So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through Moses.
Parallel translations
- WEB The heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go, just as Yahweh had spoken through Moses.
- KJV And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.
- ESV So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.
- NKJV So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses.
- NASB So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.
- NLT Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the people leave, just as the Lord had predicted through Moses.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 hardened heart keeps Israel in bondage, just as Yahweh had said. God's word, including about Pharaoh's resistance, proves true.
Overview
The verse closes the seventh plague by noting the fulfillment of God's prior word about Pharaoh. It holds together Pharaoh's self-hardening with God's sovereign foreknowledge and purpose. The repeated refusal heightens the drama as the final plagues approach. It assures the reader that even Pharaoh's obstinacy unfolds within God's declared plan.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- 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.
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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 9:35 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.