Exodus 9:2 kjv
For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,
Exodus 9:2 nkjv
For if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them,
Exodus 9:2 niv
If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back,
Exodus 9:2 esv
For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them,
Exodus 9:2 nlt
If you continue to hold them and refuse to let them go,
Exodus 9 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 4:21 | And the LORD said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power... I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go." | God's foreknowledge of Pharaoh's hardened heart. |
| Ex 7:3 | But I will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. | God's direct role in the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. |
| Ex 8:32 | But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go. | Pharaoh's self-inflicted hardening. |
| Deut 2:30 | But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his territory; for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate... | God hardening hearts in other contexts. |
| Prov 28:14 | How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. | Consequence of hardening one's heart. |
| Zech 7:11-12 | "But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing. They made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words..." | People hardening their hearts against God's word. |
| Jer 5:3 | O LORD, Your eyes look for faithfulness; You have smitten them, But they did not feel any pain; You have consumed them, But they refused to take correction; They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent. | Persistent human refusal despite judgment. |
| Ps 81:11-12 | "But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me. So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk in their own devices." | God gives rebellious hearts over to their choices. |
| Rom 9:17-18 | For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you... So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires." | Divine sovereignty over Pharaoh's will and purpose. |
| Rom 1:24-28 | Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity... For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions... And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind... | God giving over those who refuse Him. |
| Heb 3:7-8 | Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS..." | Warning against hardening hearts against God's voice. |
| 2 Chron 36:15-16 | The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers... But they continually mocked the messengers of God... | Persistent rebellion against divine messengers. |
| Hos 4:16 | Like a stubborn heifer Israel is stubborn; Can the LORD now pasture them like a lamb in a large field? | Metaphor of stubbornness leading to consequence. |
| 1 Sam 6:6 | "Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He had severely dealt with them, did they not allow them to go, and so they departed?" | Warning from Pharaoh's example. |
| Is 30:9-10 | For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of the LORD; Who say to the seers, "You must not see visions"; And to the prophets, "You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions." | Desire to hear pleasant words, refusal of truth. |
| Matt 23:37 | "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling." | Jesus' lament over human unwillingness. |
| 1 Pet 2:8 | ...a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. | Disobedience leading to stumbling/judgment. |
| 2 Thess 2:10-12 | ...because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false... | Rejection of truth leading to delusion/judgment. |
| Rev 16:9 | Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory. | Persistent unrepentance in the face of judgment. |
| Dan 5:20 | But when his heart became proud and his spirit became hardened with arrogance, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. | Hardened pride leading to downfall. |
Exodus 9 verses
Exodus 9 2 Meaning
Exodus 9:2 declares God's explicit warning to Pharaoh: if he continues to refuse to release the Israelite people and persists in holding them captive, severe divine judgment will fall upon him. This verse emphasizes Pharaoh's ongoing choice to defy God's command, laying the groundwork for the ensuing and intensified plagues. It underscores the principle that human stubbornness and rebellion against divine will lead to more drastic consequences.
Exodus 9 2 Context
Exodus chapter 9 continues the narrative of God's plagues upon Egypt, serving as a series of divine judgments aimed at compelling Pharaoh to release the Israelites. This verse, Exodus 9:2, is a direct prophetic warning delivered through Moses before the sixth plague (boils) and the seventh plague (hail and fire). The previous plagues—blood, frogs, gnats, flies, and livestock disease—have already afflicted Egypt, yet Pharaoh has consistently refused God's command to let Israel go. His heart remains stubborn despite the escalating evidence of YHWH's power. Verse 9:2 clarifies that the next series of judgments is a direct consequence of Pharaoh's continued obstinacy. It sets the stage for God's further demonstration of His supreme authority over nature, the land, and the very life of the Egyptians, in stark contrast to the impotence of the Egyptian gods. This declaration is a specific ultimatum, showing God's mercy in giving repeated warnings, yet also His unwavering purpose.
