Exodus 14:17 kjv
And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
Exodus 14:17 nkjv
And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.
Exodus 14:17 niv
I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.
Exodus 14:17 esv
And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen.
Exodus 14:17 nlt
And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers.
Exodus 14 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 4:21 | "I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go." | First mention of divine hardening. |
| Ex 7:3 | "But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs..." | God's explicit plan involving hardening. |
| Ex 9:12 | "But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not listen..." | Clear statement of divine agency. |
| Ex 10:1 | "...for I have hardened his heart... that I might display My signs among them." | Hardening for the display of God's power. |
| Ex 11:10 | "...but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart..." | God's continued hardening throughout plagues. |
| Ex 14:4 | "And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory..." | Echoes and confirms the purpose of v. 17. |
| Ex 14:18 | "Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored (glorified) through Pharaoh..." | Direct explanation of God's glory via judgment. |
| Ex 15:1 | "Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the Lord... 'I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.'" | Celebration of God's glorious triumph at Red Sea. |
| Ex 15:4 | "Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; And his choicest captains are sunk in the Red Sea." | Specific description of the triumph over military might. |
| Ex 9:16 | "But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show My power in you, and that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth." | God's ultimate purpose for Pharaoh's existence. |
| Deut 2:30 | "For the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate..." | Another example of God hardening a king's heart. |
| Josh 11:20 | "For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that He might utterly destroy them..." | Divine hardening leading to defeat for His people's sake. |
| Ps 106:8 | "Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, that He might make His power known." | Summarizes the purpose of Red Sea salvation. |
| Ps 76:6 | "At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep." | God's supreme power over all armies and warfare. |
| Isa 6:10 | "Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull..." | Prophetic command involving a similar hardening. |
| Isa 31:3 | "Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. So the Lord will stretch out His hand..." | Contrast between human/Egyptian power and God's power. |
| Isa 49:3 | "And He said to Me, 'You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory.'" | God displaying His glory through His chosen. |
| Hab 2:14 | "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." | Prophetic universal spread of God's glory. |
| Rom 9:17 | "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed through all the earth.'" | NT theological exposition of Ex 9:16. |
| Rom 9:18 | "So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires." | NT summary of divine sovereignty in hardening/mercy. |
| Jude 1:11 | "...perished in the rebellion of Korah." | Warning against rejecting divine authority. |
Exodus 14 verses
Exodus 14 17 Meaning
Exodus 14:17 declares God's direct and intentional action to harden the hearts of the Egyptians, specifically Pharaoh and his army, so they will pursue the Israelites. This divine orchestration is explicitly for the purpose of God gaining ultimate glory (honor and weighty importance) over the formidable military power of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen, thereby demonstrating His absolute sovereignty and might to all nations and to Israel.
Exodus 14 17 Context
Exodus chapter 14 describes Israel trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and the Red Sea, a seemingly impossible situation that causes great fear and complaints among the Israelites. Verses 13-14 see Moses reassuring the people that the Lord will fight for them and deliver them. This verse (14:17) reveals God's divine strategy behind the unfolding events. Rather than Israel simply escaping, God orchestrates Pharaoh's pursuit by intentionally hardening his heart and that of his army. This is not arbitrary; it is the culmination of the prior plagues and Pharaoh's persistent defiance, fulfilling God's earlier pronouncements that He would harden Pharaoh's heart to display His power (Ex 4:21; 7:3). The purpose is not merely to rescue Israel but to establish God's glory definitively over Egypt's perceived invincibility, particularly its renowned military might. The specific mention of chariots and horsemen emphasizes the formidable force God is about to overcome.
Exodus 14 17 Word analysis
- "And I, behold, I" (V'ani Hinn'ni - וַאֲנִי הִנְנִי): This opening phrase is emphatic and highlights God's personal, deliberate, and active initiative. Hinn'ni ("Behold I" or "Here I am") is a divine utterance denoting readiness, certainty, and direct intervention. It signals an imminent, significant action from God himself.
- "will harden" (m'ḥazzeq - מְחַזֵּק): This is a Piel participle of the root ḥazaq (חזק), meaning "to strengthen," "make firm," "be strong." In this context, it implies God will stiffen Pharaoh's resolve and empower his will to pursue, enabling his continued defiance. While often translated "harden," ḥazaq here specifically denotes God making them resolute or strong in their decision to pursue, making their path to judgment certain. It differs from other Hebrew words used for "harden" (like kaved "make heavy" or qasha "make stiff/obstinate") by emphasizing a divine strengthening that enables the pre-existing evil inclination, rather than simply making them dull or stubborn.
