Exodus 9:35 kjv

And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

Exodus 9:35 nkjv

So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

Exodus 9:35 niv

So Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through Moses.

Exodus 9:35 esv

So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.

Exodus 9:35 nlt

Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the people leave, just as the LORD had predicted through Moses.

Exodus 9 verses

Exodus 9 35 Meaning

Exodus 9:35 declares that Pharaoh's inner resolve (his heart) remained obstinate and unyielding, causing him to persist in his refusal to release the Israelites. Crucially, the verse affirms that this continued defiance and Pharaoh's unrepentant state transpired precisely as the LORD—Yahweh, the covenant God—had sovereignly foretold and declared through His prophet, Moses. It underscores God's complete foreknowledge and His active, yet just, orchestration of events to fulfill His divine purposes despite human resistance.

Exodus 9 35 Context

Exodus 9:35 serves as the concluding summary of the narrative surrounding the seventh plague – a devastating hail storm combined with fire. Immediately preceding this verse, in 9:34, Pharaoh himself "hardened his heart" when he saw relief from the plague, going back on his word. Verse 35 reaffirms the ongoing, unrepentant state of his heart, emphasizing a repetitive pattern that defines his resistance. This consistent defiance on Pharaoh's part sets the stage for the remaining climactic plagues.

The broader context involves the escalating spiritual and physical confrontation between Yahweh, the God of Israel, and the pantheon of Egyptian deities, embodied in the pharaoh himself, who was considered a living god. Each plague was a direct challenge and humiliation to specific Egyptian gods and the cosmic order they supposedly maintained. Pharaoh's hardened heart, therefore, was not merely a personal flaw but a divinely ordained aspect of this grand theological contest, designed to showcase Yahweh's unparalleled sovereignty and power to both the Egyptians and the Israelites, ultimately guaranteeing Israel's liberation and proving God's faithfulness to His covenant promises.

Exodus 9 35 Word analysis

• So the heart: The Hebrew phrase is וַיִּחְזַק לֵב (va-yiḥzaq lev). Lev (לֵב) refers to the heart, which in Hebrew thought represents the entire inner person—intellect, will, emotion, conscience, and moral core. It's the center of decision-making. The conjunction "So" connects Pharaoh's continued obstinacy to his prior act of hardening his own heart in Exodus 9:34.
• of Pharaoh: Pharaoh (פַּרְעֹה - Par‘oh) represents not only the head of the Egyptian empire but also the highest embodiment of their perceived divine authority. His persistent rebellion underscores the ultimate inability of any human or false god to thwart the true God's plan.
• was hardened: The Hebrew verb here is וַיִּחְזַק (va-yiḥzaq), derived from חָזַק (chazaq), meaning "to be strong, firm, stiffen, prevail." In this context, it describes the state of Pharaoh's heart becoming or remaining resolute in its defiance. While previous verses might explicitly state God hardening his heart or Pharaoh hardening his own, 9:35 describes the enduring state of hardness following Pharaoh's choice in 9:34. Theologically, God permits, or even actively facilitates, this pre-existing or self-inflicted hardness to serve His greater purpose, making the outcome inevitable as foretold.
• and he did not let: This signifies Pharaoh's active, conscious choice to continue his refusal. It highlights his ongoing agency despite the display of divine power and the pressure to comply.
• the children of Israel go: בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (b'nei Yisra'el) - "sons of Israel." Their liberation is the core demand from God and the central purpose of the entire Exodus narrative. This emphasizes God's faithfulness to His chosen covenant people.
• just as the LORD: כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה (ka'asher dibber YHVH). Yahweh (יְהוָה - YHVH) is God's covenant name, underscoring His self-existence, eternal faithfulness, and power. The phrase "just as" affirms divine precision and control over all events.
• had spoken: דִּבֶּר (dibber), from דָּבַר (dabar), meaning "to speak, declare, arrange." This emphasizes God's verbal declaration, indicating His foreknowledge and predetermined plan, unfolding exactly as stated.
• through Moses: בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה (b'yad Moshe) - literally "by the hand of Moses," denoting that Moses was God's chosen and authoritative instrument, messenger, and representative. This confirms the legitimacy of Moses' words and the divine origin of the prophecies.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened": This phrase acts as a statement of outcome, demonstrating the consequence of both Pharaoh's stubborn will (9:34) and God's sovereign intent (9:12) converging. It confirms that despite the severity of the plague, Pharaoh’s inner resolve did not yield but rather stiffened in defiance, moving from his momentary confession to reinforced rebellion.
• "and he did not let the children of Israel go": This highlights the unwavering central conflict of the Exodus narrative. Pharaoh’s refusal directly contravenes Yahweh's explicit command and intent, serving to escalate the divine judgment and further manifest God's irresistible power against ultimate human authority.
• "just as the LORD had spoken through Moses": This culminating phrase is critical for its theological weight. It emphasizes God's infallible foreknowledge, the certainty of His prophetic Word, and His absolute sovereignty over human wills and historical events. It reassures the audience that no power, human or otherwise, can frustrate God's determined plan, validating Moses's prophetic role and Yahweh's supreme authority.

