Exodus 14:17
And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that God "gets glory" not just from Pharaoh's defeat, but from hardening all the Egyptians' hearts. This shows that God's justice and power are displayed even through the collective, stubborn sinfulness of an entire nation, not just the king's.
The Israelites, having just escaped Egypt, find themselves trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's advancing army. Pharaoh, despite experiencing the plagues, is driven by a vengeful fury, eager to recapture his escaped slaves. In this moment, God declares He will further harden the Egyptians' hearts, leading them into a deadly pursuit.
Why would God 'harden' hearts? This verse points to a powerful, even cosmic, reason: His own glory. But what does that mean for us?
In this pivotal moment, God makes His power undeniable. It's not just about defeating Pharaoh, but about revealing His supreme authority to the Egyptians, the Israelites, and even to us today.
Divine Sovereignty in Action
God declares, 'I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host.' This means He will demonstrate His power and sovereignty in such a dramatic way that it will be recognized as His work. The utter destruction of the mighty Egyptian army serves as a testament to God's unmatched strength.
A Lesson for All Time
This event isn't just ancient history. It's a demonstration of how God works to reveal Himself through His actions, often in seemingly impossible situations. The glory He gains is the acknowledgment of His power, justice, and faithfulness – attributes that continue to be revealed throughout Scripture and in our lives.
The Bible says God 'hardens' hearts. What does this mean? Is it fair? Let's look closer at the Egyptians' state of mind.
When the text says God 'hardens' the hearts of the Egyptians here, it's describing a divine enablement of their existing sinful path. They were already filled with pride, fury, and a desire for revenge after the plagues and the Israelites' escape.
Aiding Their Own Downfall
God didn't create their malice; He used their stubborn, wicked hearts for His purposes. The 'hardening' means He allowed them to proceed in their foolish and destructive intentions, blinding them to the danger and to God's overwhelming power. They were driven by wrath and a thirst for retribution, making them fearless and thoughtless in their pursuit.
A Warning Against Stubbornness
This hardening isn't a random act. It's a consequence of prolonged resistance to God's warnings. Pharaoh and his people had seen God's power repeatedly and still chose to oppose Him. Their hearts became so set in their ways that God, in His sovereignty, used that very hardness to bring about His judgment.
Understand the original words
chazaq · Hebrew Verb
The technical term for 'making heavy' or 'strengthening'; in a theological sense, it refers to God allowing a person's pre-existing stubbornness or resistance to His will to reach its full, hardened state, often to demonstrate His sovereignty.
kabod · Hebrew Noun
Derived from the Hebrew 'kabod', referring to the weight, significance, or manifestation of God’s essential nature, character, and power revealed in historical events, specifically to display His majesty to the world.
This pivotal event showcases God's power not just to deliver His people, but to execute judgment on their oppressors, bringing glory to His name through their utter destruction.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Depart Egypt
After 400 years of slavery, the Israelites are miraculously led out of Egypt by Moses, following a series of devastating plagues.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Pharaoh Pursues Israel
Despite the plagues, Pharaoh hardens his heart and rallies his army, including chariots and horsemen, to pursue the fleeing Israelites.
c. 1446 BC
Israel Encamped by the Sea
The Israelites find themselves trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and the Red Sea, leading to fear and cries to Moses.
c. 1446 BC
The Sea is Divided
God intervenes miraculously, parting the Red Sea to create a dry path for the Israelites to escape.
c. 1446 BC
This passage recounts God's past actions against Egypt, mirroring the Exodus narrative and highlighting God's power to deliver His people and judge their oppressors.
Psalm 135:8-12This Psalm praises God for striking down Egypt's firstborn and driving out powerful kings, echoing the themes of divine judgment and deliverance found in the Exodus account.
Isaiah 43:15-17Isaiah prophesies about God's power, referencing the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of Egypt's chariots and army as a demonstration of His unstoppable might.
Romans 9:17-18Paul uses Pharaoh's hardening and God's mercy as an example of God's sovereign power to choose and to harden, directly referencing the Exodus event.
cambridgeExodus 14:17: "And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen."
17, 18 . The Pharaoh’s heart is still further ‘hardened,’ in order that he may be emboldened even to enter the sea after the Israelites. The expressions are substantially as in v. 4. get me honour (or glory )] See on v. 4.
gillExodus 14:17: "And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen."
And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians,.... That they shall have no sense of danger, and be fearless of it, incautious and thoughtless, hurried on with wrath and fury, malice and revenge: and they shall follow them; the Israelites into the sea, supposing it to be as safe for…
This verse highlights that God "gets glory" not just from Pharaoh's defeat, but from hardening all the Egyptians' hearts. This shows that God's justice and power are displayed even through the collective, stubborn sinfulness of an entire nation, not just the king's.
The Israelites, having just escaped Egypt, find themselves trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's advancing army. Pharaoh, despite experiencing the plagues, is driven by a vengeful fury, eager to recapture his escaped slaves. In this moment, God declares He will further harden the Egyptians' hearts, leading them into a deadly pursuit.
The Israelites, having just escaped Egypt, find themselves trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's advancing army. Pharaoh, despite experiencing the plagues, is driven by a vengeful fury, eager to recapture his escaped slaves. In this moment, God declares He will further harden the Egyptians' hearts, leading them into a deadly pursuit.
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Destruction of the Egyptian Army
As the Egyptians pursue the Israelites across the dry seabed, God causes the waters to return, drowning Pharaoh, his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.
c. 1446 BC
Song of Deliverance
Moses and the Israelites sing a song of praise to God for their miraculous deliverance and the destruction of their enemies.
"And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen." — This verse highlights that God "gets glory" not just from Pharaoh's defeat, but from hardening all the Egyptians' hearts. This shows that God's justice and power are displayed even through the coll…
