Exodus 9:17 kjv

As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?

Exodus 9:17 nkjv

As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go.

Exodus 9:17 niv

You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go.

Exodus 9:17 esv

You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go.

Exodus 9:17 nlt

But you still lord it over my people and refuse to let them go.

Exodus 9 verses

Exodus 9 17 Meaning

Exodus 9:17 declares that Pharaoh's persistent refusal to release the Israelites constitutes a deliberate act of self-exaltation against God's chosen people and, by extension, against God Himself. This verse unveils the true nature of Pharaoh's ongoing defiance, portraying it not merely as political stubbornness but as profound spiritual arrogance, where he continually elevates his own will and perceived authority above the explicit commands of the Almighty God.

Exodus 9 17 Context

Exodus 9:17 is positioned during the sequence of the plagues in Egypt. It immediately follows the sixth plague (boils) and precedes the seventh plague (hail). By this point, Pharaoh has already witnessed God's immense power through multiple devastating judgments, including the turning of water to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, a severe pestilence on livestock, and painful boils on people and animals. Despite these overwhelming demonstrations, Pharaoh continues to harden his heart and refuse God's command to let Israel go.

This verse serves as a direct divine indictment of Pharaoh's character. God is not merely reacting to Pharaoh's political decision; He is exposing the spiritual root of his obstinacy: self-exaltation. This stubbornness directly opposes God's overarching purpose stated in the preceding verse (Exo 9:16), which is to display His power and proclaim His name throughout the earth through Pharaoh's very resistance. The ongoing conflict thus escalates beyond mere natural disasters to a profound confrontation between the true God (Yahweh) and a human king who believed himself to be divine, highlighting the ultimate futility of human pride against divine omnipotence.

Exodus 9 17 Word analysis

• As yet (עֹוד - 'od): This Hebrew term signifies continuation, persistence, or still. It underscores the ongoing and deliberate nature of Pharaoh's defiance, indicating that his refusal is not a momentary lapse but a sustained act of resistance despite overwhelming evidence of God's power through multiple preceding plagues. It highlights the deeply ingrained nature of his pride.
• you exalt yourself (מִתְנַשֵּׂא - mitnasse): Derived from the root נשׂא (nasa), meaning "to lift" or "to bear." The form used here is the Hithpael stem, which conveys a reflexive and often intensive action, meaning "to lift oneself up," "to raise oneself," or "to act haughtily." This term profoundly articulates Pharaoh's profound arrogance and defiance. It suggests he is not merely being stubborn, but actively elevating his own will and supposed authority above God's. In ancient Egyptian cosmology, Pharaoh was considered a divine being, embodying aspects of the gods, making his self-exaltation deeply rooted in his worldview and kingly status, thus directly challenging God's absolute sovereignty.
• against My people (עַל־עַמִּי - 'al-'ammi): The possessive "My people" profoundly highlights God's unique and covenantal relationship with Israel. They are His chosen, treasured possession. The preposition "against" (עַל - 'al) signifies direct opposition, hostility, and aggression. To oppress Israel is to directly challenge and attack God Himself, implying that an offense against His people is an offense against Him (cf. Zec 2:8).
• by not letting them go (לְבִלְתִּי שַׁלְּחָם - lebiltti shallchm): This phrase specifies the manner or direct cause of Pharaoh's self-exaltation. "By not" (לְבִלְתִּי - lebiltti) introduces the negation, linking his defiance directly to his refusal. "Letting them go" (שַׁלְּחָם - shallchm, from שׁלח - shalach, to send away, to release) refers to God's repeated command to set Israel free. This clarifies that Pharaoh's arrogance is manifested through this specific act of disobedience, demonstrating how profound spiritual pride translates into concrete acts of rebellion against God's explicit will.

Words-group analysis:

• "As yet you exalt yourself": This phrase paints a picture of deliberate and persistent arrogance. Pharaoh is not simply passively resistant; he is actively "lifting himself up" in defiant opposition, displaying an active contempt for God's clear commands, even after numerous displays of God's overwhelming power. This continued and conscious elevation of himself reveals a deep spiritual rebellion.
• "against My people": This powerfully emphasizes the personal nature of Pharaoh's defiance. His resistance to freeing Israel is not just a political or economic decision, but an act directed against God's own treasured possession, thereby becoming an act directly against God Himself. It reinforces God's protective, proprietary, and passionate relationship with the Israelites.
• "by not letting them go": This clearly identifies the specific action (or, more precisely, inaction) that embodies Pharaoh's self-exaltation. It anchors the abstract concept of "self-exaltation" in the concrete act of maintaining the enslavement of God's people. It illustrates that spiritual pride manifests overtly through defiance of God's straightforward commands, demonstrating how Pharaoh's spiritual arrogance fueled his practical oppression.

Exodus 9 17 Bonus section

• The progression from "My people" (Exo 5:1, "Let My people go") to "My army" (Exo 7:4, as God refers to them) and "My firstborn" (Exo 4:22) highlights the escalating significance of God's chosen people, making Pharaoh's defiance even more egregious as it touches a deeper covenantal relationship.
• The term mitnasse is rarely used, adding to its weight. When applied to a human, it often connotes a presumptuous and unlawful assumption of status or power that rightfully belongs to God. Pharaoh, as an earthly king, was arrogating to himself a divine prerogative.
• The entire narrative of the plagues and Pharaoh's hardened heart is not just about Israel's liberation but fundamentally about the revelation of God's absolute sovereignty and unique power in a world full of polytheism and kings claiming divine status. Pharaoh's self-exaltation serves as a dark backdrop against which God's glory shines brighter.

Exodus 9 17 Commentary

Exodus 9:17 serves as a profound divine diagnosis of Pharaoh's character and the spiritual essence of his unrelenting obstinacy. God confronts Pharaoh directly, exposing the true source of his stubbornness: not mere political strategy or economic self-interest, but profound self-exaltation. Pharaoh, saturated in his perceived divinity and human authority, continually elevates his own will above the explicit commands of the Creator God, Yahweh. This defiance transforms what might appear to be a simple dispute over labor into a cosmic struggle where human arrogance directly challenges divine sovereignty. The verse reveals that God does not merely observe Pharaoh's disobedience but understands its underlying root in pride. This very act of self-exaltation, by God's sovereign plan (as indicated in Exo 9:16), paradoxically becomes the means through which God further displays His matchless power and proclaims His name across the earth, turning Pharaoh's resistance into a stage for divine glory. The theological implication is clear: resistance to God's clear commands, especially those concerning His people, stems from a prideful elevation of self that invites greater divine judgment.

• Practical Usage Example: Just as Pharaoh's refusal to obey God stemmed from his exalted view of himself, personal stubbornness in the face of God's revealed will often originates from our own self-will, rather than external circumstances.
• Practical Usage Example: When one deliberately refuses to release forgiveness, break free from sin, or follow a clear biblical command, this verse helps us discern that such refusal is not merely a weakness but an act of spiritual self-exaltation against God.