Exodus 7:13

KJV

And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he hardened {H2388} Pharaoh's {H6547} heart {H3820}, that he hearkened {H8085} not unto them; as the LORD {H3068} had said {H1696}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Nevertheless, Pharaoh was made hardhearted; and he didn't listen to them, as ADONAI had said would happen.

Berean Standard Bible

Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.

American Standard Version

And Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 7:13 serves as a pivotal declaration in the unfolding drama of the plagues, explicitly stating that the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, preventing him from heeding the divine commands delivered by Moses and Aaron. This divine action, precisely as foretold, underscores God's absolute sovereignty over human will and historical events, setting the stage for the escalating judgments that would demonstrate His power and faithfulness in delivering Israel from Egyptian bondage.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated immediately after the initial confrontation between Moses, Aaron, and Pharaoh, where Aaron's staff miraculously transformed into a serpent, only to have Pharaoh's magicians replicate the feat with their own staffs (though Aaron's serpent then swallowed theirs). This initial sign, intended to validate Moses's divine commission, failed to sway Pharaoh. Exodus 7:13 thus marks the first explicit statement in the narrative that God Himself hardened Pharaoh's heart, directly following Pharaoh's initial stubbornness (implied by his lack of response to the sign) and preceding the onset of the ten devastating plagues, beginning with the transformation of the Nile into blood. It signals a shift from Pharaoh's initial self-hardening to God's active role in intensifying that resistance.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Egypt was a polytheistic society, and Pharaoh was considered a divine king, a living god, the embodiment of Horus and son of Ra. This belief system fostered an immense sense of power and self-sufficiency, making it culturally unthinkable for Pharaoh to submit to the demands of a foreign deity, especially one represented by a former slave. The plagues, therefore, were not merely natural disasters but direct assaults on the Egyptian pantheon, challenging the authority and efficacy of their gods (e.g., the Nile god Hapi, the frog goddess Heqet, the sun god Ra) and, by extension, Pharaoh's divine status. The hardening of Pharaoh's heart must be understood within this context of a clash between the one true God, Yahweh, and the false gods of Egypt, with Pharaoh serving as the primary antagonist.
* **Key Themes:** Exodus 7:13 is central to several profound theological and narrative themes within the book of Exodus. Firstly, it powerfully establishes the theme of **Divine Sovereignty**, demonstrating God's ultimate control over all creation, including the hearts and wills of rulers, to accomplish His purposes. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Fulfillment of Prophecy**, as God had explicitly told Moses that He would [harden Pharaoh's heart](/exodus/4-21 "God's Prophecy to Moses about Pharaoh") to ensure the unfolding of His redemptive plan. Thirdly, it introduces the complex interplay between **Divine Action and Human Responsibility**, a recurring tension throughout the plague narrative where Pharaoh both hardens his own heart and God hardens it. This dynamic serves to magnify God's power and glory, ensuring that the deliverance of Israel is seen as a purely divine act, not a result of human negotiation or might, as God explicitly states in [Exodus 9:16](/exodus/9-16 "God's Purpose for Pharaoh") that He raised Pharaoh up to display His power.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **hardened (Hebrew, _châzaq'_):** (H2388) This primitive root means "to fasten upon," "to seize," "to be strong," or "to be obstinate." In this context, when applied to God's action on Pharaoh's heart, `châzaq` suggests that God made Pharaoh's existing resolve, stubbornness, or resistance firm and unyielding. It implies an intensification or confirmation of Pharaoh's inherent will, rather than the creation of a new, resistant will from nothing. God is strengthening Pharaoh's existing inclination to resist, making him resolute in his defiance.
* **heart (Hebrew, _lêb'_):** (H3820) This term refers to the innermost being of a person, encompassing not only emotions but also the will, intellect, and conscience. It is the seat of decision-making, character, and moral disposition. When Pharaoh's `lêb` is hardened, it signifies that his core being—his will, understanding, and capacity for empathy or submission—becomes unyielding to God's commands and signs.
* **hearkened (Hebrew, _shâmaʻ'_):** (H8085) This root means "to hear intelligently," often carrying the implication of "to listen with attention," "to understand," and, crucially, "to obey." Pharaoh's failure to `shâmaʻ` Moses and Aaron means he did not merely fail to perceive their words, but he refused to give them serious consideration or, more importantly, to act in obedience to the divine message they conveyed. It signifies a willful refusal to comply with God's authoritative word.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** (H3068) This is the covenant name of God, Yahweh, emphasizing His self-existent, eternal nature and His faithfulness to His promises, particularly His covenant with Israel. The use of "the LORD" here underscores that the hardening of Pharaoh's heart is not an arbitrary act but a deliberate, purposeful action by the sovereign God who is actively working to fulfill His redemptive plan for His people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he hardened Pharaoh's heart":** This opening clause directly attributes the hardening of Pharaoh's will to God. The subject "he" refers unambiguously to the LORD (Yahweh). This statement establishes divine sovereignty as the primary mover in this phase of the Exodus narrative. It signifies God's active involvement in intensifying Pharaoh's stubbornness, making him resolute in his refusal to release Israel.
* **"that he hearkened not unto them":** This clause explains the immediate consequence and purpose of the hardening: Pharaoh's inability or unwillingness to obey Moses and Aaron's divine commands. "Hearkened not" implies a failure to listen with understanding and, critically, a refusal to comply with the divine directive to "Let my people go." This hardened state ensures Pharaoh's continued resistance, which is necessary for God's full display of power.
* **"as the LORD had said":** This concluding phrase emphasizes the fulfillment of God's earlier prophecy to Moses. In [Exodus 4:21](/exodus/4-21 "God's Prophecy to Moses"), God explicitly stated, "But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go." This confirms that the events unfolding are not random but are precisely according to God's predetermined plan, highlighting His foreknowledge and sovereign control over history.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Foreshadowing** is prominent, as the phrase "as the LORD had said" directly references God's prior declaration to Moses in [Exodus 4:21](/exodus/4-21 "God's Prophecy to Moses about Pharaoh") that He would harden Pharaoh's heart. This device assures the reader that these events are unfolding according to a divine plan, not by chance. The narrative also exhibits a profound **Theological Tension** between divine sovereignty and human responsibility; while God is stated to harden Pharaoh's heart here, subsequent verses (e.g., [Exodus 8:15](/exodus/8-15 "Pharaoh hardens his heart after the frogs"), [Exodus 8:32](/exodus/8-32 "Pharaoh hardens his heart after the flies")) show Pharaoh hardening his own heart. This interplay is a deliberate narrative strategy to explore the complex relationship between God's will and human volition. Furthermore, the **Repetition** of the theme of Pharaoh's hardening throughout the plague narrative serves to emphasize God's unwavering purpose and Pharaoh's escalating defiance, building dramatic tension towards the ultimate deliverance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 7:13 is a foundational text for understanding the profound interplay of divine sovereignty, human will, and God's redemptive purposes. It unequivocally asserts God's ultimate control over all creation, including the hearts of rulers, demonstrating that even human resistance cannot thwart His plans. This divine hardening is not arbitrary but serves a specific, just purpose: to display God's power and glory to both Egypt and Israel, to execute judgment on an oppressive empire, and to ensure the complete and undeniable liberation of His covenant people. It highlights that God uses all circumstances, even the sin and rebellion of humanity, to accomplish His perfect will, without Himself being the author of sin.

