Exodus 7:14 kjv
And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
Exodus 7:14 nkjv
So the LORD said to Moses: "Pharaoh's heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go.
Exodus 7:14 niv
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go.
Exodus 7:14 esv
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go.
Exodus 7:14 nlt
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is stubborn, and he still refuses to let the people go.
Exodus 7 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 4:21 | "I will harden [hazaq] his heart, so that he will not let the people go." | God's initial declaration to harden. |
| Ex 8:15 | "But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen..." | Pharaoh's self-hardening after first plague. |
| Ex 8:32 | "But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and would not let the people go." | Pharaoh's continued self-hardening. |
| 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..." | God's ultimate purpose in Pharaoh. |
| Ex 9:34 | "But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart..." | Pharaoh's self-hardening after another plague. |
| Ex 10:1 | "...I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine..." | God directly hardening Pharaoh. |
| Ex 10:20 | "But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the people of Israel go." | Explicit divine hardening. |
| Ex 11:10 | "Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart..." | Reinforcement of divine hardening. |
| Ex 14:4 | "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh..." | God's purpose in the final pursuit. |
| Isa 6:9-10 | "Make the heart of this people dull [kaved], and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes..." | Prophetic theme of hearts made stubborn. |
| Ps 81:12 | "So I gave them over to their stubborn heart, to follow their own counsels." | God allowing people to follow their will. |
| Rom 9:18 | "So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills." | New Testament theological exposition of divine hardening. |
| Rom 9:22-23 | "What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction...?" | God's sovereign handling of vessels of wrath and mercy. |
| 2 Cor 3:14 | "But their minds were hardened [poroo], for to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted..." | Spiritual hardening in the New Testament. |
| Heb 3:7-8 | "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion..." | Warning against hardening one's own heart. |
| Dan 5:20 | "But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened [qasha] so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne..." | Hardening leading to downfall (King Nebuchadnezzar). |
| Acts 7:51 | "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you." | Stephen's rebuke linking stubbornness to resistance of God. |
| Ps 105:25 | "He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants." | God's ability to influence hearts for His purpose. |
| Neh 9:16 | "But they and our fathers acted proudly and stiffened their neck and would not obey your commandments." | Refusal to obey and stiff-neckedness. |
| Deut 2:30 | "But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through him, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate..." | God's hardening of other kings' hearts. |
Exodus 7 verses
Exodus 7 14 Meaning
Exodus 7:14 presents God's divine assessment of Pharaoh's inner state and willful resistance, preceding the escalating series of plagues. It declares that Pharaoh's "heart is stubborn" or "heavy," leading him to "refuse" to release the people of Israel as commanded. This verse highlights God's perfect foreknowledge of Pharaoh's obstinate disposition, revealing that his unwillingness stems from a profound internal resistance that aligns with God's sovereign plan to demonstrate His power and glory. It sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation, confirming that Pharaoh's own unyielding nature is central to the unfolding divine drama.
Exodus 7 14 Context
Exodus 7:14 marks a pivotal moment immediately after Moses and Aaron's initial sign before Pharaoh—Aaron's staff turning into a serpent, which Pharaoh's magicians replicated. This event demonstrated that Pharaoh and his court were not yet convinced of YHWH's unique power. This verse directly follows that confrontation, indicating God's awareness that Pharaoh's resolve remains unshaken. The historical context is Egypt during the period of its enslavement of the Israelites, a mighty empire challenging the true God. This declaration from the LORD prepares Moses for the ensuing, prolonged struggle by assuring him that Pharaoh's inherent "stubbornness" is precisely what will allow God to magnify His name through the series of escalating plagues, proving His absolute supremacy over both Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt.
Exodus 7 14 Word analysis
And the LORD said unto Moses,:
- And the LORD: This standard Hebrew narrative introductory phrase ("vayyo'mer YHVH") establishes direct divine communication. "LORD" (YHWH) emphasizes the covenant God of Israel, highlighting His authority over all things, including the heart of a foreign king. It signifies that this is a divine assessment and directive.
