¹ The Israelite foremen went and cried out to Pharaoh, “Why are you treating ²  your servants this way?

biblegateway Exo 5:15

Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants?

So the Israelite foremen went in and cried for help to Pharaoh: "Why are you treating your servants this way?

Then the Israelite foremen complained to Pharaoh. They asked, "Why are you treating us this way?

biblegateway Exo 5:15

Then the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: "Why have you treated your servants this way?

Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, "Why do you treat your servants like this?

bibleoremus Exo 5:15

Then the Israelite supervisors came to Pharaoh and cried, "Why do you treat your servants like this?

The foremen came and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why does your majesty treat us like this?” they said.

biblegateway Exo 5:15

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why are you dealing thus with your servants?

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

biblegateway Exo 5:15

¹ The Israelite foremen went and cried out to Pharaoh, “Why are you treating ²  your servants this way?

¹ sn The last section of this event tells the effect of the oppression on Israel, first on the people (15-19) and then on Moses and Aaron (20-21). The immediate reaction of Israel was to cry to Pharaoh – something they would learn should be directed to God. When Pharaoh rebuffed them harshly, they turned bitterly against their leaders.

² tn The imperfect tense should be classified here with the progressive imperfect nuance, because the harsh treatment was a present reality.