* [Romans 9:17-18](/romans/9-17-18 "God's Sovereignty over Pharaoh")
* [Proverbs 21:1](/proverbs/21-1 "The King's Heart in the Hand of the LORD")
* [Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9-10 "Isaiah's Commission to Harden Hearts")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 7:13 offers a profound and sometimes challenging truth about God's absolute sovereignty. It reminds us that God is not merely reacting to human events but is actively orchestrating them, even using the resistance of the wicked, to achieve His grand redemptive purposes. For believers, this truth should cultivate a deep sense of trust and awe in God's power and wisdom. We can rest assured that no human opposition, no political power, and no personal struggle is outside of His sovereign control. He is working all things together for His glory and for the good of those who love Him, as promised in [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "God Works All Things for Good"). This verse also serves as a solemn warning: just as Pharaoh's persistent rejection of God's truth led to a state where his heart became increasingly unresponsive to divine appeals, so too can a continuous pattern of rebellion or indifference to God's voice harden our own hearts, making us less sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings and the truth of His Word. It calls us to cultivate soft, receptive hearts, quick to hear and obey.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the concept of God hardening Pharaoh's heart challenge or affirm your understanding of divine sovereignty and human free will?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be resisting God's will, and how might Pharaoh's story serve as a warning against persistent spiritual stubbornness?**
* **How does knowing that God is sovereign over all circumstances, even difficult ones, encourage you to trust Him more deeply?**