Exodus 9 35 Bonus section

• Polemics against Egyptian Theology: The hardening of Pharaoh's heart is a profound polemic against the Egyptian belief system. Pharaoh, considered the divine intermediary and embodiment of the cosmic order, was believed to have absolute will. By declaring that Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart, the Bible demonstrates that the true God can manipulate even the highest earthly power, effectively revealing the emptiness of Pharaoh's perceived divinity and the impotence of the Egyptian gods to influence their own supreme ruler or save their land.
• The Nature of Hardening: This verse contributes to the nuanced understanding of "hardening." It is not simply God coercing an innocent heart into rebellion. Rather, God often "hardens" by allowing a person's pre-existing, self-chosen rebellion to deepen, or by withdrawing His softening grace, enabling the unrepentant heart to become firm in its chosen path. This serves to escalate the conflict to the point where God's power is revealed unmistakably to all.
• Prophetic Integrity: The repetition of "just as the LORD had spoken" throughout the plague narrative, especially here, instills confidence in the truthfulness of God's message delivered through Moses. It authenticates Moses's role as a true prophet of Yahweh, distinct from the Egyptian magicians and soothsayers whose pronouncements were powerless before God's will.

Exodus 9 35 Commentary

Exodus 9:35 is a profoundly significant verse because it synthesizes key theological themes prevalent throughout the Exodus narrative. It marks a critical point in the escalation of the divine-human conflict, moving towards inevitable liberation. The phrase "So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened" signifies a settled, enduring state of defiance. This is not just a passing stubbornness but a deepening entrenchment of Pharaoh's will against God. The biblical text carefully alternates between Pharaoh hardening his own heart (indicating human responsibility, e.g., Ex 8:15, 8:32, 9:34) and God hardening Pharaoh's heart (indicating divine sovereignty and purpose, e.g., Ex 4:21, 9:12). Verse 9:35, using chazaq ("became hard/strong"), follows Pharaoh's self-hardening in 9:34, showing how Pharaoh's willful obstinacy becomes an established condition that God uses and reinforces for His own glory. This demonstrates God's profound capacity to use even human rebellion to achieve His just and righteous ends, specifically to reveal His identity and power to both Israel and Egypt. The ultimate point of the verse is found in its conclusion: "just as the LORD had spoken through Moses." This declaration powerfully affirms the infallibility of God's Word and His perfect control over all circumstances. God's purposes are immutable, and His prophecies are trustworthy, even when seemingly opposed by the mightiest human powers. Pharaoh's continued defiance thus became part of God's greater plan, serving as a display platform for Yahweh's glory and a catalyst for Israel's definitive redemption. It instructs that rejecting God's direct call, even after witnessing divine power, can lead to a deepened, unyielding state of heart, which God will use for the outworking of His will, both in judgment and in salvation.