Judicial Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart in Exodus
The hardening of Pharaoh's heart in the book of Exodus is a significant theological and narrative element, illustrating divine sovereignty and human responsibility in the face of God's redemptive plan. The biblical text presents instances where Pharaoh hardens his own heart and other instances where God hardens Pharaoh's heart [6].
The narrative begins with God declaring His intention to harden Pharaoh's heart: "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt" (Exodus 7:3 KJV) [2]. This divine declaration sets the stage for the subsequent interactions between Moses, Aaron, and Pharaoh.
Initially, Pharaoh appears to harden his own heart. After the first plague, the turning of water into blood, Pharaoh "turned away and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart" (Exodus 7:23). Similarly, after the plague of frogs, "when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken" (Exodus 8:15). Following the plague of flies, "Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go" (Exodus 8:32 DRC) [1]. John Gill notes that Pharaoh's heart, instead of softening under the plague, became harder when delivered from it [3]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown suggest that Pharaoh's initial impressions were dispelled when his magicians seemed to replicate some of the signs, leading him to conclude that Aaron's actions were merely magical deception [7].
As the plagues intensify, the text increasingly attributes the hardening to God. For example, after the plague of boils, "the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses" (Exodus 9:12). This pattern continues, with the Lord hardening Pharaoh's heart after the plague of hail (Exodus 9:34) and again after the plague of locusts (Exodus 10:20). Finally, before the climactic tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, the text states, "But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go" (Exodus 10:27). John Gill interprets this as God giving Pharaoh up to "judicial hardness of heart" after Pharaoh had repeatedly hardened his own heart [4]. This judicial hardening meant Pharaoh was left to his own corruptions and the temptations around him, leading him to misinterpret events and resist God's commands [4].
The relationship between Pharaoh's self-hardening and God's hardening of Pharaoh's heart has been a subject of theological discussion. Tyndale House notes that "mystery surrounds the relationship between statements that people harden their own hearts... and statements that God hardens people's hearts" [6]. However, it is clear that God appeals for repentance and is ready to forgive, but when people become "incorrigibly unrepentant," they experience God's wrath [6]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown explain that God's message would be the "occasion, not the cause of the king's impenitent obduracy" [5]. In this view, God's actions or messages provided the context in which Pharaoh's existing stubbornness was revealed and intensified.
Adam Clarke suggests that after Pharaoh had repeatedly relented and then changed his mind, God permitted him to continue on his path to ruin without further "restraining grace," as "the cup of his iniquity was now full" [8]. This perspective highlights a point where divine patience reaches its limit, and a person is left to the consequences of their persistent rebellion. John Gill further emphasizes that Pharaoh's heart was "set against it, his will was resolute, and he was determined never to let them go" [9].
The hardening of Pharaoh's heart serves several purposes within the Exodus narrative. It demonstrates God's power and sovereignty over human rulers and natural forces. By prolonging the conflict, God was able to "multiply my signs and my wonders" (Exodus 7:3 KJV) [2], thereby displaying His glory to both the Egyptians and the Israelites. This extended display of divine power was crucial for establishing God's identity and authority among His people and the nations. The narrative also underscores the consequences of resisting God's will, illustrating that persistent defiance can lead to a state where one is no longer capable of responding to divine overtures.
Sources
- Exodus “Exodus 8:32 (DRC) — And Pharao's heart was hardened, so that neither this time would he let the people go.”
- King James Version “[KJV] Exodus 7:3 — And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.”
- Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 9:34: And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened,.... Instead of being softened, as it seemed to be when under the plague, it became harder and harder when delivered from it: neither would he let the children of Israel go; though he had so absolutely promised it, and assured them that he would not keep them, and that they should not stay any longer: as the Lord had spoken by Moses; that so his heart would be hardened until the signs and wonders were multiplied upon him, God designed to perform, Exo 4:21. Next: Exodus Chapter 10”
- Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 9:12: And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh,.... He having often, and so long hardened his own heart, God gave him up to judicial hardness of heart, to his own corruptions, the temptations of Satan, and the lying magicians about him, to make an ill use of everything that offered to him, and put a wrong construction on all that befell him, so that whatever was said to him, or inflicted on him, made no impression to any purpose: and he hearkened not unto them; to Moses and Aaron, and to the Lord by them: as the Lord had spoken to Moses; both that he would harden his ”
- Exodus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Exodus 7:3: I will harden Pharaoh's heart--This would be the result. But the divine message would be the occasion, not the cause of the king's impenitent obduracy.”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 2:30: 2:30 made Sihon stubborn and defiant (literally had hardened his spirit and strengthened his heart): Like Pharaoh (see Exod 7:13), Sihon was incorrigibly unrepentant and thus experienced God’s wrath. God knew that any further extension of grace to these rulers would be useless. Mystery surrounds the relationship between statements that people harden their own hearts (e.g., Exod 7:13, 22; 8:15) and statements that God hardens people’s hearts (e.g., Exod 4:21; 7:3; 9:12). What is clear is that God appeals for repentance and is ready to forgive, but when people ”
- Exodus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Exodus 7:14: Pharaoh's heart is hardened--Whatever might have been his first impressions, they were soon dispelled; and when he found his magicians making similar attempts, he concluded that Aaron's affair was a magical deception, the secret of which was not known to his wise men.”
- Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 14:4: I will harden Pharaoh's heart - After relenting and giving them permission to depart, he now changes his mind and determines to prevent them; and without any farther restraining grace, God permits him to rush on to his final ruin, for the cup of his iniquity was now full.”
- Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 10:25: But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart,.... Yet more and more: and he would not let them go; his heart was set against it, his will was resolute, and he was determined never to let them go.”