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Theological Reasons for God Hardening Pharaoh's Heart

The hardening of Pharaoh's heart is a recurring theme in the book of Exodus, explicitly stated as an act of God in passages such as Exodus 10:20, 10:27, and 14:8 [1, 2, 3]. This divine action raises theological questions regarding human free will and divine justice, prompting various interpretations across different traditions.

One primary theological reason for God hardening Pharaoh's heart was to demonstrate His power and glory. The text indicates that God intended to multiply His "signs and wonders in the land of Egypt" [7]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, notes that God hardened Pharaoh's heart because "he had not brought all his judgments on him he designed to bring" [10]. This suggests that the hardening was part of a larger divine plan to showcase God's sovereignty through a series of escalating plagues, culminating in the release of Israel [8]. The afflictions brought upon the wicked, including Pharaoh, are seen as opportunities for God to be glorified [4].

Another perspective emphasizes that God's hardening of Pharaoh's heart was a judicial act, a consequence of Pharaoh's initial self-hardening. Adam Clarke, a Methodist/Wesleyan commentator, suggests that God "permitted the natural obstinacy of Pharaoh's haughty heart to have its full sway, after each resistance of the gracious influence which was intended to soften and bring him to repentance" [11]. He further states that Pharaoh's hardening was "the mere effect of his self-determining obstinacy," where he "preferred his gain to the will and command of Jehovah" [13]. This view posits that Pharaoh first hardened his own heart through disobedience and rebellion against God [5, 6], and subsequently, God gave him over to this hardened state [14]. Maimonides, a Jewish rationalist, articulates a similar idea, stating that a person who commits great sins may have their opportunity for repentance withheld by divine judgment, preventing them from changing their ways and leading to their ultimate destruction [15].

The Jewish Kabbalistic/Philosophical tradition, as represented by Ramban (Nachmanides), also grapples with this issue. one tradition notes that the Rabbis in Midrash Rabbah questioned the justice of punishing Pharaoh if God hardened his heart. One rabbinic response is that God revealed to Moses His intention to harden Pharaoh's heart to bring judgment upon him for his cruel bondage of the Israelites [9]. Ramban also suggests that during the initial plagues, Pharaoh's magicians might have contributed to his obstinacy, but later, it was God directly hardening his heart when Pharaoh was left without human support in his folly [12]. He further explains that God informed Moses that He hardened their hearts "in spite of their fear of Him during the hail and their confession of sin," indicating a deliberate divine intervention even after some signs of remorse [16].

The purpose of this hardening was not merely punitive but also pedagogical. The plagues and the subsequent deliverance of Israel served as a powerful lesson for both the Egyptians and the Israelites. The events demonstrated God's control over creation and His commitment to His covenant people. The ultimate outcome was the triumph of God's people and the judgment of those who rebelled against Him [4].

