Exodus 10:16

KJV

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then Pharaoh {H6547} called {H7121} for Moses {H4872} and Aaron {H175} in haste {H4116}; and he said {H559}, I have sinned {H2398} against the LORD {H3068} your God {H430}, and against you.

Complete Jewish Bible

Pharaoh hurried to summon Moshe and Aharon and said, "I have sinned against ADONAI your God and against you.

Berean Standard Bible

Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you.

American Standard Version

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against Jehovah your God, and against you.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 10:16 records Pharaoh's desperate, yet ultimately insincere, confession of sin to Moses and Aaron, made under the immense pressure of the devastating locust plague. This moment reveals Pharaoh's pragmatic desire for immediate relief from divine judgment rather than a genuine turning of his heart, further highlighting the escalating power of Yahweh and the unyielding nature of Pharaoh's defiance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed at a critical juncture in the narrative of the plagues, immediately following the most destructive plague to date—the locusts, which consumed every green thing left after the hail, leaving Egypt barren and facing widespread famine. Pharaoh's urgent summons "in haste" stands in stark contrast to his previous, often conditional, and quickly retracted concessions after earlier plagues, such as his admission of sin after the [hail plague](/exodus/9-27 "Pharaoh's confession after the hail plague"). The escalating severity of the plagues, from inconveniences to existential threats, forms a clear narrative arc, demonstrating God's increasing pressure on Pharaoh and setting the stage for the climactic tenth plague and the eventual [Exodus of Israel](/exodus/12 "The Passover and Exodus"). This recurring pattern emphasizes God's patience alongside His unwavering determination to deliver His people.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh was revered as a living god, the embodiment of cosmic order (Ma'at), and the intermediary between the gods and humanity. For such a divine ruler to confess sin, especially to foreign representatives like Moses and Aaron, was an act of profound humiliation and a direct challenge to his perceived divine status. This confession, therefore, was not a sign of spiritual transformation but a pragmatic response to a crisis that threatened his kingdom's stability and his own authority. The concept of the "hardening of Pharaoh's heart," a recurring motif beginning in [Exodus 7:3](/exodus/7-3 "God's purpose to harden Pharaoh's heart"), is crucial here. It signifies both Pharaoh's inherent stubbornness and God's sovereign design to display His power and glory to Egypt and Israel, demonstrating that even the most powerful human ruler is subject to the will of the Almighty.
* **Key Themes:** Exodus 10:16 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book of Exodus. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the **sovereignty and supremacy of Yahweh** over all other gods and human rulers, including the mighty Pharaoh. Each plague, culminating in this forced confession, serves to dismantle the perceived power of Egypt's deities and its divine king. Secondly, the verse highlights the **nature of divine judgment** as a righteous response to persistent rebellion and a means of revealing God's justice. The plagues are not arbitrary acts but progressive revelations of God's power and a persistent call to repentance, which Pharaoh consistently resists. Thirdly, it underscores the critical distinction between **superficial confession and genuine repentance**. Pharaoh's admission of sin is born of duress and a desire for relief, lacking the sincere change of mind and heart that defines true turning to God, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative concerning God's desire for a humble and contrite spirit, as seen in [Psalm 51:17](/psalm/51-17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Exodus 10:16 captures a pivotal, though ultimately hollow, moment in the divine-human confrontation: "Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you."

