Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.
Parallel translations
- KJV And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
- BSB Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.
- NKJV And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said.
- NASB Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.
- NLT Pharaoh’s heart, however, remained hard. He still refused to listen, just as the Lord had predicted.
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
Pharaoh's heart is hardened and he refuses to listen, as God foretold. His defiance opens the way for the plagues.
Overview
Despite the clear demonstration of Yahweh's superiority, Pharaoh remains obstinate, fulfilling God's earlier word. The hardening shows that mere displays of power do not soften a rebellious heart apart from grace. Pharaoh stands as a sobering example that resisting God's word leads deeper into judgment, underscoring humanity's need for the new heart that only God can give.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Exod 4:21Yahweh said to Moses, “When you go back into Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your hand, but I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go.
- Exod 8:15But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart, and didn’t listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken.
- Zech 7:11–12But they refused to listen, and turned their backs, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear.
- Exod 10:27But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let them go.
- Exod 10:1Yahweh said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs among them,
- Rom 2:5But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God;
- Exod 10:20But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go.
- Heb 3:13but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
- Heb 3:7–8Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you will hear his voice,
- Rom 1:28Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
- Exod 7:3–4I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
- Deut 2:30But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for Yahweh your God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as it is today.
- Exod 14:17Behold, I myself will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them: and I will get myself honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies, over his chariots, and over his horsemen.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 7:13 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.