Keluaran 7:13

7:13 Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard, ¹  and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.

Keluaran 7:22

7:22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same ²  by their secret arts, and so ³  Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, ⁴  and he refused to listen to Moses and Aaron ⁵  – just as the Lord had predicted.

Keluaran 8:15

8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, ⁶  he hardened ⁷  his heart and did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted. ⁸ 

Keluaran 8:19

8:19 The magicians said ⁹  to Pharaoh, “It is the finger ¹⁰  of God!” But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, ¹¹  and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.

Keluaran 8:32

8:32 But Pharaoh hardened ¹²  his heart this time also and did not release the people.

[7:13]  ¹ tn This phrase translates the Hebrew word חָזַק (khazaq); see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 53.

[7:13]  sn For more on this subject, see B. Jacob, Exodus, 241-49. S. R. Driver (Exodus, 53) notes that when this word (חָזַק) is used it indicates a will or attitude that is unyielding and firm, but when כָּבֵד (kaved) is used, it stresses the will as being slow to move, unimpressionable, slow to be affected.

[7:22]  ² tn Heb “thus, so.”

[7:22]  ³ tn The vav consecutive on the preterite introduces the outcome or result of the matter – Pharaoh was hardened.

[7:22]  ⁴ tn Heb “and the heart of Pharaoh became hard.” This phrase translates the Hebrew word חָזַק (khazaq; see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 53). In context this represents the continuation of a prior condition.

[7:22]  ⁵ tn Heb “to them”; the referents (Moses and Aaron) have been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:15]  ⁶ tn The word רְוָחָה (rÿvakhah) means “respite, relief.” BDB 926 relates it to the verb רָוַח (ravakh, “to be wide, spacious”). There would be relief when there was freedom to move about.

[8:15]  ⁷ tn וְהַכְבֵּד (vÿhakhbed) is a Hiphil infinitive absolute, functioning as a finite verb. The meaning of the word is “to make heavy,” and so stubborn, sluggish, indifferent. It summarizes his attitude and the outcome, that he refused to keep his promises.

[8:15]  ⁸ sn The end of the plague revealed clearly God’s absolute control over Egypt’s life and deities – all at the power of the man who prayed to God. Yahweh had made life unpleasant for the people by sending the plague, but he was also the one who could remove it. The only recourse anyone has in such trouble is to pray to the sovereign Lord God. Everyone should know that there is no one like Yahweh.

[8:19]  ⁹ tn Heb “and the magicians said.”

[8:19]  ¹⁰ tn The word “finger” is a bold anthropomorphism (a figure of speech in which God is described using human characteristics).

[8:19]  sn The point of the magicians’ words is clear enough. They knew they were beaten and by whom. The reason for their choice of the word “finger” has occasioned many theories, none of which is entirely satisfying. At the least their statement highlights that the plague was accomplished by God with majestic ease and effortlessness. Perhaps the reason that they could not do this was that it involved producing life – from the dust of the ground, as in Genesis 2:7. The creative power of God confounded the magic of the Egyptians and brought on them a loathsome plague.

[8:19]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and the heart of Pharaoh became hard.” This phrase translates the Hebrew word חָזַק (khazaq; see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 53). In context this represents the continuation of a prior condition.

[8:32]  ¹² tn This phrase translates the Hebrew word כָּבֵד (kaved); see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 53.