Exodus 1:14 Meaning and Explanation
“And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Hebrews are enslaved in exhausting construction and agriculture, their lives made bitter.
The Context of Exodus 1:14
The nature and severity of Hebrew enslaved labor.
What Does Exodus 1:14 Mean?
The specific labors are named: mortar and brick—the materials of Egyptian temples and tombs—and field service. These are the backbreaking tasks of construction and farming, work that demands endless physical effort and offers no escape or reprieve. The bitterness is existential; slavery touches every moment of existence, from dawn work until collapse.
The repetition of 'rigour' at verse's end hammers the point home: there is no mercy, no rest, no compassion in their service. Their labor enriches Egypt while their own lives are consumed. This extended description of suffering is essential to the narrative: such bitterness will eventually provoke a cry to God, triggering the deliverance that defines the exodus.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exodus 1:14
What does Exodus 1:14 mean?
The Hebrews are enslaved in exhausting construction and agriculture, their lives made bitter.
What is the context of Exodus 1:14?
The nature and severity of Hebrew enslaved labor.