But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.
Parallel translations
- WEB But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go.
- BSB But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.
- NKJV But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.
- NASB But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go.
- NLT But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart again, so he refused to let the people go.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart and he refused to release Israel. God's sovereign purpose continues to unfold.
Overview
Once relief came, Pharaoh again refused, with the text attributing the hardening to God. This restates the theme that Pharaoh's resistance serves God's plan to display his power. Divine hardening and human stubbornness remain held together throughout the account. The continued refusal moves the narrative toward the climactic plagues of darkness and the firstborn.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Exod 4:21And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
- Exod 11:10And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.
- Deut 2:30But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.
- 2 Th 2:11–12And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
- Exod 9:12And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.
- Exod 7:13–14And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
- John 12:39–40Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
- Rom 9:18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
- Isa 6:9–10And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 10:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.