But Pharaoh again became stubborn and refused to let the people go.
Parallel translations
- WEB Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he didn’t let the people go.
- KJV And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.
- BSB But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time as well, and he would not let the people go.
- NKJV But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.
- NASB But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not 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
Pharaoh hardens his heart again and refuses to release Israel. His repeated treachery confirms his unyielding rebellion.
Overview
Once relief comes, Pharaoh breaks faith yet again, hardening his heart and keeping Israel in bondage. His persistent pattern of false repentance and broken promises drives the narrative toward greater judgment. Pharaoh stands as the enduring warning of a heart that hardens itself against God, underscoring humanity's deep need for the new heart that only God's redeeming grace in Christ can provide.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 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.
- 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.
- 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;
- Jas 1:13–14Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
- Isa 63:17O Yahweh, why do you make us wander from your ways, and harden our heart from your fear? Return for your servants’ sake, the tribes of your inheritance.
- Exod 8:8Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat Yahweh, that he take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to Yahweh.”
- Acts 28:26–27saying, ‘Go to this people, and say, in hearing, you will hear, but will in no way understand. In seeing, you will see, but will in no way perceive.
- Exod 7:13–14Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.
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 8:32 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.