Pharaoh orders that the Israelites’ work be made even harder, so they have no time to listen to “lies.” He’s not just increasing their workload; he’s trying to control their minds. The Hebrew word for hard, kaved, means heavy or burdensome. Pharaoh’s goal is to keep the Israelites so busy and exhausted that they can’t even think about freedom or hope.

This is a classic tactic of oppressive power: distract and overwhelm, so people can’t organize or dream of something better. Pharaoh accuses the Israelites of laziness, flipping the truth on its head. In the ancient world, accusing workers of being lazy when they’re actually overworked was a way to justify cruelty.

When life feels overwhelming and you’re told you’re not doing enough, it’s easy to start believing it’s your fault. This verse exposes that lie. Sometimes, the pressure to “just work harder” is a tool to keep people from questioning the system itself. Recognizing this can help you see through manipulative demands and reclaim your right to rest and hope.