Exodus 7:14
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text emphasizes that Pharaoh's heart is "hardened," which isn't just a state of being but implies a deliberate resistance. This isn't just about a stubborn ruler; it's a picture of human pride actively choosing to reject God's clear commands and demonstrations of power.
Moses and Aaron have just performed a miracle, turning Moses' staff into a snake before Pharaoh. Despite this display of power, Pharaoh remains defiant, his heart hardened. Now, God instructs Moses that the next phase of confrontation will involve a series of plagues, starting with turning all the waters of Egypt into blood.
Why does the Bible describe Pharaoh's heart as 'hardened'? It's more than just stubbornness; it points to a profound spiritual condition.
The Hebrew word used here, 'kabad lev' (often translated as 'hardened heart'), literally means 'heavy heart.' It describes a heart that is dull, unresponsive, and inflexible.
Pharaoh's refusal wasn't just a political stalemate; it was a direct challenge to God's authority, setting the stage for a cosmic showdown.
The refusal of Pharaoh to let the Israelites go is the central conflict of this passage. It's not simply a man saying 'no' to Moses; it's a refusal that carries immense theological weight.
The hardening of Pharaoh's heart wasn't just a personal failing; it occurred within a powerful empire that relied on slave labor, and where the Pharaoh was seen as divine. This context explains why he would stubbornly resist letting go of a valuable workforce.
c. 1550-1295 BC
New Kingdom Period in Egypt
This era saw a powerful, centralized Egyptian state that likely enslaved Israelites as a foreign labor force for massive building projects.
c. 1450 BC
Reign of Thutmose III
His extensive military campaigns and building programs may have intensified the need for slave labor, possibly increasing Israelite enslavement.
c. 1350 BC
Possible reign of Akhenaten
This pharaoh's religious revolution (worship of the Aten) caused social upheaval, potentially distracting Egypt from its foreign labor force.
c. 1290-1279 BC
Reign of Seti I
Historical records indicate Seti I rebuilt parts of the Delta region, possibly intensifying the use of slave labor.
c. 1279-1213 BC
This passage echoes the divine sovereignty over Pharaoh's heart, stating that God has mercy on whom He wills and hardens whom He wills, paralleling the hardening of Pharaoh's heart.
John 12:40This verse quotes Isaiah and explains that God has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, directly correlating with Pharaoh's stubborn refusal to acknowledge God's power.
Exodus 7:3This verse immediately precedes the one in question and shows God's intention to harden Pharaoh's heart, setting the stage for the refusal and subsequent plagues.
2 Thessalonians 2:11This passage speaks of God sending a powerful delusion to those who do not believe, which resonates with Pharaoh's irrational obstinacy despite clear signs and wonders.
Isaiah 6:10This prophetic command to Isaiah to 'make the heart of this people dull' and 'harden their ears' shows a divine pattern of judgment that is mirrored in Pharaoh's hardened heart and refusal to let the people go.
calvinExodus 7:14-25: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go."
Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning: lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.
Vade ad Pharaonem mane: ecce, egreditur ad aquas, et stes in occursum ejus super ripam fluminis: et virgam quae versa fuit in serpentem tolles in manum tuam.
And thou shal…
ellicottExodus 7:14: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go."
THE FIRST PLAGUE. (14-21) The water turned to blood.—Moses had already been empowered to turn water into blood on a small scale (Exodus 4:9), and had exhibited his power before his own people (Exodus 4:30). But the present miracle is different. (1) It is to be done on the largest possible scale; (2) in the sight of all the Egyptians; and (3) not as a sign, but as a “judgment.” All the Nil…
The text emphasizes that Pharaoh's heart is "hardened," which isn't just a state of being but implies a deliberate resistance. This isn't just about a stubborn ruler; it's a picture of human pride actively choosing to reject God's clear commands and demonstrations of power.
Moses and Aaron have just performed a miracle, turning Moses' staff into a snake before Pharaoh. Despite this display of power, Pharaoh remains defiant, his heart hardened. Now, God instructs Moses that the next phase of confrontation will involve a series of plagues, starting with turning all the waters of Egypt into blood.
Moses and Aaron have just performed a miracle, turning Moses' staff into a snake before Pharaoh. Despite this display of power, Pharaoh remains defiant, his heart hardened. Now, God instructs Moses that the next phase of confrontation will involve a series of plagues, starting with turning all the waters of Egypt into blood.
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Reign of Ramesses II
Ramesses II is often associated with the Exodus due to inscriptions mentioning the use of Hebrew slaves in building projects like Pi-Ramesses.
c. 1250 BC
Possible Exodus Event
During the New Kingdom, under a Pharaoh like Ramesses II or his successor, the Israelites likely left Egypt after a series of divine plagues.
"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go." — The text emphasizes that Pharaoh's heart is "hardened," which isn't just a state of being but implies a deliberate resistance. This isn't just about a stubborn ruler; it's a picture of human pride ac…
