Exodus 7:14-15
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water, and stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him. Take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse states Pharaoh's heart is "hardened," but the original Hebrew word carries the sense of being "heavy" or "dull." This subtle nuance suggests Pharaoh's resistance isn't just stubbornness, but a lack of receptiveness, like a mind too weighed down to process God's clear commands or works. His refusal to let Israel go stems from this inner heaviness, rather than an active, malicious opposition, highlighting how internal dullness can lead to outward rebellion.
God speaks to Moses, informing him that Pharaoh's heart is stubbornly resistant and that he continues to refuse to let the Israelites go. This declaration sets the stage for the first plague, the turning of the Nile River and all of Egypt's water into blood, as God prepares to demonstrate His power and judgment. Following this, Moses and Aaron are instructed to confront Pharaoh again and enact the plague upon the river itself, a consequence of Pharaoh's ongoing defiance.
Why would God deliberately harden a heart? It seems counterintuitive to His desire for people to obey. Let's explore what the text reveals about God's sovereign plan.
The verse states, "Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuses to let the people go." This isn't the first time Pharaoh has refused, nor will it be the last. The commentaries highlight that Pharaoh's heart was hardened, a state that God knew and declared.
A Sovereign Plan
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Why start with water turning to blood? This wasn't just a random event; it was a powerful, targeted act. Discover the significance behind this first devastating blow.
Exodus 7:14 sets the stage for the first plague, where the very lifeblood of Egypt—the Nile River—is transformed into blood. This event is described as more than just a sign; it is a judgment.
Striking at the Core
Understand the original words
ye’ôr · Hebrew Noun
The primary river of Egypt, essential for its life and economy; in the Exodus, it serves as both a place of divine judgment and a setting for the confrontation between the true God and the false gods of Egypt.
The hardening of Pharaoh's heart wasn't just a personal stubbornness; it was a deliberate divine allowance for God to demonstrate His supreme power over Egypt's gods and way of life, specifically targeting the life-giving Nile.
c. 1446 BC
Israel's Enslavement in Egypt
Following Joseph's death and a change in leadership, the Israelites were systematically oppressed and forced into slave labor by the Egyptians. This created the backdrop of suffering and injustice that God would address.
c. 1446 BC
Moses Appointed as Deliverer
God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, commissioning him to return to Egypt and demand Pharaoh's permission for the Israelites to leave.
c. 1446 BC
First Confrontation: Rod to Serpent
Moses and Aaron performed their first sign before Pharaoh, where Aaron's staff turned into a serpent. Pharaoh's magicians mimicked the feat, leading Pharaoh to believe it was mere trickery, not divine power.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Pharaoh's Heart Hardens
Despite the initial miraculous sign and Moses's clear demands, Pharaoh's heart remained stubborn and closed off to God's message, refusing to let the Israelites go.
c. 1446 BC
First Plague: Water to Blood
Following Pharaoh's continued refusal, God sent the first plague, turning all the waters of Egypt into blood, a devastating blow to the nation's life source and a sign of God's power.
c. 1446 BC
Seven Days of the Plague
The first plague lasted for seven days, during which the Egyptians suffered greatly from the lack of drinkable water and the stench of dead fish, yet Pharaoh remained unyielding.
This passage directly addresses God's sovereign choice, stating that 'he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills,' echoing the theme of Pharaoh's hardened heart in Exodus.
Deuteronomy 2:30This verse describes Sihon, king of Heshbon, whose spirit was made stubborn and whose heart was made hard, paralleling Pharaoh's obstinacy and God's role in it.
John 12:40Quoting Isaiah, Jesus explains that God 'has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their heart and turn, and I should heal them,' illustrating the concept of divine hardening in response to persistent rejection.
2 Thessalonians 2:11-12This passage speaks of God sending a powerful delusion on those who do not believe, so they may be condemned, highlighting the consequence of rejecting truth, which aligns with Pharaoh's hardened heart leading to further judgment.
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 verse states Pharaoh's heart is "hardened," but the original Hebrew word carries the sense of being "heavy" or "dull." This subtle nuance suggests Pharaoh's resistance isn't just stubbornness, but a lack of receptiveness, like a mind too weighed down to process God's clear commands or works. His refusal to let Israel go stems from this inner heaviness, rather than an active, malicious opposition, highlighting how internal dullness can lead to outward rebellion.
God speaks to Moses, informing him that Pharaoh's heart is stubbornly resistant and that he continues to refuse to let the Israelites go. This declaration sets the stage for the first plague, the turning of the Nile River and all of Egypt's water into blood, as God prepares to demonstrate His power and judgment. Following this, Moses and Aaron are instructed to confront Pharaoh again and enact the plague upon the river itself, a consequence of Pharaoh's ongoing defiance.
God speaks to Moses, informing him that Pharaoh's heart is stubbornly resistant and that he continues to refuse to let the Israelites go. This declaration sets the stage for the first plague, the turning of the Nile River and all of Egypt's water into blood, as God prepares to demonstrate His power and judgment. Following this, Moses and Aaron are instructed to confront Pharaoh again and enact the plague upon the river itself, a consequence of Pharaoh's ongoing defiance.
"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water, and stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him. Take in your hand the staff that turn…" — The verse states Pharaoh's heart is "hardened," but the original Hebrew word carries the sense of being "heavy" or "dull." This subtle nuance suggests Pharaoh's resistance isn't just stubbornness, bu…
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