- "the hearts" (lev - לֵב): In Hebrew thought, lev (heart) encompasses the entire inner being – the seat of intellect, will, emotions, and moral character. God's hardening affects not just emotions but Pharaoh's core decision-making and determination.
- "of the Egyptians" (Mitzrayim - מִצְרַיִם): Refers to the entire nation and its people, not just Pharaoh, indicating that God's judgment and glory would extend over all of Egypt's power structures.
- "and they shall follow them" (v'yavo'u aḥarehem - וְיָבֹאוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם): Literally, "and they will come after them." This states the certain, divinely orchestrated outcome of the hardening. The Egyptians' pursuit is presented as an unavoidable consequence of God's action, designed for His purpose.
- "And I will get glory over" (v'ikkav'da b' - וְאִכָּבְדָה בְּ): From the root kavad (כָּבַד), meaning "to be heavy, weighty, honorable." In the Niphal stem (here eKavda), it signifies "I will be honored," "I will show my weighty importance," "I will manifest my glory." This is the ultimate objective. God's glory is His manifest presence, power, and character being recognized and displayed. It implies that God will be vindicated and glorified by demonstrating His supremacy.
- "Pharaoh" (Par‘oh - פַּרְעֹה): The divine King of Egypt, revered as a god himself, representing the epitome of human authority and perceived divine power in ancient Egypt. God's gaining glory over Pharaoh is a direct theological polemic against Egyptian religion and a testament to YHWH's absolute sovereignty.
- "and all his host" (u'v'khol ḥeylo - וּבְכָל־חֵילוֹ): "Host" (חֵיל) refers to the military might, array, or army. This includes every element of Pharaoh's fighting force, indicating the totality of the impending judgment.
- "his chariots, and his horsemen" (b'rikbo u'v'pharashav - בְּרִכְבּוֹ וּבְפָרָשָׁיו): Chariots were the ultimate military weapon of the ancient world, representing speed, power, and elite status. Horsemen added to the cavalry's formidable force. Their specific mention highlights God's triumph over the most powerful and advanced military technology of the time, further emphasizing His absolute supremacy over human strength and the "gods" associated with it. This is a deliberate contrast: Egypt's greatest strength will become the very means of God's most glorious victory.
Exodus 14 17 Bonus section
- Paradox of Divine Sovereignty and Human Will: This verse is a prime example of the theological tension present throughout the Exodus narrative where God actively hardens Pharaoh's heart, yet Pharaoh is also said to have hardened his own heart (e.g., Ex 8:15, 32; 9:34). This dual agency indicates that God's hardening did not override Pharaoh's will but empowered his already evil and rebellious disposition for a specific divine purpose. Pharaoh retained accountability for his choices while God remained sovereign over the outcome.
- Polemics against Egyptian Deities: The detailed mention of Pharaoh's "host," "chariots," and "horsemen" emphasizes not only the might of the Egyptian military but also implies a direct challenge to the deities associated with these elements, particularly Set (god of chaos, storms, war) and Ra (sun god, supreme creator, often identified with Pharaoh). By destroying Egypt's most potent forces, YHWH directly demonstrates His supremacy over all their gods.
- Preparation for a Foundational Truth: This decisive victory at the Red Sea, ordained by God's hardening of hearts, served as the foundational narrative for Israel's identity and understanding of YHWH as their exclusive deliverer, a concept often revisited and celebrated in later psalms and prophetic books.
Exodus 14 17 Commentary
Exodus 14:17 stands as a powerful declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and purposeful action. It clarifies that the seemingly disastrous pursuit of the Israelites by Pharaoh's army was not an unexpected setback, but a divinely ordained event. God explicitly takes responsibility for enabling Pharaoh's final act of defiance by "hardening" his heart, essentially firming up his resolve for a path of destruction. This hardening is not merely punitive but strategic, serving a grander purpose: to manifest God's glory and supreme power. The destruction of Pharaoh, his formidable chariots, and horsemen at the Red Sea would be the ultimate vindication of YHWH over Egypt's presumed might and its pantheon of gods. This episode reveals God as the orchestrator of history, demonstrating that even human rebellion can be woven into His greater plan to reveal His awesome attributes and redeem His people. It highlights a core theological truth: God uses judgment not just for retribution but as a display of His character to both His covenant people and the nations, affirming that "the Lord is a warrior" (Ex 15:3).