Exodus 7:13

Translation
King James Version
And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
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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.
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Complete Jewish Bible
Nevertheless, Pharaoh was made hardhearted; and he didn't listen to them, as ADONAI had said would happen.
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Berean Standard Bible
Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.
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American Standard Version
And Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken.
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World English Bible Messianic
Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them; as the LORD had spoken.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
So Pharaohs heart was hardened, and hee hearkened not to them, as the Lord had saide.
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Young's Literal Translation
and the heart of Pharaoh is strong, and he hath not hearkened unto them, as Jehovah hath spoken.
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See also
Exodus 4:21Exodus 8:15Zechariah 7:11Zechariah 7:12Hebrews 3:13Exodus 10:20Romans 1:28
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The Kingdom of Egypt in the Time of Moses
The Kingdom of Egypt in the Time of Moses View full PDF

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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 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 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, 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 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 8:32) 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.

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. 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 explicitly states God hardened Pharaoh's heart, other passages consistently show Pharaoh hardening his own heart (e.g., Exodus 8:15, Exodus 8:32, Exodus 9:34). 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). 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.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

The hardening of Pharaoh's heart in Exodus 7:13, 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). 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). 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). 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).

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Commentary on Exodus 7 verses 8–13

The first time that Moses made his application to Pharaoh, he produced his instructions only; now he is directed to produce his credentials, and does accordingly. 1. It is taken for granted that Pharaoh would challenge these demandants to work a miracle, that, by a performance evidently above the power of nature, they might prove their commission from the God of nature. Pharaoh will say, Show a miracle; not with any desire to be convinced, but with the hope that none will be wrought, and then he would have some colour for his infidelity. 2. Orders are therefore given to turn the rod into a serpent, according to the instructions, Exo 4:3. The same rod that was to give the signal of the other miracles is now itself the subject of a miracle, to put a reputation upon it. Aaron cast his rod to the ground, and instantly it became a serpent, Exo 7:10. This was proper, not only to affect Pharaoh with wonder, but to strike a terror upon him. Serpents are hurtful dreadful animals; the very sight of one, thus miraculously produced, might have softened his heart into a fear of that God by whose power it was produced. This first miracle, though it was not a plague, yet amounted to the threatening of a plague. If it made not Pharaoh feel, it made him fear; and this is God's method of dealing with sinners - he comes upon them gradually. 3. This miracle, though too plain to be denied, is enervated, and the conviction of it taken off, by the magicians' imitation of it, Exo 7:11, Exo 7:12. Moses had been originally instructed in the learning of the Egyptians, and was suspected to have improved himself in magical arts in his long retirement; the magicians are therefore sent for, to vie with him. And some think those of that profession had a particular spite against the Hebrews ever since Joseph put them all to shame, by interpreting a dream which they could make nothing of, in remembrance of which slur put on their predecessors these magicians withstood Moses, as it is explained, Ti2 3:8. Their rods became serpents, real serpents; some think, by the power of God, beyond their intention or expectation, for the hardening of Pharaoh's heart; others think, by the power of evil angels, artfully substituting serpents in the room of the rods, God permitting the delusion to be wrought for wise and holy ends, that those might believe a lie who received not the truth: and herein the Lord was righteous. Yet this might have helped to frighten Pharaoh into a compliance with the demands of Moses, that he might be freed from these dreadful unaccountable phenomena, with which he saw himself on all sides surrounded. But to the seed of the serpent these serpents were no amazement. Note, God suffers the lying spirit to do strange things, that the faith of some may be tried and manifested (Deu 13:3; Co1 11:19), that the infidelity of others may be confirmed, and that he who is filthy may be filthy still, Co2 4:4. 4. Yet, in this contest, Moses plainly gains the victory. The serpent which Aaron's rod was turned into swallowed up the others, which was sufficient to have convinced Pharaoh on which side the right lay. Note, Great is the truth, and will prevail. The cause of God will undoubtedly triumph at last over all competition and contradiction, and will reign alone, Dan 2:44. But Pharaoh was not wrought upon by this. The magicians having produced serpents, he had this to say, that the case between them and Moses was disputable; and the very appearance of an opposition to truth, and the least head made against it, serve those for a justification of their infidelity who are prejudiced against the light and love of it.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 8–13. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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