The Hardening of Pharoah's Heart

Notes

Exodus 9:12 ESV

12 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.

The NIV Application Commentary: Exodus Sixth Plague: Boils (9:8–12)

Rather, 9:12 is a striking reminder of what God has been trying to teach Moses and Israel since the beginning of the Exodus episode: He is in complete control. However Pharaoh might have reacted given the chance is not brought into the discussion. He is not even given that chance. Yahweh hardens his heart. It is best to allow the tension of the text to remain.

God’s Purpose

Exodus 9:

Exodus 9:14 ESV

14 For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth.

“14 For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself (into your very heart), and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth.

“15 For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth.

The NIV Application Commentary: Exodus Seventh Plague: Hail (9:13–35)

“By now I could have wiped you off the face of the earth. The reason I haven’t is because I am using you to spread the word throughout the world that I am God. Understand this well, Pharaoh: You are serving my purpose”

15 For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth.

Exodus 9:16 ESV

16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.

“16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”

Romans 9:17 ESV

17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

Romans 9:18 ESV

18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

Exodus 9:29–30 ESV

29 Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the Lord. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.”

Exodus 9:

“29 Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the Lord. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.”

Connection to Romans

The New American Commentary: Exodus (1) Announcement of the Plague (9:13–19)

Pharaoh’s behavior mirrors the phenomenon described by Paul in Rom 1:18–32, that of people being fixed by God in the sinful behavior patterns that would eventually bring about their destruction as a punishment for those very behavior patterns. In other words, one of the ways God punishes sin is to allow the sin to continue and therefore to allow it to take its natural, destructive course. Behind this is the biblical truth that people cannot rescue themselves from their own sin; they always need help to break the patterns of sin in their lives

Excurus

The NIV Application Commentary: Exodus Bridging Contexts

The potter and the clay. By any standard, the way in which Pharaoh is treated in 4:21 is startling.

The New American Commentary: Exodus Excursus: The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart

Excursus: The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart