Exodus 7 4

Exodus 7:4 kjv

But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

Exodus 7:4 nkjv

But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

Exodus 7:4 niv

he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites.

Exodus 7:4 esv

Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.

Exodus 7:4 nlt

Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces ? my people, the Israelites ? from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment.

Exodus 7 verses

Exodus 7 4 Meaning

Exodus 7:4 states God's sovereign plan to orchestrate Pharaoh's continued refusal to release Israel. This refusal, foreknown and even decreed by God, served a divine purpose: to allow God to powerfully demonstrate His supreme authority through devastating judgments upon Egypt, ultimately leading to the forceful liberation of His people, Israel, from bondage. It reveals that Pharaoh's stubbornness was not an impediment to God's will but an instrument in achieving a grander display of His glory and power.

Exodus 7 4 Context

Exodus chapter 7 initiates the direct confrontation between Yahweh and Pharaoh through Moses and Aaron. Moses has returned to Egypt, delivering God's demand: "Let My people go!" Pharaoh has already rejected this plea, and this verse (7:4) is a divine forewarning to Moses of Pharaoh's continued obstinacy. It sets the stage for the dramatic display of God's power through the ten plagues. Historically, Pharaoh was seen as a living god, the son of the sun god Ra, embodying divine rule and absolute power. The Egyptian pantheon consisted of numerous gods associated with every aspect of life, from the Nile to various animals and natural forces. This verse contextualizes the upcoming plagues not merely as punishments but as deliberate "judgments" (mishpatim) designed to systematically dismantle Egyptian idolatry and demonstrate Yahweh's unparalleled sovereignty over all creation and all "gods," culminating in the liberation of His chosen people, Israel, to worship Him alone.

Exodus 7 4 Word analysis

• "But Pharaoh": Introduces a deliberate counteraction to God's command given through Moses. This phrase highlights Pharaoh's expected, and foreknown, resistance.
• "will not listen": Hebrew: `lo yishma` (לֹא יִשְׁמַע). `Shama` means "to hear" but carries the connotation of "to obey." Pharaoh's refusal is not merely an auditory failing but a defiant rejection of God's voice and authority, demonstrating his unyielding will. This is a divine declaration of Pharaoh's hardened heart even before the plagues commence.
• "to you": Refers specifically to Moses and Aaron as God's designated spokesmen. Pharaoh's rejection of them is a direct rejection of God Himself (cf. Lk 10:16).
• "so that I may lay My hand on Egypt": Hebrew: `lema'an shiti yadi` (לְמַעַן שִׁתִּי יָדִי).
  • "so that" (`lema'an`): This is a crucial Hebrew conjunction denoting purpose or result. It reveals that Pharaoh's predicted disobedience serves a specific divine intention. It's not God reacting to Pharaoh, but God's plan utilizing Pharaoh's resistance.
  • "lay My hand" (`shiti yadi`): "Hand" (יָד - `yad`) is a common biblical metaphor for power, strength, authority, and intervention, especially in judgment. Here, it signifies powerful, overwhelming divine action upon the land of Egypt.
• "and bring My hosts, My people, the children of Israel,":
  • "My hosts" (`tsiva'oti` - צְבָאוֹתַי): Literally "My armies" or "My organized groups." This powerful military metaphor portrays Israel not just as a fleeing multitude, but as God's disciplined force, His personal army under His command (Exod 12:41; 12:51).
  • "My people" (`'ammi` - עַמִּי): Emphasizes the intimate covenant relationship and God's possession of Israel. They are His treasured possession, distinct from all other peoples (Exod 19:5).
  • "the children of Israel": Specific identity of the people whom God chose and is about to redeem, linking them to their patriarchal heritage.
• "out of the land of Egypt": The physical location from which God will extract His people, symbolizing liberation from bondage and oppression.
• "by great acts of judgment": Hebrew: `bishfatim gedolim` (בִּשְׁפָטִים גְּדֹלִים).
  • "great acts of judgment" (`bishfatim gedolim`): Refers specifically to the plagues. `Mishpatim` are more than just "calamities" or "punishments"; they are deliberate divine decrees, righteous verdicts, and their execution (Exod 12:12). Each plague was a targeted "judgment" against a specific Egyptian deity or aspect of their religious system, exposing the impotence of these gods compared to Yahweh.

• Words-group analysis:
  • "But Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt": This phrase succinctly captures God's sovereign control over seemingly independent human choices. Pharaoh's anticipated rebellion is preordained as the catalyst for God's demonstrative power against Egypt. The opposition becomes the very means for God to act decisively and conspicuously.
  • "bring My hosts, My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt": This triad highlights God's protective and proprietary relationship with Israel. They are His; He claims them as His army, His chosen ones, the direct descendants of His covenant partners, ensuring their certain and complete deliverance.
  • "by great acts of judgment": This phrase characterizes the method of liberation. The plagues are not random disasters but intentional, structured divine verdicts. Each one is a specific declaration of Yahweh's supremacy and justice against the false gods and systems of Egypt, demonstrating His might for all to see.

Exodus 7 4 Bonus section

The concept of God "hardening" Pharaoh's heart (mentioned here in context of Pharaoh not listening leading to it, and explicitly elsewhere) is a profound theological point. It is not presented as God forcing Pharaoh against his will to choose evil, but rather God working through and intensifying Pharaoh's already rebellious and arrogant heart, which consistently refused to acknowledge Yahweh's authority and relinquish its grip on Israel. Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his own heart before God intervened to harden it further (e.g., Exod 8:15, 8:32, 9:34), showing a synergy between divine decree and human agency. The display of God's "great acts of judgment" served as a foundational revelation of His nature for both Israel (who needed to see His saving power) and the Gentile nations (who needed to witness His unrivaled dominion). This was paramount for Israel's future identity as God's covenant people.

Exodus 7 4 Commentary

Exodus 7:4 is a pivotal declaration of God's overarching sovereignty in the Exodus narrative. It underscores that God's purpose cannot be thwarted by human resistance, but rather, human resistance (in this case, Pharaoh's foretold hardening) is integrated into the divine plan for a more spectacular revelation of God's power and glory. The plagues, designated "great acts of judgment," were not merely destructive but were strategic declarations against the entire Egyptian pantheon, dismantling the claims of false gods one by one and confirming Yahweh's unique supremacy. This verse establishes that the purpose of the plagues was not primarily to punish Pharaoh (though judgment was inherent), but to powerfully deliver God's chosen "hosts" (Israel) and to ensure that both Israel and Egypt, and eventually all nations, would know that Yahweh is the one true God (Exod 7:5). It reassures Moses of the inevitability of God's plan, despite the seemingly insurmountable opposition he faced.