Exodus 10:27

KJV

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.

KJV (with Strong's)

But the LORD {H3068} hardened {H2388} Pharaoh's {H6547} heart {H3820}, and he would {H14} not let them go {H7971}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But ADONAI made Pharaoh hardhearted, and he would not let them go.

Berean Standard Bible

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was unwilling to let them go.

American Standard Version

But Jehovah hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 10:27 marks a pivotal moment in the escalating plague narrative, explicitly stating that "the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go." This verse underscores God's active, sovereign role in Pharaoh's persistent defiance, demonstrating divine control over human will and orchestrating events to fulfill His redemptive plan for Israel while simultaneously revealing His unmatched power and glory to Egypt and the entire world.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the ninth plague, the devastating three-day darkness that enveloped Egypt, a judgment so profound it even affected Pharaoh's magicians and advisors. Despite the severity of this plague and Pharaoh's temporary willingness to compromise, God's hardening of his heart in [Exodus 10:27](/exodus/10-27 "The LORD hardens Pharaoh's heart") sets the stage for the tenth and final plague—the death of the firstborn—which will ultimately compel Pharaoh to release Israel. The narrative consistently portrays a back-and-forth struggle, with Pharaoh initially hardening his own heart (e.g., [Exodus 7:13](/exodus/7-13 "Pharaoh's heart was hardened") and [Exodus 8:15](/exodus/8-15 "Pharaoh hardened his heart")), and then God confirming or intensifying that hardened disposition, leading to an escalating series of divine judgments and a dramatic climax in [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "The Passover and the Exodus").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Egypt, Pharaoh was not merely a king but was considered a divine being, a living god, the son of Ra. His authority was absolute, and his will was supreme. The confrontation between Yahweh and Pharaoh was therefore a cosmic battle between the one true God and the perceived gods of Egypt, embodied by Pharaoh and his pantheon. Each plague systematically targeted and exposed the impotence of specific Egyptian deities (e.g., the Nile god Hapi, the frog goddess Heqet, the sun god Ra). God's hardening of Pharaoh's heart served to prolong this divine demonstration, ensuring that His power and judgment would be fully revealed, not only to Israel but also to Egypt and the surrounding nations, thereby establishing His name as supreme above all gods, as declared in [Exodus 9:16](/exodus/9-16 "God's purpose in raising up Pharaoh"). This act also highlighted the cultural concept of honor and shame, as Yahweh systematically shamed Pharaoh and his gods, asserting His own honor and glory.
* **Key Themes:** The verse significantly contributes to several major theological and narrative themes within Exodus. It underscores the theme of **Divine Sovereignty**, demonstrating God's absolute control over human will and historical events, even the resistance of His adversaries. It highlights **God's Justice and Judgment**, as Pharaoh's hardened heart directly leads to further divine retribution against Egypt, culminating in the final plague and the destruction of the Egyptian army in [Exodus 14](/exodus/14 "The Crossing of the Red Sea"). Furthermore, it emphasizes **God's Self-Revelation**, as the prolonged conflict, facilitated by Pharaoh's obstinacy, allows God to reveal His power, faithfulness, and unique identity as the covenant-keeping God of Israel more fully to both His people and the nations, fulfilling His promise to make His name known throughout the earth (as seen in [Exodus 9:16](/exodus/9-16 "God's purpose in raising up Pharaoh")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Exodus 10:27 is a concise yet profound statement, revealing the culmination of divine and human wills in the ongoing conflict.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hardened (Hebrew, _châzaq'_ - H2388):** While other Hebrew verbs like *kābad* ("to make heavy" or "dull") and *qāshāh* ("to make hard" or "severe") are used elsewhere in Exodus to describe Pharaoh's heart, the use of *châzaq* here specifically means "to strengthen," "to make firm," or "to make bold." In this context, it suggests that God strengthened Pharaoh's existing resolve or made his heart resistant to change, making him obstinate. It implies an intensification of an already present disposition rather than the creation of a new, unwilling resistance from scratch. God "made firm" Pharaoh's heart in its rebellion, ensuring that the full scope of divine power would be displayed through the remaining plagues.
* **Pharaoh's heart (Hebrew, _lêb'_ - H3820):** In Hebrew thought, the "heart" is not merely the seat of emotions but the center of one's entire being—intellect, will, and moral character. When Pharaoh's heart is hardened, it signifies a hardening of his will, his understanding, and his moral capacity to respond to God's commands. It represents the core of his being becoming unyielding to divine instruction and power.
* **would not let them go (Hebrew, _ʼâbâh'_ - H14, and _shâlach'_ - H7971):** The phrase "would not let them go" combines the negative particle with the verb *ʼâbâh*, meaning "to be willing" or "to acquiesce," followed by *shâlach*, "to send away" or "to release." Thus, it literally means "he was not willing to send them away." This emphasizes Pharaoh's active choice and lack of consent to God's command. Even with God's hardening, Pharaoh's will remained fundamentally opposed to releasing the Israelites, and God's action confirmed or intensified this existing unwillingness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart":** This clause directly attributes the hardening to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It is a powerful assertion of divine sovereignty, indicating that God is actively involved in the affairs of humanity, even in the obstinacy of those who oppose Him. This divine action is not arbitrary but serves a specific redemptive and revelatory purpose within God's larger plan. It ensures that Pharaoh's resistance will continue, allowing God to fully demonstrate His power and justice through further judgments.
* **"and he would not let them go":** This second clause highlights the immediate consequence of the hardened heart: Pharaoh's continued refusal to release the Israelites. While God hardened Pharaoh's heart, Pharaoh remained morally culpable for his choices. The hardening intensified his existing rebellious will, rather than forcing an unwilling obedience. This persistent refusal sets the stage for the ultimate display of God's power in the final plague and the subsequent exodus, underscoring both divine causality and human accountability.