#### Key Word Analysis
* **sinned (Hebrew, _châṭâʼ_):** This Hebrew verb (H2398) literally means "to miss the mark" or "to go astray," and by inference, "to sin." While it can denote a moral transgression, as Pharaoh uses it here, it often functions more broadly as a failure to meet an obligation or a violation of a standard. Pharaoh's acknowledgment is primarily an admission of the *consequences* of his actions and a failure to avert disaster, rather than a deep, internal recognition of moral guilt or a desire to align with God's will. It is a confession of culpability under duress, a pragmatic attempt to end the suffering.
* **in haste (Hebrew, _mâhar_):** This adverb (H4116) emphasizes the extreme urgency and desperation of Pharaoh's summons. The locust plague was not merely an inconvenience but an existential threat, consuming the very basis of Egypt's food supply and threatening widespread famine. Pharaoh's "haste" underscores the immediate, overwhelming pressure he felt, highlighting that his confession was a reactive measure to alleviate suffering, not a proactive turning towards God or a thoughtful consideration of his actions. It speaks to his immediate, self-preservation instinct.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste":** The immediate and urgent summons of the proud Pharaoh highlights the overwhelming severity of the locust plague's impact. Pharaoh, who had previously dismissed and scorned Moses and Aaron, is now compelled by divine judgment to seek them out, demonstrating God's absolute control over the situation and His ability to humble even the most powerful earthly ruler. The "haste" signifies his desperation and the dire state of his kingdom.
* **"and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you":** This is a significant verbal admission, as it is the first time Pharaoh explicitly names "the LORD" (Yahweh, H3068) and acknowledges sin against Him. However, the crucial phrase "your God" (H430, referring to Moses and Aaron's God) reveals his continued theological distance. He acknowledges Yahweh's power and the efficacy of His judgments, but he still maintains a critical distinction, refusing to embrace Yahweh as *his* God or the one true God to whom he owes allegiance. His confession is thus a strategic maneuver to end the plague, not an act of worship or submission. Furthermore, his acknowledgment of sin "against you" (Moses and Aaron) indicates his recognition of having wronged them through his repeated deceptions and refusals to heed their warnings, perhaps a secondary, more personal apology aimed at appeasing them to secure relief.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative of the plagues, culminating in this verse, employs powerful **dramatic irony**. The audience is aware of God's prior declaration that He would harden Pharaoh's heart ([Exodus 4:21](/exodus/4-21 "God will harden Pharaoh's heart")), making Pharaoh's repeated, temporary confessions and subsequent hardening predictable. Pharaoh, however, seems to genuinely believe that each concession will end the suffering permanently, unaware of his predetermined role in God's grand display of power. The escalating severity of the plagues also functions as a powerful **climax**, building tension and demonstrating God's increasing judgment, inexorably leading towards the ultimate confrontation and the display of God's supreme power over Egypt and its gods.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully illustrates several core theological truths. Firstly, it underscores the **sovereignty and irresistible power of Yahweh** over all creation, even over the most powerful human ruler and the pantheon of Egyptian gods. Pharaoh's forced confession demonstrates that no human will can ultimately thwart God's purposes or withstand His judgments. Secondly, it highlights the **nature of divine judgment**, which is not arbitrary but a righteous response to persistent rebellion and sin. Each plague serves as a progressive revelation of God's justice and an invitation to repentance, albeit one that Pharaoh consistently rejects. Finally, it provides a crucial distinction between **confession and true repentance**. Pharaoh's confession is born of duress and a desire for relief, lacking the sincere change of mind and heart that characterizes genuine turning to God.

This theme of God's power over rulers and the necessity of true repentance resonates throughout the biblical narrative:
* [Psalm 75:7](/psalm/75-7 "God brings down one and exalts another in Psalm 75:7")
* [Isaiah 1:16-17](/isaiah/1-16-17 "Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean in Isaiah 1:16-17")
* [2 Corinthians 7:10](/2_corinthians/7-10 "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation in 2 Corinthians 7:10")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 10:16 offers profound insights into the human heart's resistance to God and the nature of genuine spiritual transformation. Pharaoh's confession, while verbally acknowledging wrongdoing, lacked the sincere change of heart and action that characterizes true repentance. For us today, this verse serves as a powerful reminder that:

