But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said to Moses.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he didn’t listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken to Moses.
- KJV And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.
- NKJV But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses.
- NASB But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses.
- NLT But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and just as the Lord had predicted to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen.
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 so he would not listen. This is the first time the text says God himself hardened Pharaoh.
Overview
Up to now Pharaoh hardened himself, but here God's hardening is named, fulfilling what he had told Moses he would do. Faithful Christians have long discussed how divine hardening and human responsibility relate; Scripture affirms both without resolving the mystery, and Paul cites this very account in Romans 9. God's hardening is judicial, confirming a will already set against him, not coercing an unwilling innocent. The verse displays God's sovereign purpose working even through human rebellion to magnify his name.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Exod 4:21The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.
- Ps 81:11–12But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.
- Exod 7:13–14Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.
- Rev 16:10–11And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguish
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 9:12 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
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