Exodus 9:30 kjv

But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.

Exodus 9:30 nkjv

But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the LORD God."

Exodus 9:30 niv

But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the LORD God."

Exodus 9:30 esv

But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God."

Exodus 9:30 nlt

But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the LORD God."

Exodus 9 verses

Exodus 9 30 Meaning

Exodus 9:30 declares Moses' prophetic knowledge and God's insight into Pharaoh's heart. Despite the devastating plague of hail and Pharaoh's momentary confession of sin, Moses states that both Pharaoh and his officials still lacked true reverence for the LORD God. It highlights the depth of Pharaoh's stubbornness and insincerity, revealing his continued rebellion and a deep-seated resistance to submitting to the one true God, even in the face of overwhelming divine judgment.

Exodus 9 30 Context

Exodus 9:30 is found within the narrative of the Plagues of Egypt, specifically immediately following the devastating seventh plague of hail. Prior to this verse, the text describes the severity of the hail, which destroyed crops, livestock, and people throughout Egypt, except in the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived. Faced with such overwhelming destruction, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and momentarily confessed his sin, admitting that "the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong" (Ex 9:27). He begged Moses to intercede with God to stop the hail. While Moses agreed to pray, knowing that the hail would cease, his response in verse 30 reveals his deep, God-given insight into Pharaoh's true, unrepentant heart. Despite Pharaoh's apparent admission, Moses knew that the fear of the LORD was still absent in him and his servants, implying that this "repentance" was purely tactical and self-serving rather than a genuine change of heart and submission to God. The broader context highlights God's progressive revelation of His power and sovereignty over Pharaoh, Egypt, and their gods, continually exposing Pharaoh's obstinacy and paving the way for Israel's deliverance.

Exodus 9 30 Word analysis

• But: (Hebrew: וְכֵן - v’chen) Signifies a contrast or an adversative statement. It points to a divergence from what might be expected after Pharaoh's apparent confession. Despite Pharaoh's words, the reality is different.
• as for you and your servants: (Hebrew: אַתָּה וַעֲבָדֶיךָ - atah va'avadaykh) This directly addresses Pharaoh and his officials, the core of Egyptian power and decision-making. It highlights their collective responsibility and continued defiance, setting them apart from those Egyptians who "feared the word of the LORD" (Ex 9:20) and brought their servants and livestock indoors.
• I know: (Hebrew: יָדַעְתִּי - yadati) This is Moses speaking, but it represents divine revelation and prophetic insight, not merely human observation. It means "I have come to know," or "I am certain." Moses possesses the spiritual discernment given by God to see beyond Pharaoh's words into the depths of his insincere heart. It underlines God's omniscience – nothing is hidden from Him.
• that you will not yet: (Hebrew: לֹא תִירְאוּן טֶרֶם - lo tir’u terem)
  • not yet: (Hebrew: טֶרֶם - terem) Indicates a present reality with an implication of future continuance or lack of readiness. It suggests Pharaoh's current state of un-fear persists, without any immediate change, despite the severity of the plagues. There's no hint of true fear being near.
• fear: (Hebrew: יְרָא - yare', from the root ירא) This Hebrew term carries a rich meaning far beyond mere terror or fright. It encompasses:
  • Reverence: Deep respect and awe for God's power and holiness.
  • Submission: Acknowledging God's authority and sovereignty over one's life.
  • Obedience: A readiness to obey God's commands.
  • Moral Alignment: A profound understanding of God's character leading to righteous living.
  Pharaoh may experience momentary fear of judgment, but not true fear of the LORD that leads to repentance and change. His "fear" is only for physical relief.
• the LORD God: (Hebrew: יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים - YHWH Elohim)
  • LORD: (Hebrew: יְהוָה - YHWH) This is the covenant name of God, His personal, revealed name to Israel, signifying His active, redeeming presence and unchanging nature. It contrasts with the multitude of Egyptian gods.
  • God: (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim) This is the general Hebrew term for God, emphasizing His divine power, creative ability, and universal sovereignty as the one true deity, ruler over all.
  The combined names emphasize both His covenant relationship (with Israel) and His universal authority (over all nations, including Egypt). Pharaoh is refusing to fear the God who is sovereign over all.

• "But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the LORD God": This complete statement underscores the difference between acknowledging divine power and genuinely submitting to the divine will. Moses' words reveal God's perfect understanding of Pharaoh's hardened heart, a stubbornness deeply entrenched that even direct supernatural judgments could not break, only intensify his defiance. It's a divine declaration of Pharaoh's lack of true piety, his persistent pride, and his unwavering opposition to God's ultimate authority. This insight confirms that the struggle is not just physical or political, but profoundly spiritual, exposing Pharaoh's lack of ultimate fear (reverence, obedience, submission) toward the true and living God.

Exodus 9 30 Bonus section

This verse functions as a key narrative marker in the plagues cycle, demonstrating that the hardening of Pharaoh's heart is not solely a divine imposition, but also a result of Pharaoh's sustained volitional defiance. Moses' "I know" carries the weight of God's perfect understanding of human will and disposition, even before events unfold, underscoring divine omniscience and foresight. Furthermore, this prophecy explains why more plagues are necessary—because Pharaoh's heart has not genuinely changed, and thus God's full purpose of demonstrating His power and glory to both Israel and Egypt (Ex 9:16) has not yet been accomplished. It reinforces the theme that true repentance involves more than words; it requires a transformed heart that fears and submits to the LORD God.

Exodus 9 30 Commentary

Exodus 9:30 is a powerful testament to the spiritual depth of the confrontation between God and Pharaoh. Moses' pronouncement serves not as a guess, but as a prophetic revelation directly from God, indicating God's foreknowledge of Pharaoh's persistent unbelief. Even though Pharaoh just expressed remorse and sought relief from the hail, his words were superficial, driven by discomfort rather than genuine conviction or a changed heart. The true "fear of the LORD" involves deep reverence, obedient submission, and an acknowledgment of God's absolute sovereignty – qualities entirely absent in Pharaoh. His "repentance" was akin to a tactical retreat, a temporary respite from punishment, rather than a turning towards the Creator. This verse starkly contrasts mere acknowledgment of God's power with true, transformative fear that leads to obedience. It highlights how pride and rebellion can so harden a heart that even miraculous, destructive judgments fail to elicit genuine spiritual response. Pharaoh, being considered a god himself in Egyptian theology, found it impossible to humble himself before the ultimate divine authority, the LORD God. The narrative, therefore, shows that divine judgment can reveal the obstinacy of a hardened heart, rather than always breaking it, setting the stage for even greater demonstrations of God's power for His people and the nations.