Exodus 9:16 kjv

And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

Exodus 9:16 nkjv

But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.

Exodus 9:16 niv

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

Exodus 9:16 esv

But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.

Exodus 9:16 nlt

But I have spared you for a purpose ? to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth.

Exodus 9 verses

Exodus 9 16 Meaning

Exodus 9:16 declares God's specific purpose in allowing Pharaoh to endure and maintain his powerful position despite earlier plagues. God states He raised Pharaoh up to display His overwhelming power through Pharaoh's defiance and the subsequent judgments. The ultimate aim is that God's name, representing His character, authority, and divine reality, would be universally proclaimed and made known across the entire earth. It reveals God's sovereignty over human rulers and His commitment to reveal His glory globally.

Exodus 9 16 Context

This verse is situated during the unfolding of the plagues in Egypt, specifically right after the plague of boils and before the plague of hail. Moses has just delivered a warning to Pharaoh regarding the impending hail, reiterating God's command to let His people go. Pharaoh's continued obstinacy in the face of escalating divine judgment prompts this declarative statement from God through Moses. God's dialogue with Pharaoh underscores that His actions are not random but part of a deliberate, sovereign plan. Historically, the ten plagues directly challenged the polytheistic Egyptian pantheon, proving the absolute supremacy of Yahweh over every supposed deity and over Pharaoh, who was himself considered a god. The plagues were not merely punishments but also a grand theological demonstration for Israel, Egypt, and all nations, fulfilling the divine promise and purpose established earlier in Exodus.

Exodus 9 16 Word analysis

• But indeed: Emphatic transition, underscoring the truth and divine intentionality behind the statement. It points to a direct cause and effect.
• for this purpose: (לְבַעֲבוּר זֹאת - le'avoor zo't) Highlights God's pre-ordained design and specific aim in the entire conflict. It denotes a deliberate divine agenda.
• I have raised you up: (הֶעֱמַדְתִּיךָ - he'emadtikha from עָמַד - amad, Hifil stem, meaning "to cause to stand," "to establish," or "to set up"). This is a powerful declaration of God's direct sovereignty. It does not merely imply God allowed Pharaoh to exist, but that He actively positioned, sustained, and perhaps even caused Pharaoh's initial rise and continuation in power for this specific divine aim. This directly challenged the Egyptian belief in Pharaoh's self-proclaimed divine right and the supposed power of Egyptian deities in upholding his throne. God asserts ultimate control over rulers and their destinies.
• that I may show: (לְהַרְאֹתְךָ - lehar'otkha, Hifil infinitive, "to cause to see" or "to show"). The purpose is revelation – God making His attributes visible and undeniable.
• My power: (אֶת־כֹּחִי - et-kohi from כֹּחַ - koach, "strength," "force," "might"). This refers to God's inherent, omnipotent might. This power is not just abstract but demonstrated through the extraordinary plagues that defy natural laws and overcome all human resistance and any other perceived divine powers.
• in you: (בָּךְ - bakh, "in you" or "through you"). God's power is not just shown to Pharaoh but through Pharaoh's very existence, his hardened heart, and his sustained resistance. Pharaoh becomes an unwitting instrument in God's demonstration.
• and that My name: (וּלְמַעַן סַפֵּר שְׁמִי - ulema'an sappēr shmi). "Name" (שֵׁם - shem) in Hebrew culture encapsulates a person's entire character, reputation, authority, and very being. God's name refers to who He is – His attributes, His holiness, His justice, His faithfulness, His might, and His unique identity as Yahweh, the sovereign Lord.
• may be declared: (סַפֵּר - sappēr, Piel infinitive, "to recount," "to declare," "to tell about," "to proclaim widely"). This verb emphasizes widespread, active promulgation of the message. It is not a passive knowing but an active declaration or spreading of news.
• in all the earth: (בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ - bekhol-ha'aretz). This highlights the universal scope of God's purpose. It wasn't just for Israel or Egypt, but for all nations. God's ultimate plan of salvation and revelation is global, meant to extend far beyond the immediate context of the Exodus.

Exodus 9 16 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "power" (כֹּחַ - koach) used here often describes physical strength and might. Its application to God emphasizes His active, irresistible capability, in contrast to the impotence of Egypt's gods. This verse serves as a powerful polemic against the polytheistic worldview of Egypt, specifically countering the cult of Ra, the sun god, and Pharaoh himself, who was worshipped as a divine king, a son of Ra. God's direct declaration "I have raised you up" shatters any illusion of Pharaoh's independent divine authority. Pharaoh is merely a pawn in the hand of the true sovereign God, Yahweh. The universal scope ("in all the earth") anticipates God's later covenant with Abraham (Gen 12:3), promising blessing to all the families of the earth, demonstrating that God's plan of self-revelation extends to all humanity. The display of power through judgment ultimately serves the purpose of evangelism—making God's identity and character known universally, paving the way for people to come to acknowledge Him.

Exodus 9 16 Commentary

Exodus 9:16 unveils a profound theological truth about God's sovereign control and redemptive purpose. It moves beyond the immediate narrative of the plagues to reveal the divine motive behind Pharaoh's obstinacy and God's seemingly prolonged contest with him. Pharaoh's resistance, far from frustrating God's plan, actually becomes the very stage upon which God orchestrates a magnified display of His omnipotence. God raised Pharaoh up, meaning He either brought him to power or sustained him in power, not for Pharaoh's sake, but to serve God's grander design. This truth challenges human perceptions of control and highlights that even defiant human wills can be subsumed within God's ultimate decree for His own glory. The goal is two-fold: to show My power directly through the devastating effects of the plagues against an unyielding opponent, and ultimately, for My name to be declared in all the earth. The glory of Yahweh, unique and supreme, was to resonate throughout the known world, impacting nations far beyond Egypt. This verse sets a precedent for understanding that God can use the greatest adversaries to fulfill His purposes, making His name renowned even through judgment. For instance, in our lives, seemingly insurmountable obstacles or stubborn opposition might actually be the very means by which God plans to reveal His unique power and declare His character, not only to us but also to those who witness His overcoming grace.