Exodus 9 2 Word analysis
- For: This conjunction, kî (כִּי) in Hebrew, here indicates a cause or reason. It connects the forthcoming consequences directly to Pharaoh's actions stated in the protasis. It introduces the divine logic behind the subsequent plagues.
- if: The conditional particle im (אִם) introduces a hypothetical situation, "if you (Pharaoh) refuse." It underscores that the judgment is contingent upon Pharaoh's persistent choice, implying his culpability.
- you refuse: The Hebrew verb is ma'en (מָאֵן), meaning "to refuse," "to decline," "to reject," "to be unwilling." This highlights Pharaoh's active, willful rejection of God's command. It points to an inner disposition of obstinacy, not mere inability. Pharaoh has the capacity to obey, but he actively chooses not to. This is crucial as it emphasizes human accountability.
- to let them go: Refers to the divine mandate for Israel's liberation from Egyptian bondage, freedom to worship YHWH in the wilderness. It's the central point of contention in the Exodus narrative. This isn't a mere suggestion but a command for their release, central to God's covenant with Abraham.
- and still: This emphasizes continuity and persistence. Pharaoh's refusal is not a one-time event but an ongoing, unbroken defiance. It implies he remains entrenched in his position.
- hold them: The verb is ḥāzaq (חָזַק), meaning "to be strong," "to strengthen," "to grasp," "to hold fast." Here it signifies Pharaoh's tenacious grip on the Israelites as slaves, his firm resolve not to release them. This word is also notably used throughout Exodus to describe the hardening of Pharaoh's heart ("his heart was strong/hardened"). By "holding them," Pharaoh actively resists the divine will.
Words-group analysis
- For if you refuse...and still hold them: This entire phrase establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship. It demonstrates God's judicial process: a clear command, a clear warning of consequences for non-compliance, and the active choice of the human agent (Pharaoh) that brings about judgment. It underscores God's righteousness in His dealings.
- you refuse to let them go and still hold them: This phrasing stresses Pharaoh's utter contrariness. It's not just a passive lack of letting go; it's an active refusal and a sustained retention. It conveys Pharaoh's obstinate and confrontational posture towards YHWH. This phrase reveals Pharaoh's culpability and his persistent rebellion, rejecting both liberation and embracing continued oppression. The use of both "refuse to let go" and "still hold them" makes his stance unmistakably defiant, demonstrating his unwillingness to yield any control or acknowledge God's ultimate authority.
Exodus 9 2 Bonus section
The emphasis on Pharaoh's active refusal ("you refuse to let them go and still hold them") in this verse, occurring before the instances where the text states God "hardened" Pharaoh's heart, highlights the theological tension often debated regarding divine sovereignty and human free will. In this instance, Pharaoh's will is clearly stated as the initial impetus for his ongoing rebellion. The subsequent divine hardening of Pharaoh's heart can be understood as God confirming, solidifying, or utilizing Pharaoh's self-imposed obstinacy for His divine purposes: namely, to fully display His power to the Egyptians and to all generations. This dynamic demonstrates that God is perfectly just in bringing judgment upon those who first willfully reject His commands. Pharaoh's "refusal" is not a passive action, but an aggressive stance against the true God, making the escalating divine responses wholly merited.
Exodus 9 2 Commentary
Exodus 9:2 is a critical turning point in the plague narrative, setting a clear boundary for Pharaoh and revealing God's character as both patient in warning and just in judgment. This verse illustrates that despite the numerous and increasingly destructive plagues already inflicted upon Egypt, Pharaoh has not only failed to comply but has maintained his defiant posture. The direct warning preceding the next plagues emphasizes God's consistent method of providing clear ultimatums before escalating judgment. It reveals that the ensuing suffering is not arbitrary but a direct, inevitable outcome of Pharaoh's chosen obstinacy. This highlights human accountability in the face of divine command. Pharaoh's continued "holding" of Israel serves as a stark example of a hardened heart, leading to his downfall and further demonstration of YHWH's sovereignty over all creation and rulers.