Exodus 7:22 kjv

And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.

Exodus 7:22 nkjv

Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said.

Exodus 7:22 niv

But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh's heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.

Exodus 7:22 esv

But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

Exodus 7:22 nlt

But again the magicians of Egypt used their magic, and they, too, turned water into blood. So Pharaoh's heart remained hard. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had predicted.

Exodus 7 verses

Exodus 7 22 Meaning

Exodus 7:22 details the immediate aftermath of the first plague, where Aaron turned the waters of the Nile into blood. Despite this clear demonstration of divine power, the Egyptian magicians attempted and succeeded in replicating this feat, albeit on a limited scale, using their occult practices. This partial imitation provided Pharaoh with a pretext to dismiss the sign, thereby strengthening his resolve and contributing to his continued hardened heart. The verse concludes by emphasizing that Pharaoh's defiance unfolded precisely as the Lord had foretold, affirming God's complete control and the unfolding of His predetermined plan for judgment and salvation.

Exodus 7 22 Context

Exodus chapter 7 introduces the first of the ten plagues that God sends upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites. Moses and Aaron, acting under divine command, present the initial demand to Pharaoh. After Pharaoh rejects them, Aaron casts his staff, turning it into a serpent, which is then replicated by Pharaoh's magicians, but Aaron's staff devours theirs, a symbolic demonstration of God's superiority. Following this, the first plague unfolds as Aaron strikes the Nile, transforming all water in Egypt into blood. This act directly challenges the Egyptian pantheon, particularly Hapi (god of the Nile) and Osiris (whose blood was believed to flow in the Nile). Exodus 7:22 occurs precisely after this divine intervention, showing Pharaoh's immediate response: he turns to his court magicians, who perform their own similar feat. This partial success by the magicians provides Pharaoh with a false justification to remain obstinate, setting the stage for the escalating confrontation between the true God and the false gods of Egypt. The historical context reflects a powerful Egyptian empire confident in its religious and magical superiority, viewing these signs as mere magical duels rather than divine judgment.

Exodus 7 22 Word analysis

• But the magicians (wəhāḥarṭummîm, וְהַחַרְטֻמִּים): Refers to the official wise men, diviners, and priests in the Egyptian court. These were men skilled in the occult arts, hieroglyphics, astrology, and interpretation of omens. Their presence here is crucial, as they represent the spiritual power and wisdom of Egypt, positioned directly against Moses and God.
• of Egypt: Emphasizes that these practitioners were integral to the very fabric of Egyptian authority and religious system.
• did the same (kēn ʻāśû, כֵּן עָשׂוּ): Indicates imitation or replication. It suggests that they were able to perform an action similar to Moses and Aaron. Critically, this replication was limited in scope, likely on smaller vessels of water, and did not reverse the pervasive plague. They could only add to the blood, not alleviate the judgment.
• with their secret arts (bəlaṭêhem, בְּלָטֵיהֶם): The Hebrew word lāṭ (לט) signifies secret, mysterious, or hidden things, implying sorcery, enchantments, or subtle means that rely on human ingenuity or demonic influence, contrasting sharply with the open, overt, and universally impactful power demonstrated by God.
• So Pharaoh's heart remained hardened (wayyiḥzaq lev-Parʻōh, וַיֶּחֱזַק לֵב פַּרְעֹה): The verb ḥāzaq (חָזַק) means to be strong, firm, or courageous. Here, it denotes stubbornness or unyielding resolve. This particular phrasing (wayyiḥzaq lev) implies that Pharaoh himself allowed his heart to become or remain strong/hardened, taking responsibility for his decision. It suggests his inherent defiance, which was exacerbated by the magicians' partial success.
• and he would not listen to them: Direct consequence of his hardened heart; he actively refused to obey or acknowledge the message from God through Moses and Aaron.
• just as the Lord had said (ka'ǎšer dibber YHWH, כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה): This is a crucial theological statement, underscoring divine sovereignty and prophecy. It means the events unfolded precisely according to God's predetermined will and foreknowledge, not by chance.

Words-group analysis:

• "But the magicians of Egypt did the same with their secret arts": This phrase highlights the clash of powers – God's miraculous intervention versus human (and implicitly, demonic) magical capabilities. The "same" is superficial; it underscores the magicians' deceptive mimicry. This false equivalence gives Pharaoh a false sense of security and validation for his defiance, initially masking the true depth and origin of the power at play.
• "So Pharaoh's heart remained hardened": This direct causal link between the magicians' action and Pharaoh's stubbornness is vital. The magicians' limited success inadvertently fueled Pharaoh's pride and resistance, affirming his initial disbelief that Moses' power was from the true God, seeing it merely as a contest of spells. This sequence perfectly serves God's plan for judgment.
• "just as the Lord had said": This concluding statement wraps the entire verse in a cloak of divine orchestration. It asserts that every action, even Pharaoh's stubbornness and the magicians' imitation, falls within God's sovereign plan. It emphasizes that no event is accidental and God's prophecies are unfailingly fulfilled, leading towards His ultimate glory and the deliverance of His people.

Exodus 7 22 Bonus section

The act of the magicians replicating the turning of water into blood could have been achieved by transforming small, pre-existing water samples or drawing on their own pre-filtered supplies into which they applied their enchantments, thereby appearing to replicate the effect on a minor scale. This contrast between the pervasive, universal nature of God's plague affecting the entire nation's water supply versus the magicians' localized trick further highlights the disparity of power. Additionally, the Egyptian priests and magicians often functioned as "interpreters" or "gatekeepers" of divine favor from their gods. Their ability to imitate would have been seen as validation of their gods' continued power and Pharaoh's sacred kingship. However, the subsequent consequence was more suffering for the Egyptians, as the magicians could add to the plague but not alleviate it, serving to escalate the severity of judgment on their own people and ultimately, themselves.

Exodus 7 22 Commentary

Exodus 7:22 serves as a pivotal moment early in the plague narrative, showcasing the spiritual battle lines being drawn. The apparent success of Pharaoh's magicians, however limited in scope, in replicating the plague of blood, was critical. This did not nullify the divine power but rather emboldened Pharaoh's existing defiance, as it offered him a perceived logical (though false) explanation for Moses's acts—mere magic, akin to his own court's abilities. This false equivalence led Pharaoh to resist further, illustrating how God can permit the imitation of signs (by human or demonic agency) to achieve His higher purposes, specifically in hardening Pharaoh's heart for a grander display of His unique, incomparable power. It underscores the profound theological truth that even human resistance and deceit operate within the parameters of God's overarching plan and prophetic declaration. The magicians' eventual failure in subsequent plagues, culminating in their own affliction, would later expose the utter futility of relying on human and demonic power against the Lord Almighty.