* **Confession is not always repentance:** We can admit our wrongs under pressure, out of fear of consequences, or simply to alleviate discomfort, without truly turning from our sin or committing to God's ways. True repentance involves a change of mind, heart, and direction, leading to a desire to please God and align with His will, not just a desire to escape negative consequences.
* **God's warnings demand a genuine response:** God often uses circumstances, consequences, or the conviction of the Holy Spirit to draw us to Himself. It is crucial to respond to these promptings with humility and a willingness to change, rather than hardening our hearts like Pharaoh, which only leads to greater suffering and a deeper entrenchment in rebellion.
* **The danger of a hardened heart:** Pharaoh's repeated delays and stubbornness led to increasingly severe consequences for himself and his people. Procrastinating obedience to God and resisting His call can have devastating and lasting effects on our lives and the lives of those around us, hindering our spiritual growth and relationship with God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What is the difference between confessing a wrong and truly repenting of it in your own life?**
* **How do you tend to respond when God allows difficult circumstances into your life—with genuine humility and a desire to change, or with a temporary, self-serving confession?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be procrastinating obedience to God, and what might be the potential consequences of such delay?**

### FAQ
**Why did Pharaoh confess if he wasn't truly repentant?**

Answer: Pharaoh's confession was primarily a pragmatic response to overwhelming pressure and suffering, not a spiritual transformation. He sought immediate relief from the plague's devastating effects, not reconciliation with God. His confession was a desperate attempt to manipulate the situation and regain control, a common human tendency when faced with dire consequences. It highlights the crucial difference between acknowledging a problem and genuinely changing one's heart and direction. His use of "your God" rather than "my God" further underscores this lack of true submission.

**Does God "harden" people's hearts, or do people harden their own hearts?**

Answer: The biblical text presents both aspects, creating a theological paradox that affirms God's sovereignty without negating human responsibility. Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his own heart through defiance and resistance to God's commands, as seen in passages like [Exodus 8:15](/exodus/8-15 "Pharaoh hardened his heart after the plague of frogs"). However, the text also states that God hardened Pharaoh's heart, as first declared in [Exodus 7:3](/exodus/7-3 "God hardens Pharaoh's heart"). This is not a contradiction but a reflection of God's active involvement in human affairs. God's hardening often involves allowing a person's inherent stubbornness to run its course, or using their resistance to further His own redemptive purposes, ultimately demonstrating His power and glory to a wider audience.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 10:16, with Pharaoh's insincere confession and God's escalating judgment, points powerfully to the person and work of Jesus Christ in several profound ways. Pharaoh's forced admission of sin under duress contrasts sharply with the **genuine, Spirit-wrought repentance** that Jesus calls for. Unlike Pharaoh's self-serving confession, the repentance preached by John the Baptist ([Matthew 3:2](/matthew/3-2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near in Matthew 3:2")) and Jesus Himself ([Mark 1:15](/mark/1-15 "Repent and believe the good news in Mark 1:15")) is a radical turning from sin *to God*, motivated by faith and leading to new life and forgiveness.

Furthermore, Pharaoh's acknowledgment of "the LORD *your* God" highlights his separation from Yahweh, a barrier of sin and rebellion. In Christ, this barrier is decisively broken down. Jesus, through His atoning death and resurrection, provides the means for all people—Jew and Gentile—to come into a true, intimate relationship with God, making Him "our God" rather than merely "your God" ([Ephesians 2:13-18](/ephesians/2-13-18 "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility...")). Pharaoh's resistance to God's authority ultimately led to his downfall and the ruin of his kingdom, whereas Jesus, the perfect obedient Son, submitted entirely to the Father's will, even to death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross")), thereby conquering sin and death and offering true freedom from the judgment that Pharaoh faced. Christ's victory over all powers and authorities ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "He disarmed the powers and authorities and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross")) is the ultimate fulfillment of God's demonstration of power over Pharaoh and all earthly rulers.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 9:27

And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD [is] righteous, and I and my people [are] wicked.

1 Samuel 15:24

¶ And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

Proverbs 28:13

¶ He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.

1 Samuel 15:30

Then he said, I have sinned: [yet] honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.

2 Samuel 19:20

For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

Numbers 21:7

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

Matthew 27:4

Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What [is that] to us? see thou [to that].