Sources

  1. Exodus “Exodus 10:20 (Webster) — But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.”
  2. King James Version “[KJV] Exodus 10:27 — But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.”
  3. Exodus “Exodus 14:8 (NASB) — The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out boldly.”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions of the Wicked, The — God is glorified in -- Ex 14:4; Eze 38:22,23. God holds in derision -- Ps 37:13; Pr 1:26,27. Are multiplied -- De 31:17; Job 20:12-18; Ps 32:10. Are continual -- Job 15:20; Ec 2:23; Isa 32:10. Are often sudden -- Ps 73:10; Pr 6:15; Isa 30:13; Re 18:10. Are often judicially sent -- Job 21:17; Ps 107:17; Jer 30:15. Are for examples to others -- Ps 64:7-9; Zep 3:6,7; 1Co 10:5-11; 2Pe 2:6. Are ineffectual of themselves, for their conversion -- Ex 9:30; Isa 9:13; Jer 2:30; Hag 2:17. Their persecution of saints, a cause of -- De 30:7; Ps 55”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Disobedience to God — Provokes his anger -- Ps 78:10,40; Isa 3:8. Forfeits his favour -- 1Sa 13:14. Forfeits his promised blessings -- Jos 5:6; 1Sa 2:30; Jer 18:10. Brings a curse -- De 11:28; 28:15. A characteristic of the wicked -- Eph 2:2; Tit 1:16; 3:3. The wicked persevere in -- Jer 2:21. Heinousness of, illustrated -- Jer 35:14. Men prone to excuse -- Ge 3:12,13. Shall be punished -- Isa 42:24,25; Heb 2:2. Acknowledge the punishment of, to be just -- Ne 9:32,33; Da 9:10,11,14. Warnings against -- 1Sa 12:15; Jer 12:17. Bitter results of, illustrated -- Jer 9:13,”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Rebellion Against God — Forbidden -- Nu 14:9; Jos 22:19. Provokes God -- Nu 16:30; Ne 9:26. Provokes Christ -- Ex 23:20,21; 1Co 10:9. Vexes the Holy Spirit -- Isa 63:10. Exhibited in Unbelief. -- De 9:23; Ps 106:24,25. Rejecting his government. -- 1Sa 8:7; 15:23. Revolting from him. -- Isa 1:5; 31:6. Despising his law. -- Ne 9:26. Despising his counsels. -- Ps 107:11. Distrusting his power. -- Eze 17:15. Murmuring against him. -- Nu 20:3,10. Refusing to hearken to him. -- De 9:23; Eze 20:8; Zec 7:11. Departing from him. -- Isa 59:13. Rebellion against governors appoi”
  7. Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Exodus 7:3: AND I WILL HARDEN PHARAOH’S HEART. The question arises: “If God hardened Pharaoh’s heart what was his transgression and what was his sin?” 15 Prima facie , our verse states that God will harden Pharaoh’s heart and punish him for not mending his ways; i.e., I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and punish him for hardening his heart by multiplying “My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.” The answer is: God granted wisdom to man and implanted in his heart the intelligence to receive power from on high to add to his good 16 If good things are destined to befall an i”
  8. Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 10 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 10 This chapter is introduced with giving the reasons why the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, Exo 10:1. Moses and Aaron go in to him, and once more demanded in the name of the Lord the dismission of the people of Israel, and in case of refusal, threatened him with locusts being sent into his country, which should make terrible havoc in all his coasts, Exo 10:3, the servants of Pharaoh entreat him to let them go, upon which Moses and Aaron are brought in again, and treated with about the terms of their departure; but they, insi”
  9. Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Exodus 7:3: AND I WILL HARDEN PHARAOH’S HEART. The Rabbis said in Midrash Rabbah: 94 Shemoth Rabbah 5:6. “G-d revealed to Moses that He was destined to harden Pharaoh’s heart in order to bring judgment upon him for he caused them to work in cruel bondage.” It is also stated there [in Midrash Rabbah]: 95 Ibid. , 13:4. “ For I have hardened his heart . 96 Further, 10:1. Rabbi Yochanan said, ‘This provides a pretext for the heretics to say that G-d did not allow Pharaoh to repent.’ Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said, ‘The mouths of the heretics be closed! Only, if it concerneth ”
  10. Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 10:19: But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart,.... For as yet he had not brought all his judgments on him he designed to bring: so that he would not let the children of Israel go: though he had promised to do it, and that he would never offend more in this way.”
  11. Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 10:27: The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart - He had yet another miracle to work for the complete conviction of the Egyptians and triumph of his people; and till that was wrought he permitted the natural obstinacy of Pharaoh's haughty heart to have its full sway, after each resistance of the gracious influence which was intended to soften and bring him to repentance.”
  12. Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Exodus 9:12: AND THE ETERNAL HARDENED THE HEART OF PHARAOH. It is possible that during the first plagues, the magicians hardened Pharaoh’s heart in order to pride themselves in their wisdom. But now that they did not come before him and there was none to help him and none to uphold him 208 See Isaiah 63:5. in his folly except his iniquities that ensnared him, 209 See Proverbs 5:22. [it was G-d Who hardened his heart]. It is possible that Scripture is alluding to that which our Rabbis have explained, 210 Shemoth Rabbah 11:7. i.e., that during the first plagues, the harde”
  13. Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 8:32: Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also - See Exo 8:15. This hardening was the mere effect of his self-determining obstinacy. He preferred his gain to the will and command of Jehovah, and God made his obstinacy the means of showing forth his own power and providence in a supereminent degree. 1. As every false religion proves there is a true one, as a copy, however marred or imperfect, shows there was an original from which it was taken, so false miracles prove that there were genuine miracles, and that God chooses at particular times, for the most important pur”
  14. 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 ”
  15. Mishneh Torah (Maimonides) (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishneh Torah (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah%2C Repentance 6:3: A person may commit a great sin or many sins causing the judgment rendered before the True Judge to be that the retribution [administered to] this transgressor for these sins which he willfully and consciously committed is that his Teshuvah will be held back. He will not be allowed the chance to repent from his wickedness so that he will die and be wiped out because of the sin he committed. This is implied by the Holy One, blessed be He's statement [related] by Isaiah [6:10]: “Make the heart of this people fat [and make their ears he”
  16. Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Exodus 10:1: AND THE ETERNAL SAID UNTO MOSES: GO IN UNTO PHARAOH; FOR I HAVE HARDENED HIS HEART AND THE HEART OF HIS SERVANTS. The Holy One, blessed be He, informed Moses that it is He Who has hardened their hearts in spite of their fear of Him during the hail and their confession of sin. 1 Although Scripture above (9:27) mentions only Pharaoh confessing his sin, it is apparent from Verse 30 there that the king’s servants also made this confession, since Moses said to all of them, But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the Eternal G-d . This ”
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