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

Answer: The biblical narrative presents a complex interplay between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. While [Exodus 7:13](/exodus/7-13 "The LORD Hardens Pharaoh's Heart") explicitly states God hardened Pharaoh's heart, other passages consistently show Pharaoh hardening his own heart (e.g., [Exodus 8:15](/exodus/8-15 "Pharaoh hardens his own heart after the frogs"), [Exodus 8:32](/exodus/8-32 "Pharaoh's continued stubbornness after the flies"), [Exodus 9:34](/exodus/9-34 "Pharaoh hardens his heart again after the hail")). God's hardening seems to be an intensification or confirmation of Pharaoh's existing rebellious will and stubborn character, rather than the creation of resistance from scratch. Pharaoh remained morally responsible for his choices and was held accountable for them.

**Why would God harden Pharaoh's heart?**

Answer: God hardened Pharaoh's heart for several interconnected divine purposes. Primarily, it was to demonstrate His power and glory to both Egypt and Israel, ensuring that His name would be proclaimed throughout the earth ([Exodus 9:16](/exodus/9-16 "God's Purpose for Pharaoh")). It was also to execute righteous judgment on Egypt for its prolonged oppression of Israel and its idolatry, and to ensure the complete, miraculous liberation of His people, thereby fulfilling His covenant promises. The hardening allowed for the full display of God's miraculous power through the escalating plagues, ultimately leading to Pharaoh's downfall and Israel's redemption.

**Is God unjust for hardening Pharaoh's heart?**

Answer: From a theological perspective, God is just in all His actions. Pharaoh had already demonstrated a hardened and rebellious heart against God and His people through his cruel oppression and initial resistance to Moses. God's act of hardening was not arbitrary or unprovoked but a righteous response to Pharaoh's persistent defiance and a means to achieve His redemptive and judicial purposes. As the sovereign Creator, God has the right to use even human sin and rebellion to accomplish His perfect will, without Himself being the author of sin. The New Testament affirms God's sovereign right to show mercy to whom He wills and to harden whom He wills, as seen in [Romans 9:14-18](/romans/9-14-18 "God's Righteousness and Sovereignty").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The hardening of Pharaoh's heart in [Exodus 7:13](/exodus/7-13 "The LORD Hardens Pharaoh's Heart"), while a specific event in Israel's physical deliverance, foreshadows a broader theological truth concerning divine sovereignty and humanity's response to God's revelation, ultimately fulfilled in Christ. Just as Pharaoh's resistance served to magnify God's power and secure the liberation of His people from physical bondage, so too does humanity's resistance to the Gospel highlight the necessity and glory of God's redemptive work through Christ. The ultimate "hardening" is the spiritual blindness and rebellion against God's truth that humanity experiences due to sin ([2 Corinthians 4:4](/2_corinthians/4-4 "Satan Blinds the Minds of Unbelievers")). Yet, in Christ, God's sovereign power is displayed not in hardening hearts for judgment, but in softening them for salvation. Jesus, the true and greater Moses, confronts the spiritual "Pharaoh"—the power of sin and death—and through His perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice on the cross, He breaks the spiritual bondage that no human will, hardened or otherwise, could overcome ([Colossians 2:13-15](/colossians/2-13-15 "Christ's Triumph Over Spiritual Powers")). The Holy Spirit, sent by Christ, is the one who convicts the world of sin and draws hearts to repentance and faith, transforming stony hearts into hearts of flesh ([Ezekiel 36:26](/ezekiel/36-26 "A New Heart and Spirit")). Thus, the display of God's sovereignty and love culminates not in hardening for judgment, but in the gracious, life-giving work of drawing people to Himself through the perfect deliverer, Jesus Christ ([John 6:44](/john/6-44 "No One Can Come to Me Unless the Father Draws Him")).

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 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 8:15

But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

Zechariah 7:11

But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.

Zechariah 7:12

Yea, they made their hearts [as] an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

Hebrews 3:13

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Exodus 10:20

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

Romans 1:28

And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;