#### Literary Devices
The entire plague narrative, culminating in this hardening, functions as a dramatic **contest of wills** and a **demonstration of power**. The escalating intensity of the plagues, each met with Pharaoh's renewed obstinacy (often divinely confirmed), builds narrative tension. This verse, therefore, acts as a **narrative pivot**, signaling that the final, decisive act of judgment is imminent because Pharaoh's heart, by divine design, remains unyielding. It also employs **anthropomorphism** by speaking of God "hardening" a heart, emphasizing His direct, personal involvement in human affairs and His active role in orchestrating history to achieve His redemptive purposes. The repeated hardening motif also creates a **rhetorical pattern** that highlights the futility of human resistance against divine will.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 10:27 powerfully asserts several core theological truths: the absolute sovereignty of God, the nature of divine justice, the interplay of human responsibility, and the purpose of God's self-revelation. This verse teaches that God is not merely reacting to human choices but actively orchestrating circumstances to fulfill His purposes, even using the resistance of His adversaries to achieve His ends. Pharaoh's hardening, whether self-imposed or divinely intensified, leads directly to further judgment upon Egypt, illustrating God's righteous judgment against sin and rebellion, especially against those who oppress His people and defy His authority. While God hardened Pharaoh's heart, it is crucial to understand that Pharaoh had already demonstrated profound stubbornness and rebellion multiple times. The divine hardening acted to confirm or intensify an existing disposition, not to create an unwilling resistance from scratch. Pharaoh remained morally culpable for his initial and continued defiance. This tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility is a recurring theme in Scripture. The prolonged conflict, facilitated by Pharaoh's hardened heart, allowed God to reveal His power and glory more fully, not only to Israel but also to Egypt and the surrounding nations, ensuring His name was made known throughout the earth.

This theme of God's sovereignty over rulers and His use of their resistance for His purposes resonates throughout the biblical narrative.
* [Proverbs 21:1](/proverbs/21-1 "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD") states, "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will."
* [Romans 9:17-18](/romans/9-17-18 "God's purpose in raising up Pharaoh and hardening hearts") directly references Pharaoh, explaining that God raised him up to demonstrate His power and make His name known, showing that God has mercy on whom He wills and hardens whom He wills.
* [Exodus 12:31](/exodus/12-31 "Israel's departure from Egypt") Ultimately, God's plan of deliverance for His people culminates in their freedom from bondage, demonstrating His faithfulness to His covenant promises.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 10:27 offers profound insights for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God is sovereign over all circumstances, even the most challenging and seemingly intractable. When we face stubborn opposition, unyielding systems, or personal struggles, this verse encourages us to trust that God is at work, orchestrating events to fulfill His larger purposes, which often involve revealing His power and faithfulness. Just as God used Pharaoh's resistance to bring about Israel's freedom and demonstrate His glory, He can use difficult situations and stubborn opposition in our lives to accomplish His purposes and reveal His faithfulness. It also serves as a solemn warning: continually resisting God's call and His truth can lead to a hardening of one's own heart, making repentance increasingly difficult and potentially leading to greater judgment. This calls us to cultivate a soft, responsive heart to God's word and Spirit, actively seeking to align our will with His, lest we find ourselves in hardened opposition to His divine purposes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's sovereignty over even hardened hearts impact your perspective on seemingly impossible situations in your life or the world?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be resisting God's will, and what might be the long-term consequences of such resistance?**
* **How can the story of Pharaoh encourage you to trust God's timing and methods, even when His plan unfolds through prolonged struggle and opposition?**

