Bible Strands
Exodus 7:14
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD addresses Moses to announce that Pharaoh’s heart remains unyielding just before the first plague is initiated.
The words — כָּבֵד (ka.Ved) literally means “heavy,” describing Pharaoh’s לֵב (lev, heart), while מֵאֵן (me.'En) states “he has refused” to release the people.
The thread — This cycle of divine hardening and royal defiance recurs in Exodus 8:15, 10:1, and 10:20 as the signs continue.
Why it lands — The text records Pharaoh’s refusal before the miracle unfolds, requiring the reader to see that the confrontation targets established royal authority rather than spontaneous disobedience.
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 said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
Cross-references
- Exodus 8:15 When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, however, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.
- Exodus 10:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials, that I may perform these miraculous signs of Mine among them,
- Exodus 10:20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.
- Exodus 10:27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was unwilling to let them go.
- Exodus 4:23 and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’”
- Exodus 8:2 But if you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs.
- Exodus 9:2 But if you continue to restrain them and refuse to let them go,
- Exodus 10:4 But if you refuse to let My people go, I will bring locusts into your territory tomorrow.
- Isaiah 1:20 But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
- Jeremiah 8:5 Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return.