Exodus 5:21

19 The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”

20 When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.

“May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!”

22 So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?

23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!”
KJV
And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.
WEB
They said to them, “May the LORD look at you and judge, because you have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us!”
ASV
and they said unto them, Jehovah look upon you, and judge: because ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.
DARBY
And they said to them, Jehovah look upon you and judge, that ye have made our odour to stink in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his bondmen, putting a sword into their hand to kill us!
BLB
And they said to them, “May YHWH look on you⁺ and judge, because you⁺ have made our scent stink in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.”
ÅB
Og de sa til dem: Herren hjemsøke dere og dømme dere fordi dere har ført oss i vanrykte hos Farao og hans tjenere, så dere har gitt dem sverd i hånden til å slå oss ihjel.
OTB
Og de sa til dem: «Måtte Herren se på dere og dømme dere, for dere har gjort oss avskyelige i faraos og hans tjenestemenns øyne, og gitt dem et sverd i hånden for å drepe oss.»
B1930
Og de sa til dem: Herren hjemsøke eder og dømme eder fordi I har ført oss i vanrykte hos Farao og hans tjenere, så I har gitt dem sverd i hånden til å slå oss ihjel.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 34:30

    Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 10:6

    When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zoba, as well as a thousand men from the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from Tob.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 6:9

    Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of their broken spirit and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 16:5

    Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.”

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 27:12

    So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.”

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 13:4

    And all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked an outpost of the Philistines, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines!” Then the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

    Read in context
  • 1 Chronicles 19:6

    When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 2:15–16

    For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

    Read in context