### FAQ
**Does 'God hardened Pharaoh's heart' mean Pharaoh had no free will?**

Answer: This is a common and important question that highlights the complex interplay between divine sovereignty and human responsibility in Scripture. The biblical text presents Pharaoh repeatedly hardening his *own* heart before God is said to harden it (e.g., [Exodus 7:13](/exodus/7-13 "Pharaoh's heart was hardened"), [Exodus 8:15](/exodus/8-15 "Pharaoh hardened his heart"), [Exodus 8:32](/exodus/8-32 "Pharaoh hardened his heart again")). God's hardening, particularly in later instances, is often understood as an intensification or confirmation of an existing rebellious disposition, rather than forcing an unwilling person to act against their nature. Pharaoh remained morally culpable for his choices and actions. God's hardening served to ensure that Pharaoh's resistance would continue long enough for God to fully display His power and glory, and for His people to be delivered in a way that left no doubt about His divine intervention.

**Why would God harden someone's heart if He wants all to be saved?**

Answer: The purpose of God's hardening of Pharaoh's heart was not to prevent his salvation (which is not the primary focus of the Exodus narrative for Pharaoh) but to demonstrate God's power and make His name known throughout the earth, as explicitly stated in [Exodus 9:16](/exodus/9-16 "God's purpose in raising up Pharaoh"). This act of judgment against Pharaoh and Egypt was part of God's larger redemptive plan for Israel. It served to liberate His chosen people and reveal His unique identity as the one true God, contrasting Him with the impotent gods of Egypt. While God desires all to come to repentance (as seen in [2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "The Lord is patient, not wanting anyone to perish")), He also exercises His sovereign right to judge sin and rebellion, and to use even the resistance of His enemies to accomplish His ultimate purposes for His people and for His glory.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 10:27, with its theme of divine sovereignty over a hardened ruler and the ultimate deliverance of God's people, finds profound fulfillment and amplification in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as God delivered Israel from the physical bondage of Pharaoh's Egypt, Jesus Christ accomplishes a greater exodus—liberating humanity from the spiritual bondage of sin, death, and the dominion of Satan, as declared in [Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13-14 "Delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of his beloved Son"). Pharaoh's unyielding heart foreshadows the spiritual forces of evil and the hardened human heart that resist God's liberating grace. The LORD's hardening of Pharaoh's heart demonstrates His absolute sovereignty over earthly rulers and spiritual powers. In the New Testament, Jesus is revealed as the ultimate King, to whom "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given" ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "All authority given to Jesus")). His death and resurrection are the ultimate display of God's power, triumphing over sin, death, and the spiritual forces that hold humanity captive, making a public spectacle of them on the cross ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Triumph over spiritual powers")). No heart, no power, no authority can ultimately thwart God's redemptive plan in Christ. The plagues against Egypt were acts of divine judgment that paved the way for Israel's salvation. Similarly, the cross of Christ is the ultimate act of God's judgment against sin, where the wrath deserved by humanity was poured out on Jesus. Yet, this judgment simultaneously became the means of salvation for all who believe, demonstrating God's justice and His boundless love ([Romans 3:25-26](/romans/3-25-26 "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement")). Pharaoh's hardened heart led to his destruction; a hardened heart against Christ leads to spiritual death and eternal separation from God. Conversely, a heart softened by the Holy Spirit through the gospel leads to life and freedom in Christ, as promised in [Ezekiel 36:26](/ezekiel/36-26 "A new heart and a new spirit"). In Jesus Christ, God's character, power, and redemptive love are most fully and perfectly revealed, for He is the image of the invisible God ([Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Christ is the image of the invisible God")), and through Him, we truly know the LORD who delivers His people.

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 10:20

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.

Exodus 4:21

And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

Exodus 14:4

And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I [am] the LORD. And they did so.

Exodus 14:8

And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.

Revelation 9:20

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

Exodus 10:1

¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:

Revelation 16:10

And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,