Exodus 4:4

4:4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and grab it by the tail” – so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand ¹  –

Exodus 7:22

7:22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same ²  by their secret arts, and so ³  Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, ⁴  and he refused to listen to Moses and Aaron ⁵  – just as the Lord had predicted.

Exodus 8:19

8:19 The magicians said ⁶  to Pharaoh, “It is the finger ⁷  of God!” But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, ⁸  and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.

Exodus 9:12

9:12 But the Lord hardened ⁹  Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted to Moses.

Exodus 9:35

9:35 So Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, ¹⁰  and he did not release the Israelites, as the Lord had predicted through Moses.

Exodus 14:4

14:4 I will harden ¹¹  Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them. I will gain honor ¹²  because of Pharaoh and because of all his army, and the Egyptians will know ¹³  that I am the Lord.” So this is what they did. ¹⁴ 

Exodus 14:8

14:8 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he chased after the Israelites. Now the Israelites were going out defiantly. ¹⁵ 

Exodus 14:17

14:17 And as for me, I am going to harden ¹⁶  the hearts of the Egyptians so that ¹⁷  they will come after them, that I may be honored ¹⁸  because ¹⁹  of Pharaoh and his army and his chariots and his horsemen.

¹ sn The signs authenticated Moses’ ministry as the Lord’s emissary. This sign will show that the Lord had control over Egypt and its stability, over life and death. But first Moses has to be convinced that he can turn it into a dead stick again.

² tn Heb “thus, so.”

³ tn The vav consecutive on the preterite introduces the outcome or result of the matter – Pharaoh was hardened.

⁴ tn Heb “and the heart of Pharaoh became hard.” This phrase translates the Hebrew word חָזַק (khazaq; see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 53). In context this represents the continuation of a prior condition.

⁵ tn Heb “to them”; the referents (Moses and Aaron) have been specified in the translation for clarity.

³ tn Heb “and the magicians said.”

⁴ tn The word “finger” is a bold anthropomorphism (a figure of speech in which God is described using human characteristics).

⁵ tn Heb “and the heart of Pharaoh became hard.” This phrase translates the Hebrew word חָזַק (khazaq; see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 53). In context this represents the continuation of a prior condition.

⁴ tn This phrase translates the Hebrew word חָזַק (khazaq); see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 53.

⁵ tn The verb about Pharaoh’s heart in v. 35 is וַיֶּחֱזַק (vayyekhezaq), a Qal preterite: “and it was hardened” or “strengthened to resist.” This forms the summary statement of this stage in the drama. The verb used in v. 34 to report Pharaoh’s response was וַיַּכְבֵּד (vayyakhbed), a Hiphil preterite: “and he hardened [his heart]” or made it stubborn. The use of two descriptions of Pharaoh’s heart in close succession, along with mention of his servants’ heart condition, underscores the growing extent of the problem.

⁶ tn In this place the verb חָזַק (hazaq) is used; it indicates that God would make Pharaoh’s will strong or firm.

⁷ tn The form is וְאִכָּבְדָה (vÿ’ikkavÿda), the Niphal cohortative; coming after the perfect tenses with vav (ו) consecutives expressing the future, this cohortative indicates the purpose of the hardening and chasing. Yahweh intended to gain glory by this final and great victory over the strength of Pharaoh. There is irony in this expression since a different form of the word was used frequently to describe Pharaoh’s hard heart. So judgment will not only destroy the wicked – it will reveal the glory and majesty of the sovereignty of God.

⁸ tn This is the perfect tense with the vav (ו) consecutive. But it announces the fulfillment of an long standing purpose – that they might know.

⁹ tn Heb “and they did so.”

⁷ tn Heb “with a high hand”; the expression means “defiantly,” “boldly,” or “with confidence.” The phrase is usually used for arrogant sin and pride, the defiant fist, as it were. The image of the high hand can also mean the hand raised to deliver a blow (Job 38:15). So the narrative here builds tension between these two resolute forces.

⁸ tn הִנְנִי (hinni) before the participle gives it the force of a futur instans participle, meaning “I am about to harden” or “I am going to harden” their heart.

⁹ tn The form again is the imperfect tense with vav (ו) to express the purpose or the result of the hardening. The repetition of the verb translated “come” is interesting: Moses is to divide the sea in order that the people may cross, but God will harden the Egyptians’ hearts in order that they may follow.

¹⁰ tn For the comments on this verb see the discussion in v. 4. God would get glory by defeating Egypt.

¹¹ tn Or “I will get glory over.”