Exodus 11 9

Exodus 11:9 kjv

And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 11:9 nkjv

But the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt."

Exodus 11:9 niv

The LORD had said to Moses, "Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you?so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt."

Exodus 11:9 esv

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt."

Exodus 11:9 nlt

Now the LORD had told Moses earlier, "Pharaoh will not listen to you, but then I will do even more mighty miracles in the land of Egypt."

Exodus 11 verses

Exodus 11 9 Meaning

Exodus 11:9 conveys God's divine foreknowledge and sovereign plan in the escalating confrontation with Pharaoh. It reveals that Pharaoh's refusal to heed Moses, rather than frustrating God's will, is integral to God's purpose. This purpose is the extensive multiplication and demonstration of His powerful "wonders" or judgments throughout Egypt, revealing His glory and unique power over all earthly authority and false gods.

Exodus 11 9 Context

Exodus 11:9 is positioned directly before the tenth and final plague: the death of the firstborn. Chapters 7-10 detailed nine devastating plagues, each increasingly severe and targeting specific aspects of Egyptian life and deities. Pharaoh had consistently hardened his heart (or God had hardened it), refusing to let Israel go. At this point, after Moses’ dramatic pronouncement of the final plague (Ex 11:4-8), this verse serves as a divine word to Moses, explaining why Pharaoh’s defiance persisted and what ultimate purpose God had for this prolonged resistance. It is a profound theological explanation for the intensified suffering of Egypt and the drawn-out struggle, clarifying that it was all part of God's larger plan to demonstrate His power maximally before His climactic act of deliverance. This understanding prepares Moses (and the reader) for the magnitude of what is about to transpire and underscores God's sovereignty over Pharaoh's obstinacy.

Exodus 11 9 Word analysis

• And the Lord (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה - vayyo’mer Yahweh): "The Lord" uses God's personal covenant name, YHWH (Yahweh), emphasizing His relational identity with Israel, yet His omnipotence over all. The phrase highlights divine communication and authority.
• said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyo’mer): Simple past tense, but conveying a declarative, authoritative statement from God to Moses.
• to Moses (אֶל־מֹשֶׁה - el-Mosheh): Moses is God's chosen intermediary and prophet, the recipient of direct divine revelation for the people.
• 'Pharaoh (פַּרְעֹה - Par‘oh): The title of the Egyptian king, who represents both human political power and, in this narrative, resistance to the divine will. He also personifies the idolatrous power that God is challenging.
• will not listen (לֹא יִשְׁמַע - lo' yishmas): Literally, "will not hear" or "will not obey." This is God's foretelling, a statement of certainty about Pharaoh's continued defiance. It reflects Pharaoh's ingrained stubborness, often supernaturally confirmed or enhanced by God's hardening, all for a divine purpose.
• to you (אֲלֵיכֶם - aleichem, plural form indicating both Moses and Aaron, but likely a general address referring to Moses as the primary spokesman): God affirms Moses's faithful proclamation of His message despite the foreseen rejection.
• so that (לְמַעַן - lema‘an): A crucial conjunction denoting purpose, indicating the direct reason for Pharaoh’s recalcitrance. It shows God’s intentionality and a teleological dimension to the unfolding events. Pharaoh's rebellion serves God's ultimate plan.
• My wonders (מוֹפְתַי - mofətay): Refers to supernatural signs, miracles, and astounding acts. In this context, these are the plagues, serving not merely as destructive forces but as demonstrations of divine power, judgment, and self-revelation. These wonders distinguish the Lord from all other gods.
• may be multiplied (תִּרְבֶּינָה - tirbeyna): From the root רָבָה (ravah), meaning "to increase," "to become many." It implies that the number, intensity, or impact of God's miraculous acts would grow as Pharaoh continued to resist. This is not just a collection of wonders but an escalating revelation of God's might.
• in the land of Egypt (בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם - be’eretz Mitzrayim): Specifies the geographical stage for this grand display of divine power. Egypt, the great world power of the time and a land steeped in polytheism, was the ideal setting for God to assert His singular sovereignty globally.

Words-group analysis:

• "And the Lord said to Moses, 'Pharaoh will not listen to you'": This phrase establishes divine revelation of human resistance. It's not a surprised reaction from God, but a foretelling and purposeful declaration. It sets the stage for God to act based on His preordained plan.
• "so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt": This purpose clause is central. It shifts the focus from Pharaoh’s stubbornness (which is merely a means) to God's ultimate objective: the full display of His unparalleled power and glory to both Israel and Egypt, through increasingly impactful supernatural acts of judgment and deliverance.

Exodus 11 9 Bonus section

• This verse underpins the theme of the Sovereignty of God in Exodus, illustrating that even human stubbornness and evil can be subsumed and utilized within God's larger, predetermined redemptive purposes. God does not react to Pharaoh; He orchestrates Pharaoh's reactions.
• The phrase "My wonders" refers to events that defy natural explanation and point to divine agency. In this context, they serve as a divine judgment against the gods of Egypt, demonstrating their powerlessness. For example, the plague of frogs showed the impotency of Heket (goddess of fertility and resurrection, often depicted with a frog's head), and the plague of darkness showed the superiority of the Lord over Ra, the sun god.
• This verse serves as an explanation to Moses and to the Israelites who might be questioning the prolonged suffering. It assures them that the delays are intentional and have a specific, glorious purpose from God's perspective. It fosters trust in God's master plan even when circumstances seem bleak or unending.
• The outcome of God's multiplied wonders in Egypt laid the foundation for Israel's covenant relationship with Him, serving as a powerful, never-to-be-forgotten lesson about who the Lord is, distinct from all other perceived powers and gods.

Exodus 11 9 Commentary

Exodus 11:9 is a profoundly significant theological statement nestled within the escalating narrative of the plagues. It encapsulates God's ultimate purpose behind the protracted confrontation with Pharaoh and the accompanying devastation upon Egypt. Pharaoh's hardened heart and subsequent defiance are not presented as obstacles to God’s plan, but rather as instrumental means by which God achieves a greater end. God declares with sovereign foreknowledge that Pharaoh's refusal will directly lead to the "multiplication" of His "wonders." These wonders are not mere tricks; they are powerful demonstrations of God's supreme authority, distinguishing Him absolutely from the pantheon of Egyptian deities and challenging Pharaoh's presumed divine status. Each plague meticulously attacked a specific Egyptian god or aspect of Egyptian cosmic order, culminating in the unparalleled demonstration of power against all their gods through the death of the firstborn (Ex 12:12). This verse clarifies that the plagues serve a dual purpose: they are acts of judgment against Egypt and its idolatry, but pre-eminently, they are acts of divine self-revelation designed to reveal God’s omnipotence and unique nature, not only to Israel but also to Egypt and eventually to all nations (Ex 9:16; Rom 9:17). Thus, Pharaoh's unyielding heart ultimately serves as a canvas upon which God's glorious might is vividly painted for all to see.