Exodus 5:20-21 Meaning: When Rescue Seems to Make Things Worse
20They met Moses and Aaron, who stood along the way, as they came out from Pharaoh.
21They said to them, “May Yahweh 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!”
20And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:
21And 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.
20And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:
21and 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.
20And they meet Moses and Aaron standing to meet them, in their coming out from Pharaoh,
21and say unto them, `Jehovah look upon you, and judge, because ye have caused our fragrance to stink in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants--to give a sword into their hand to slay us.'
20And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood there to meet them, as they came out from Pharaoh.
21And 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!
Meaning in one sentence
When Pharaoh makes life harder after Moses and Aaron's request, the officers lash out. This passage shows the raw crisis when hope appears to fail.
Context
Moses and Aaron have just delivered God's message to Pharaoh: let Israel go into the wilderness to worship. Instead of agreeing, Pharaoh makes the people's work unbearable. He stops giving them straw for brickmaking, yet demands the same daily quota. The Israelite officers are beaten, and they realize they are in serious trouble. As they leave Pharaoh's presence, they see Moses and Aaron waiting for them. Then the anger comes. They accuse Moses and Aaron of ruining everything, of making them a stench in Pharaoh's nostrils, of handing him a sword to kill them. This is not a calm conversation. It is the sound of crushed hope.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words capture the sting of this moment. The verb behind “made our savor to be abhorred” comes from ba'ash, literally “to stink.” It is the same word used for rotten food or a foul smell. The officers feel their reputation has gone from good to disgusting in Pharaoh's eyes. The word translated “savor” or “odor” is reach, which in other places describes the pleasing aroma of a sacrifice offered to God. Here that goodness is corrupted. Then there is the phrase “put a sword in their hand.” The Hebrew word cherev means a literal weapon, but the officers mean it figuratively. They believe Moses and Aaron have given Pharaoh a ready excuse to destroy them. The pain is so raw it smells and cuts.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions read this as a painful moment of failed expectations. Some emphasize the officers' raw suffering, noting that the afflicted have a right to complain, even if their words are hasty. Others point out the injustice of blaming Moses and Aaron. Grief, they say, can drive out reason and kindness. Many see this as the darkness just before dawn, because in the very next chapter God reassures Moses that deliverance is coming. Whether a reader emphasizes human frailty, divine timing, or the cost of obedience, this scene is seen as honest about how hard the wait for rescue can be.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the officers were right to blame Moses and Aaron, or that Moses actually caused the suffering. In fact, the text shows that Pharaoh increased the oppression because of his own hard heart, not because Moses made a mistake. The officers' accusation is understandable but unfair. It is the kind of blame that comes from pain, not from truth.
Living This Out
You might be in a season where following God seems to have made your life harder. Maybe you prayed for something and it got worse instead of better. This passage does not tell you to pretend you are not hurting. It invites you to bring that raw frustration to God honestly, the way Moses does in the next verse. You can say, “Lord, this is not what I expected.” And then you can wait, even when waiting feels impossible.
Main takeaway: When obeying God seems to backfire, it does not mean He has abandoned you. He is still at work, even in the long, hard stretch.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The officers were very sad and angry because their work got harder. They blamed Moses, but it was Pharaoh who was being mean. Sometimes things get worse before they get better.
For ages 9, 12
The officers thought Moses had made Pharaoh angry, so they said harsh things. But the real problem was Pharaoh's cruel heart. When you trust God and things go wrong, it does not mean God made a mistake. Sometimes the hardest part comes right before God does something great.
Questions People Ask
Why did the Israelite officers say 'May the LORD look on you and judge' to Moses and Aaron?
They were angry and blaming Moses and Aaron for making their situation worse. Calling on God to 'look and judge' was a way of saying they thought Moses and Aaron deserved punishment for what seemed like a failed mission.
What does 'made our savor to be abhorred' mean in Exodus 5:21?
It is a vivid Hebrew expression meaning they had become repulsive or disgusting in Pharaoh's eyes. The word for 'savor' is usually a pleasant smell, but here it is spoiled. Their reputation had turned rotten.
Was Moses actually to blame for the increase in suffering?
No. The text shows Pharaoh's own hard heart caused the oppression. Moses simply delivered God's message. This is a common misunderstanding. The officers blamed him unfairly because they needed someone to take their pain out on.
How does God respond to the officers' complaint?
God does not directly answer the officers. Instead, He speaks to Moses in the next chapter, saying, 'Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh.' He promises that deliverance is still coming, even though the situation looks worse.
What can Christians learn from this passage today?
This passage teaches that obeying God can sometimes bring temporary hardship. It is honest about how hard the waiting can be. It invites us to bring our honest frustration to God rather than turning away from Him.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study