Bible Strands
Exodus 7:23
Instead, Pharaoh turned around, went into his palace, and did not take any of this to heart.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Pharaoh acts immediately after Moses and Aaron turn the Nile to blood and the Egyptian magicians replicate the sign. He turns away from the confrontation and enters his palace, demonstrating deliberate indifference to the divine warning.
The words — The Hebrew phrase שׁת לִבּוֹ (shat libbo) literally means "he set his heart," describing Pharaoh's refusal to internalize or be moved by the event. The surrounding verbs וַיִּפֶן (va-yi-fen) and וַיָּבֹא (va-yi-va) simply record his physical turning away and entry into his palace.
The thread — The motif of "setting one's heart" or disregarding divine warning appears in Exodus 9:21 where those who feared the word protected their livestock, and Deuteronomy 32:46 where Moses commands Israel to take God's words to heart. Conversely, 1 Samuel 4:20 shows a mother's deathbed indifference to her son's birth, mirroring Pharaoh's emotional shutdown.
Why it lands — The text states Pharaoh's physical withdrawal and emotional stasis without recording any repentance or fear. It asks the reader to recognize that witnessing a sign does not guarantee a changed heart, and that indifference is a deliberate choice, not a passive state.
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 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.
Cross-references
- Exodus 9:21 but those who disregarded the word of the LORD left their servants and livestock in the field.
- Deuteronomy 32:46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to carefully follow all the words of this law.
- 1 Samuel 4:20 As she was dying, the women attending to her said, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son!” But she did not respond or pay any heed.
- Job 7:17 What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him,
- Psalms 62:10 Place no trust in extortion or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.
- Proverbs 22:17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge—
- Proverbs 24:32 I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:
- Proverbs 29:1 A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.
- Isaiah 26:11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!
- Jeremiah 5:3 O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.