Bible Strands
Exodus 14:8
And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out defiantly.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes the moment immediately after the Israelites depart from Rameses and Pharaoh mobilizes six hundred elite chariots to chase them (Exodus 14:7).
The words — The text employs וַ/יְחַזֵּ֣ק (va/y.cha.Zek), literally "and he made strong," to describe Yahweh's action toward Pharaoh's לֵ֤ב (lev), or heart, before stating וַ/יִּרְדֹּ֕ף (va/i.yir.Dof), "and he pursued."
The thread — This event follows the Israelites' departure from Rameses on the fifteenth day after Passover (Numbers 33:3) and aligns with God's earlier declaration that His mighty hand would compel Pharaoh to release the people (Exodus 6:1).
Why it lands — The passage records God's direct intervention in Pharaoh's resolve to pursue a defiantly marching group, establishing the immediate cause of the subsequent confrontation at the sea (Exodus 14:9).
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.
Cross-references
- Numbers 33:3 On the fifteenth day of the first month, on the day after the Passover, the Israelites set out from Rameses. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians,
- Acts 13:17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.
- Exodus 6:1 But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for because of My mighty hand he will let the people go; because of My strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”
- Exodus 13:16 So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead, for with a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”
- Exodus 14:4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. But I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So this is what the Israelites did.
- Deuteronomy 26:8 Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, signs, and wonders.
- Exodus 13:9 It shall be a sign for you on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the Law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For with a mighty hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.
- Exodus 13:18 So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle.
- Deuteronomy 32:27 if I had not dreaded the taunt of the enemy, lest their adversaries misunderstand and say: ‘Our own hand has prevailed; it was not the LORD who did all this.’”
- Psalms 86:13 For great is Your loving devotion to me; You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol.