But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heartThis phrase indicates divine intervention in Pharaoh's decision-making process. In the context of the plagues, it shows God's sovereignty over human affairs. The hardening of Pharaoh's heart is a recurring theme in Exodus, emphasizing God's control and the fulfillment of His purposes. This hardening can be seen as a judicial act, where God confirms Pharaoh in his own stubbornness. It also serves to demonstrate God's power and glory, as seen in
Romans 9:17-18, where Paul discusses God's right to show mercy or harden whom He wills. Theologically, this raises questions about free will and divine sovereignty, which have been debated throughout church history.
and he would not listen to them
Pharaoh's refusal to listen to Moses and Aaron is a direct result of his hardened heart. This stubbornness is a key factor in the narrative, leading to the escalation of plagues. It highlights the spiritual blindness and pride that can prevent individuals from responding to God's message. In a broader biblical context, this can be compared to the parables of Jesus, where those who have hardened hearts are unable to perceive the truth (Matthew 13:14-15). Pharaoh's resistance serves as a warning against the dangers of pride and disobedience to God's commands.
just as the LORD had said to Moses
This phrase underscores the fulfillment of God's word and His foreknowledge. God had previously informed Moses that Pharaoh would not easily let the Israelites go (Exodus 4:21). This assurance to Moses is a reminder of God's omniscience and the certainty of His plans. It also serves to strengthen Moses' faith and resolve, knowing that the unfolding events are part of God's divine plan. This theme of prophecy and fulfillment is prevalent throughout Scripture, reinforcing the reliability and authority of God's word.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who demonstrates His power and sovereignty over Egypt and its gods.
2.
PharaohThe ruler of Egypt, whose heart is hardened by God, leading to his refusal to release the Israelites.
3.
MosesThe prophet and leader chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.
4.
EgyptThe land where the Israelites are enslaved, and the setting for the plagues that demonstrate God's power.
5.
The PlaguesA series of divine judgments on Egypt, designed to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites.
Teaching Points
God's SovereigntyRecognize that God is in control of all events, including the hearts of rulers and nations.
Human ResponsibilityWhile God hardens hearts, individuals are still responsible for their responses to God's commands.
Divine Judgment and MercyUnderstand that God's judgments serve a purpose in His redemptive plan, often leading to opportunities for repentance and mercy.
Obedience to God's CallLike Moses, we are called to obey God's instructions, even when facing opposition or hard-heartedness.
The Danger of a Hardened HeartGuard against hardening your heart to God's voice, remaining open and responsive to His leading.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Exodus 9:12?
2.How does Exodus 9:12 demonstrate God's sovereignty over Pharaoh's heart?
3.What can we learn about God's justice from Exodus 9:12?
4.How does Exodus 9:12 connect to Romans 9:17-18 about God's purpose?
5.How should understanding God's control in Exodus 9:12 affect our daily trust?
6.How can we apply the lesson of divine sovereignty from Exodus 9:12 today?
7.Why did God harden Pharaoh's heart in Exodus 9:12?
8.Does God hardening hearts contradict free will?
9.How does Exodus 9:12 align with God's nature of love and mercy?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 9?
11.If God created humans with free will, why does He harden Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 9:12)?
12.How does the portrayal of Aaron's role in Exodus 32 align with other biblical depictions of him, and does it reveal inconsistencies across different texts?
13.If Exodus 14:17 says God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, how can Pharaoh be held responsible for his actions?
14.Why does God cause people's hearts to harden?What Does Exodus 9:12 Mean
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart• God’s sovereign action is front-and-center. Long before the plagues began, the LORD told Moses, “I will harden his heart” (Exodus 4:21; 7:3).Romans 9:17-18 echoes the same truth: “Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.”
• The hardening does not make Pharaoh a puppet; it confirms him in the rebellion he already loves. Earlier verses show Pharaoh hardening his own heart (Exodus 8:15, 19).Joshua 11:20 offers a parallel instance where God’s hardening of Canaanite kings sealed a judgment they had earned.
• By hardening Pharaoh, the LORD magnifies His glory. “I raised you up…that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (Romans 9:17). Each plague, including the hailstorm that has just ended in this chapter, showcases the LORD’s supremacy over Egypt’s gods.
and he would not listen to them• “Them” points to Moses and Aaron, God’s appointed messengers (Exodus 9:1). Spurning prophetic warning is a hallmark of hardened hearts (2 Chronicles 36:16;Acts 7:51).
• Pharaoh’s refusal is persistent: after the frogs (Exodus 8:15), after the gnats (8:19), after the hail (9:34). The pattern underlines that miraculous signs alone cannot soften a will that resists God.
• This deafness illustrates a sobering principle: when people continually reject truth, God may hand them over to deeper deception (2 Thessalonians 2:11). Pharaoh’s closed ears become a cautionary tale for every generation (Hebrews 3:7-8).
just as the LORD had said to Moses• The phrase anchors the narrative in God’s unbreakable word. Back at the burning bush the LORD declared, “I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him” (Exodus 3:19).
• Each plague fulfills earlier promises: “Yet Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn—he still refuses to let the people go” (Exodus 7:14).Numbers 23:19 reminds us, “God is not a man, that He should lie.”
• The reliability of God’s prior statements reassures His people. If He keeps His warnings with precision, He will also keep every promise of deliverance (Exodus 6:6-8).
summaryExodus 9:12 spotlights three truths working together: God rules even the hearts of kings (Proverbs 21:1), human rebellion remains morally responsible, and every event unfolds exactly as God said it would. Pharaoh’s hardened heart, his refusal to listen, and the perfect consistency of God’s forecasts all weave into a single tapestry that exalts the LORD’s power and faithfulness.
(12)
The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh.--The judicial punitive hardening of Pharaoh's heart by God Himself now began. As with the heathen in later times, "because they did not like to retain God in their knowledge. God gave them over to a reprobate mind" (
Romans 1:28), so now with Pharaoh: because he had twice hardened himself--i.e., resisted an impression made upon him, and crushed his inclination to yield to it (
Exodus 8:15;
Exodus 8:32), God hardened him. (See the comment on
Exodus 4:21.)
Verse 12. -And the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart. Up to this time the hardening of Pharaoh's heart has been ascribed to himself, or expressed indefinitely as a process that was continually going on - now for the first time it is positively stated that God hardened his heart, as he had threatened that he would (Exodus 4:21). On the general law of God's dealings with wicked men, see the comment on the above passage CHAPTER 9:13-26
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
But the LORD
יְהוָה֙(Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel
hardened
וַיְחַזֵּ֤ק(way·ḥaz·zêq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2388:To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer
Pharaoh’s
פַּרְעֹ֔ה(par·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547:Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings
heart,
לֵ֣ב(lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3820:The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre
and he would not
וְלֹ֥א(wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, no
listen
שָׁמַ֖ע(šā·ma‘)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085:To hear intelligently
to them,
אֲלֵהֶ֑ם(’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, to
just as
כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר(ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that
the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה(Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel
had told
דִּבֶּ֥ר(dib·ber)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696:To arrange, to speak, to subdue
Moses.
מֹשֶֽׁה׃(mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872:Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver
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OT Law: Exodus 9:12 Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh (Exo. Ex)