- said unto Moses: Confirms Moses' role as God's chosen messenger, validating his position despite Pharaoh's dismissal and initial setbacks. This communication is intimate and reassuring for Moses.
Pharaoh's heart is stubborn,:
- Pharaoh's heart: The Hebrew term "לב" (lev, pronounced: leve) refers to the entire inner being, encompassing intellect, will, emotions, and moral character. It is the seat of decision-making and personality. This indicates Pharaoh's core disposition.
- is stubborn: The Hebrew word used here is "כָּבֵד" (kaved, pronounced: kah-ved), meaning "heavy," "weighty," "dull," "insensitively resistant," or "unresponsive." Unlike other terms often translated "harden" (like ḥazaq or qasha), kaved emphasizes an intrinsic spiritual dullness or a profound unwillingness to be moved or persuaded. It implies a state of being cumbersome or unresponsive to divine revelation or reason, characteristic of Pharaoh's existing nature. This dullness is not necessarily an immediate, active stiffening but a heavy, unperceptive disposition.
he refuses to let the people go. :
- he refuses: The Hebrew verb is "מֵאֵן" (me'en, pronounced: may-eyn), meaning "to refuse," "to reject," or "to be unwilling." This signifies Pharaoh's active choice and conscious decision to defy God's command. It points to his moral responsibility and agency in his rebellion.
- to let the people go: The core divine demand ("לְשַׁלַּח אֶת-הָעָם" - leshalakh 'et-ha'am). This highlights the direct challenge to YHWH's authority and purpose by Pharaoh's refusal.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn, he refuses": This phrase precisely connects Pharaoh's internal, stubborn disposition (kaved) with his outward, volitional act of refusal (me'en). It demonstrates that his persistent defiance is not random but flows directly from his hardened, heavy heart. This linkage underscores both God's insightful diagnosis of Pharaoh's nature and Pharaoh's personal culpability for his resistance. It also introduces the fundamental tension in the Exodus narrative regarding human will and divine sovereignty—Pharaoh’s inherent unyielding nature provides the very ground for God’s action.
Exodus 7 14 Bonus section
- The concept of a "heavy heart" (kaved) carries the connotation of a spiritual insensitivity that makes one dull to God's word, similar to being hard of hearing or seeing spiritually, as seen in Isaiah 6:10 regarding Judah. It implies an inability to truly comprehend or respond to God's demands due to an inner density or moral resistance.
- This verse subtly introduces the dynamic tension between Pharaoh's self-willed stubbornness and God's divine hardening. While Pharaoh's heart is initially described as kaved (heavy/stubborn) and he me'en (refuses), subsequent passages explicitly state that "Pharaoh hardened his heart" and that "the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart." This theological interplay shows that God does not compel a righteous person to do evil but often works with and within the existing sinful nature of individuals to accomplish His righteous purposes and demonstrate His sovereignty.
- The pronouncement in Ex 7:14 confirms God's foreknowledge and meticulous plan. Pharaoh is not merely an adversary but a tool, albeit a defiant one, through whom God will achieve unparalleled glory and educate Israel about His saving power. This declaration prepares Moses, warning him that easy success is not on the horizon, but ultimate divine victory is assured despite Pharaoh's resistance.
Exodus 7 14 Commentary
Exodus 7:14 serves as a critical interpretive lens for the entire plague narrative. It's a divine prognosis of Pharaoh's character and God's overarching strategy. God, knowing Pharaoh's innate stubbornness ("heavy" heart, kaved), declares this state to Moses. This is not God retroactively making Pharaoh stubborn, but rather identifying his pre-existing spiritual insensitivity and determined unwillingness. Pharaoh's "refusal" (me'en) to release Israel is his volitional response rooted in this inner disposition. God leverages this very obstinacy, allowing it to manifest fully so that through the unfolding plagues, His sovereign power will be undeniably displayed, both for Israel's liberation and for Egypt's ultimate downfall. The verse establishes divine control over the conflict's outcome, ensuring that Pharaoh's inherent wickedness will serve God's grand redemptive plan and magnify His name before all nations.