He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "He turned their hearts" can easily be misunderstood as God directly implanting hatred. However, the text implies God permitted this turn, or withdrew His restraining influence, allowing the Egyptians' own innate malice and envy, stirred by Israel’s prosperity, to take root and lead them to cunningly oppress God’s people.
He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse describes the Egyptians' shift from hospitality towards the Israelites, who had grown numerous and prosperous, to fear and hostility. God is depicted as the one who allows this change of heart, leading the Egyptians to devise cunning plans to oppress and diminish His people, as seen in their later actions described in Exodus.
The verse says God 'turned their hearts.' What does that mean for human responsibility and God's character?
This verse brings up a profound theological point: God's sovereignty over human hearts. It's not that God forces people to act against their will or implants evil desires. Instead, the text suggests God can, in His incomprehensible wisdom, allow or direct the natural inclinations and corruptions of the human heart.
Think of it like this: The Egyptians already had the capacity for envy and fear due to their own sinfulness. God, in His plan to work out His purposes for Israel, didn't create this hatred but sovereignly ordered circumstances and their hearts' responses so that this latent animosity would surface and be directed towards His people. This doesn't excuse the Egyptians' actions, but it highlights God's ultimate control, even over the most rebellious hearts.
This concept is explored in commentaries that speak of God 'suffering them to be turned' or 'withdrawing influences.' The key is that God's action is not necessarily direct causation of evil, but a sovereign direction that allows, uses, and guides human choices within His grander plan.
Why did the Egyptians use 'crafty' methods instead of open warfare against Israel?
The verse mentions the Egyptians resolved 'to deal craftily with his servants.' This points to a deliberate strategy of subtle oppression rather than outright confrontation. In the context of the Exodus narrative, this 'craftiness' manifested in methods like forced labor, oppressive decrees, and the infamous command to kill the male Israelite babies at birth (as referenced in Exodus 1:10).
This approach was born out of fear and a desire to maintain control. Open warfare might have been too direct and potentially provoke a larger conflict or divine intervention too soon. Instead, they chose insidious means to weaken and control the growing Israelite population. Their 'wisdom' or 'craftiness' was employed to undermine and destroy God's people from within their society.
Ask a follow-up
This illustrates how opposition to God's people often doesn't come in the form of honest, open debate, but through subtle manipulation, systemic injustice, and policies designed to marginalize and harm.
Understand the original words
sane · Hebrew Verb
A strong feeling of enmity, ill will, or opposition toward others. In Scripture, it is presented as a moral failing or the opposite of the command to love one's neighbor.
ebed · Hebrew Noun
Those who are in service or bondage to another, particularly those belonging to and serving God. It signifies humility, devotion, and obedience to a master.
This verse describes the shift in Egyptian attitudes towards the Israelites, moving from hospitality to fear and oppression, orchestrated by God to fulfill His purposes even through the wicked hearts of men.
c. 1700 BC
Joseph's Family Settles in Egypt
Joseph's family, including his brothers and their descendants, settles in the land of Goshen in Egypt, initially welcomed due to Joseph's high position.
c. 1500-1300 BC
Israel's Population Grows Rapidly
The descendants of Jacob (Israel) multiply greatly in Egypt, becoming a significant population. This prosperity eventually causes fear among the Egyptians.
c. 1450 BC— this verse
New Pharaoh Rises, Fears Israelites
A new dynasty or Pharaoh comes to power in Egypt who did not know Joseph's contributions. This ruler views the growing Israelite population as a potential threat.
Exodus 1:11
Egyptians Enslave Israelites
The Egyptians begin to enslave the Israelites, forcing them into hard labor and attempting to suppress their growth through brutal means.
Exodus 1:15-16
Attempts to Kill Israelite Males
The Egyptian king orders the Hebrew midwives to kill all newborn Israelite boys, a subtle and wicked plot to reduce the male population.
This passage directly describes the 'crafty dealing' or 'wise' plotting of the Egyptians against Israel, mirroring the psalm's accusation of subtle malice.
Deuteronomy 7:7-8This verse highlights God's sovereign choice and love for Israel, providing context for why their prosperity might provoke hatred, as seen in Psalms 105:25, even when their increase wasn't due to Israel's own merit but God's. It underscores that God's favor is the root cause, not Israel's actions.
Romans 9:17-18This passage speaks to God's sovereign will in hardening hearts, similar to how Psalms 105:25 describes God turning the Egyptians' hearts, emphasizing God's ultimate control even over human malice.
Isaiah 6:9-10This prophetic command for Isaiah to make hearts dull and eyes blind parallels the idea of God turning hearts to hate, illustrating a divine purpose in allowing or enacting spiritual blindness and stubbornness in certain circumstances.
pulpitPsalms 105:25: "He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants."
Verse 25. - He turned their heart to hate his people. Not by direct action on their heart, but by prospering Israel until their jealousy was stirred. To deal subtilly with his servants (comp. Exodus 1:10).
clarkePsalms 105:25: "He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants."
He turned their heart - "Their heart was turned." So the Syriac and Arabic. After befriending the Hebrews on Joseph's account, to whom they were so deeply indebted, finding them to multiply greatly in the land, and at last to become more powerful than the Egyptians themselves, they turned their attention to the adoption of measures, in order to prevent the Hebrews from possessing themselves of the gov…
The phrase "He turned their hearts" can easily be misunderstood as God directly implanting hatred. However, the text implies God permitted this turn, or withdrew His restraining influence, allowing the Egyptians' own innate malice and envy, stirred by Israel’s prosperity, to take root and lead them to cunningly oppress God’s people.
This verse describes the Egyptians' shift from hospitality towards the Israelites, who had grown numerous and prosperous, to fear and hostility. God is depicted as the one who allows this change of heart, leading the Egyptians to devise cunning plans to oppress and diminish His people, as seen in their later actions described in Exodus.
This verse describes the Egyptians' shift from hospitality towards the Israelites, who had grown numerous and prosperous, to fear and hostility. God is depicted as the one who allows this change of heart, leading the Egyptians to devise cunning plans to oppress and diminish His people, as seen in their later actions described in Exodus.
"He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants." — The phrase "He turned their hearts" can easily be misunderstood as God directly implanting hatred. However, the text implies God permitted this turn, or withdrew His restraining influence, allowing t…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026