complete verse (Exodus 5:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 5:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “Squeeze these people with work without rest so that they may not again have opportunity to listen to rumors.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Make their work even harder so that they won’t have time to concentrate on unnecessary things.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Make- them -work much harder so-that they keep- much more -busy and no-longer keep-on listening to lies.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “Put heavy work on them in order that they go without rest in the doing of their work and so it won’t be possible for them to listen to false talk like this any more.’” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Burdens their, increase it, that they might not word of liars hear.»” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Force the men to work harder, so that they will not have time to listen to lies from their leaders!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 5:9

Let heavier work be laid upon the men is a command addressed to no one in particular; it simply states what must be. Literally the Hebrew says “The work is to be heavy upon the men,” or “Let the work be heavy upon the men.” In context, however, it is still part of the command to the taskmasters and the foremen in verse 6. A more natural form in English is “Make these men work harder” (Good News Translation). As it is used here, the word for men does not necessarily refer to males in contrast to females. New Jerusalem Bible‘s “people” is better. New Revised Standard Version has changed upon the men to simply “on them.” An alternative translation model, then, is “You must force these people [or, Israelites] to work harder,” and in some languages it will be necessary to add the words “than before”; for example, “… work harder than before.”

That they may labor at it is literally “and they will work at it.” This may be understood as “let them keep at it” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or even “keep them busy” (Good News Translation), since this is still part of the command. An alternative rendering for the first part of this verse is “You must force these people to work harder than before, and be so busy working that….” And pay no regard to lying words is literally “and they will not look at words of deception.” Good News Translation brings out the implied meaning and purpose of the command: “so that they won’t have time to listen to a pack of lies.” It is not clear what the lying words were. They may be the announcement of Moses and Aaron in verse 3 that “the God of the Hebrews has met with us”; they may also be the words of the “cry” of the people in verse 8. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “deceitful promises,” and Jerusalem Bible has “glib speeches.” Contemporary English Version has “Make them work so hard that they won’t have time to listen to these lies.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .