Lexical Summary
Paroh: Pharaoh
Original Word:פַרְעֹה
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:Par`oh
Pronunciation:pah-ROH
Phonetic Spelling:(par-o')
KJV: Pharaoh
NASB:Pharaoh, Pharaoh's
Word Origin:[of Egyptian derivation]
1. Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Pharaoh
Of Egyptian derivation; Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings -- Pharaoh.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originof foreign origin
Definitiona title of Eg. kings
NASB TranslationPharaoh (214), Pharaoh's (53).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
275 , , title of Egyptain kings (Egyptian
pr-±o,
great house, of royal court, and (in new kingdom) of king Griffith
Hastings DB Mey
Geschichte. Alt. i. 59 Steind
BAS. i. 343; in Assyrian
pir°u according to most, compare COT
Glossary Steind
l.c., but see Wkl
MVAG. 1898. 3f.); —
Genesis 12:15 (3 t. in verse);
Genesis 12:17 212t. Hexateuch 19 t. Kings,
Isaiah 19:11 (twice in verse) + 3t.,
Jeremiah 25:19 10t.,
Ezekiel 17:17 12t.,
Nehemiah 9:10;
1 Chronicles 4:18; 2Chronicles 8:11;
Psalm 135:9;
Psalm 136:15;
Songs 1:9; + (not early)
Jeremiah 25:19;
Jeremiah 46:17;
Deuteronomy 7:8;
Deuteronomy 11:3;
Ezekiel 29:2,3;
Ezekiel 30:21,22;
Ezekiel 31:2;
1 Kings 3:1;
1 Kings 9:16;
1 Kings 11:18;
2 Kings 17:7;
2 Kings 18:21 =
Isaiah 36:6;
Genesis 41:46 (E),
Exodus 6:11,13,27,29;
Exodus 14:8 (all P); with proper name
Jeremiah 44:30,
Jeremiah 46:2;
2 Kings 23:29,33,34,35.
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scopeפַרְעֹה (Pharaoh) is the royal title borne by the monarchs of Egypt throughout the Old Testament record (about 268 references). Scripture treats each Pharaoh as the supreme human authority of Egypt, yet consistently sets him beneath the sovereign rule of the LORD. The word never appears with a personal name in Hebrew narrative until much later history (e.g., “Pharaoh Neco,” “Pharaoh Hophra”), underlining the biblical emphasis on the office more than the individual.
Pharaohs in the Pentateuch
1. Pharaoh of Abram and Sarai (Genesis 12:10-20) – This ruler’s household is struck with plagues when he takes Sarai; the episode foreshadows later judgments on Egypt.
2. Pharaohs of Joseph’s career (Genesis 37–50) – The first purchases Joseph (Genesis 37:36); the second dreams of cows and grain, exalts Joseph to vizier, and becomes God’s instrument to preserve Jacob’s family (Genesis 41:15-46; 45:8). The covenant people find protection in Goshen (Genesis 47:6).
3. Pharaoh of the Oppression (Exodus 1:8-22) – “A new king who did not know Joseph” enslaves Israel and commands the death of male infants, prompting God’s deliverance plan.
4. Pharaoh of the Exodus (Exodus 2–14) – Confronted by Moses and Aaron, he repeatedly hardens his heart and is likewise hardened by God (Exodus 7:3-4). The ten plagues culminate in the death of Egypt’s firstborn and the Red Sea judgment. “The LORD hurled Pharaoh and his army into the sea” (Exodus 15:4).
Pharaohs in the Historical Books
1. Pharaoh of Solomon’s alliance (1 Kings 3:1; 9:16) – Gives his daughter in marriage to Solomon and captures Gezer.
2. Shishak (1 Kings 11:40; 14:25;2 Chronicles 12:2-9) – Shelters Jeroboam and later raids Jerusalem during Rehoboam’s reign, stripping the temple of treasure.
3. Pharaoh Neco (2 Kings 23:29-35;2 Chronicles 35:20-24) – Kills Josiah at Megiddo, deposes Jehoahaz, and imposes tribute on Judah.
4. Pharaoh Hophra (Jeremiah 44:30) – Also called Apries, he fails to save Jerusalem or the Judean refugees in Egypt, fulfilling Jeremiah’s prophecy.
Pharaoh in the Psalms and Wisdom Literature
Psalm 136:15 celebrates God’s overthrow of Pharaoh as an enduring testimony of steadfast love.Proverbs 21:1 applies the lesson universally: “The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases.”
Pharaoh in the Prophets
Isaiah rebukes Judah’s trust in Egypt: “The protection of Pharaoh will become your shame” (Isaiah 30:3).
Jeremiah foretells Egypt’s defeat at Carchemish under Pharaoh Neco (Jeremiah 46:2) and later predicts Hophra’s downfall (Jeremiah 44:30).
Ezekiel devotes four chapters (29–32) to Pharaoh as the proud “great monster lying in the midst of his rivers” (Ezekiel 29:3), announcing judgment so that “all the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 30:19).
Hosea 7:11 likens fickle Ephraim to “a dove easily deceived, calling to Egypt.” Pharaoh thus functions as a perennial emblem of misplaced trust.
Recurring Themes and Theology
1. Divine Sovereignty – God raises up Pharaoh “for this very purpose” (Exodus 9:16;Romans 9:17) to display His power and spread His name.
2. Hardness of Heart – Pharaoh becomes the chief biblical example of persistent resistance to divine revelation, warning against stiff-necked unbelief.
3. Salvation History – The Exodus establishes the paradigm of redemption, later fulfilled in Christ’s deliverance from sin and death (Luke 9:31, Greek exodus).
4. Judgment on Pride – Prophetic oracles portray Pharaoh’s hubris as archetypal, assuring believers that worldly powers cannot thwart God’s plan.
5. Missionary Witness – Rahab the Egyptian (Psalm 87:4) and the mixed multitude exiting Egypt (Exodus 12:38) illustrate God’s outreach even within Pharaoh’s domain.
Practical Ministry Applications
• Preaching – The Exodus narrative encourages believers to trust God amid oppression and to declare His mighty works to the next generation (Psalm 78:13-14).
• Counseling – Pharaoh’s hardened heart warns against habitual sin and the presumption of repeated chances to repent.
• Worship – Hymns of deliverance (Exodus 15;Psalm 136) invite corporate remembrance of God’s victory over every “Pharaoh” that exalts itself.
• Missions – Israel’s liberation anticipates the call to proclaim freedom in Christ to captives worldwide (Acts 7:34).
Summary
Pharaoh stands in Scripture as the quintessential earthly monarch who confronts the living God and loses. Across Law, Prophets, and Writings, his title epitomizes proud opposition, while his defeat magnifies the LORD’s supremacy, covenant faithfulness, and saving power.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּ֝פַרְעֹ֗ה בְּפַרְעֹ֔ה בְּפַרְעֹ֤ה בְּפַרְעֹ֥ה בְּפַרְעֹה֙ בפרעה וּפַרְעֹ֖ה וּפַרְעֹ֣ה ופרעה כְּפַרְעֹֽה׃ כפרעה׃ לְפַרְעֹ֑ה לְפַרְעֹ֔ה לְפַרְעֹ֖ה לְפַרְעֹ֗ה לְפַרְעֹ֣ה לְפַרְעֹ֥ה לְפַרְעֹֽה׃ לְפַרְעֹה֒ לְפַרְעֹה֮ לפרעה לפרעה׃ מִפַּרְעֹ֖ה מִפַּרְעֹ֛ה מפרעה פַּרְעֹ֑ה פַּרְעֹ֔ה פַּרְעֹ֖ה פַּרְעֹ֗ה פַּרְעֹ֛ה פַּרְעֹ֜ה פַּרְעֹ֞ה פַּרְעֹ֣ה פַּרְעֹ֤ה פַּרְעֹ֥ה פַּרְעֹ֧ה פַּרְעֹ֨ה פַּרְעֹֽה׃ פַּרְעֹה֒ פַּרְעֹה֙ פַּרְעֹה֮ פַרְעֹ֑ה פַרְעֹ֔ה פַרְעֹ֖ה פַרְעֹ֗ה פַרְעֹ֛ה פַרְעֹ֜ה פַרְעֹ֣ה פַרְעֹ֤ה פַרְעֹֽה׃ פַרְעֹה֙ פַרְעֹה֮ פרעה פרעה׃ bə·p̄ar·‘ōh befarOh bəp̄ar‘ōh farOh kə·p̄ar·‘ōh kefarOh kəp̄ar‘ōh lə·p̄ar·‘ōh lefarOh ləp̄ar‘ōh mip·par·‘ōh mippar‘ōh mipparOh par‘ōh p̄ar‘ōh par·‘ōh p̄ar·‘ōh parOh ū·p̄ar·‘ōh ufarOh ūp̄ar‘ōh
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