Exodus 9:7 kjv

And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

Exodus 9:7 nkjv

Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.

Exodus 9:7 niv

Pharaoh investigated and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go.

Exodus 9:7 esv

And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

Exodus 9:7 nlt

Pharaoh sent his officials to investigate, and they discovered that the Israelites had not lost a single animal! But even so, Pharaoh's heart remained stubborn, and he still refused to let the people go.

Exodus 9 verses

Exodus 9 7 Meaning

Exodus 9:7 describes Pharaoh's reaction following the fifth plague, which struck only the livestock of the Egyptians. After hearing of the devastating plague, Pharaoh investigated the claims, sending someone to confirm the effects. His messengers confirmed that not a single animal belonging to the Israelites had died. Despite this irrefutable proof of the God of Israel's unique power and distinction, Pharaoh's heart remained stubborn and hardened, preventing him from releasing the Hebrew people from bondage.

Exodus 9 7 Context

Exodus 9:7 is nestled within the escalating sequence of the plagues against Egypt, specifically occurring immediately after the fifth plague (livestock disease) and before the sixth (boils). Pharaoh has just witnessed an unprecedented catastrophe where the livestock of all Egypt, specifically those in the open fields, perished, yet a remarkable exception was observed: the animals of the Israelites remained completely unharmed. This plague, like its predecessors, served not only as a divine judgment against Egypt but also as a profound revelation of Yahweh's unparalleled power and His exclusive protection over His covenant people. Pharaoh, driven either by a sliver of doubt, hope that this divine distinction was a bluff, or an impulse to investigate due to the severity of the loss, sent an envoy to verify the claims regarding Israelite livestock. The verification, unequivocally proving God's selective judgment, removed any rational basis for Pharaoh's continued obstinacy. Despite the undeniable evidence of God's hand, this verse tragically marks a critical point where Pharaoh's self-inflicted spiritual blindness, intertwined with God's judicial hardening, calcified into an unyielding rebellion against the Creator.

Exodus 9 7 Word analysis

• And Pharaoh sent (וַיִּשְׁלַח פַּרְעֹה, vayyishlach Par'oh): This action demonstrates Pharaoh's initiative and implies a significant concession or admission. He usually demands or sends for Moses and Aaron. Here, he acts proactively, sending someone to investigate the miraculous claim, revealing the plague's profound impact and his lingering disbelief or hope that the distinction might not be true. It highlights that the evidence of God's power was tangible and undeniable enough to provoke even Pharaoh to inspect it.
• and, behold (וְהִנֵּה, vəhinneh): This emphatic interjection calls attention to the astonishing and miraculous nature of the observation. It signals a dramatic and crucial revelation – what they found was astounding and noteworthy. It emphasizes the undeniable and unexpected reality of the divine distinction.
• there was not one of the cattle (לֹא־מֵת אֶחָ֣ד מִמִּקְנֵה, lo-met echad mimmiqneh): "Cattle" (מִקְנֵה, miqneh) refers to general livestock (horses, donkeys, camels, oxen, sheep, Exod 9:3). The phrase "not one" signifies the completeness and perfection of God's protective measure. It wasn't just some; it was none. This total preservation among the Israelites provided undeniable, empirical evidence of God's direct involvement and His active covenantal distinction.
• of the Israelites dead (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, bəney Yisrael): This directly confirms the promise made in Exodus 9:4. This clear and precise distinction directly challenged the Egyptian worldview, where their deities were supposed to control such natural forces. It asserted Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over all life and challenged the supposed divinity of Pharaoh and the efficacy of Egyptian gods (e.g., Apis or Hathor, associated with cattle), rendering them powerless in protecting their own land and animals.
• And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened (וַיִּכְבַּד לֵב פַּרְעֹה, vayyikhbad lev Par'oh):
  • "heart" (לֵב, lev): In Hebrew thought, the "heart" encompasses the entirety of the inner person – the mind, will, intellect, emotions, and moral core.
  • "was hardened" (וַיִּכְבַּד, vayyikhbad): The verb used here (root כָּבֵד, kaved) literally means "to be heavy" or "to be dull/insensitive." It describes a state of spiritual obtuseness and stubbornness. Unlike previous instances where Pharaoh "hardened his heart" (e.g., Exod 8:15, 8:32), or God "hardened Pharaoh's heart" (e.g., Exod 4:21, 9:12), here the passive construction ("was hardened") can suggest either a continuation of Pharaoh's prior self-hardening, or God's judicial hardening, or a natural consequence of persistent rejection of divine truth, a state that God allows or brings about. This hardening isn't forced but represents the sealing of a choice made against God, leaving Pharaoh's will heavy and unresponsive to further evidence. It signifies his deepened moral and spiritual resistance.
• and he did not let the people go (וְלֹא שִׁלַּח אֶת־הָעָם, vəlo shillach et-ha'am): This is the direct result of his hardened heart, reiterating his defiance of God's repeated command to "let My people go." It highlights Pharaoh's unyielding refusal despite undeniable proof of God's power and distinction. His persistent opposition leads to further judgments and his eventual downfall.

Exodus 9 7 Bonus section

• The detail of Pharaoh "sending" for confirmation rather than going himself subtly highlights his diminishing authority and perhaps a growing fear or reluctance to confront the miraculous personally. It's an admission that he recognized something extraordinary had occurred.
• The progression of the plagues also serves as a pedagogical tool for Israel and all future generations. Each plague, especially those with divine distinction, reinforced God's uniqueness and His protective love for His covenant people.
• This verse underscores the "two wills" at play in the hardening: Pharaoh's culpable will to resist, and God's sovereign will to allow and orchestrate this resistance for His ultimate redemptive purposes and for a greater display of His power. It's not God compelling evil, but giving Pharaoh over to his chosen rebellion.

Exodus 9 7 Commentary

Exodus 9:7 serves as a poignant climax to the fifth plague and a pivotal moment in the hardening narrative. Pharaoh's act of "sending" to confirm the Israelite cattle's well-being indicates the gravity of the plague and the astonishing nature of the divine distinction. He was compelled to investigate a claim that directly challenged his assumed sovereignty and the perceived power of Egyptian gods. The discovery—"not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead"—was a direct and irrefutable affirmation of Yahweh's supreme authority, distinguishing His people and His power from that of Egypt's gods like Apis or Hathor, believed to be patrons of livestock. This verification left Pharaoh with no rational basis for his continued resistance. Yet, instead of submitting, "the heart of Pharaoh was hardened." This highlights the insidious nature of spiritual blindness, where undeniable truth only serves to solidify existing rebellion. Whether by Pharaoh's self-willed stubbornness or God's judicial act of delivering him to his obstinacy, this hardening demonstrates a heart that became immune to divine revelation. Pharaoh's subsequent refusal to "let the people go" underlines his complete and dangerous disregard for God's clear demonstration of power, setting the stage for more intense judgments to follow, fulfilling God's sovereign plan to reveal His glory to the entire world through these events. This verse reveals the terrible consequence of prolonged resistance to divine truth, leading to a profound insensitivity that makes repentance nearly impossible.