 4 links
Bondage of IsraelLink 4 of 7 · next Numbers 20:15
Oppression (2)See the chain from Exodus 1:14 · 8 links

Parallel Passages

Proverbs 28:15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

From Thompson’s Chain-Reference Bible (1908).

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.
Jeremiah 38:4 Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.
Amos 7:10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.
Luke 23:2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
Acts 16:20–21 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, …
Acts 24:5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

From OpenBible.info, most relevant first.

Topics

Egyptians Refuse to release the Israelites
Israel Were enslaved and oppressed by the Egyptians
Moses Rejected by Pharaoh; hardships of the Israelites increased
Oppression Of Israelites, by Egyptians
Rulers Pharaoh, oppressing the Israelites

Timeline

Timeline of the Bible1706–1491 BC · Israel in Egypt

Places

EgyptRegion · today Ain Shams · Location well established
Places in Exodus 5 on a map

Bible Dictionary

EgyptThe land of the Nile and the pyramids, the oldest kingdom of which we have any record, holds a place of great significance in Scripture.
MosesDrawn (or Egypt. mesu, “son;” hence Rameses, royal son). On the invitation of Pharaoh (Gen 45:17–25), Jacob and his sons went down into...
AaronThe eldest son of Amram and Jochebed, a daughter of Levi (Ex 6:20). Some explain the name as meaning mountaineer, others mountain of...

Hebrew and Strong’s

And the king מֶלֶךְ melek מֶלֶךְ Noun · masculine singular construct
of Egypt מִצְרַיִם miṣrayim מִצְרַיִם Proper name
said וַיֹּאמֶר wayyōʾmer אָמַר Verb · qal sequential imperfect, third person masculine singular · with and
unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses אֲלֵהֶם ʾălēhem Preposition · with suffix: third person masculine plural לָמָּה lāmmâ Interrogative · with preposition מֹשֶׁה mōšê מֹשֶׁה Proper name
and Aaron וְאַהֲרֹן wĕʾahărōn אַהֲרוֹן Proper name · with and
let תַּפְרִיעוּ taprîʿû פָּרַע Verb · hiphil imperfect, second person masculine plural
the people אֶת ʾet Object marker הָעָם hāʿām עַם Noun · masculine singular · with the
from their works מִמַּעֲשָׂיו mimmaʿăśāyw מַעֲשֶׂה Noun · masculine plural construct · with preposition, suffix: third person masculine singular
get לְכוּ lĕkû יָלַךְ Verb · qal imperative, second person masculine plural
you unto your burdens לְסִבְלֹתֵיכֶם lĕsiblōtêkem סְבָלָה Noun · feminine plural construct · with preposition, suffix: second person masculine plural

Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex, Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible · CC BY 4.0