Who Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart?

Asher Chee |

God commanded Moses to ask Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave Egypt. However, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he refused to let the Israelites leave Egypt. While it is written several times that Pharaoh hardened his own heart, it is also written several times that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

Many people do not like the idea that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. They claim that Pharaoh first hardened his own heart, and God hardened Pharaoh’s heart in response. In support of this theory, they point to an apparent “progression” in the biblical narrative where it is written that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Indeed, it is true that earlier on in the narrative, it is written more often that Pharaoh hardened his own heart, and it is only later on in the narrative that it is written more often that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. However, this “progression” does not prove anything.

Let us take a look at the first explicit mention in the Bible where Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, in Exodus 7:13:

Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

According to the text, Pharaoh hardened his own heart “as the LORD had said”. This indicates that God had previously said something about Pharaoh’s heart being hardened. This is found earlier on, in verses 3–4:

But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you.

The parallels make it clear that the event described in verse 13 is the fulfilment of what God had said in verse 3.

Therefore, it is true that Pharaoh hardened his own heart, but it was ultimately because God had first hardened his heart. The Apostle Paul also asserts that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart because he wanted to, and not in response to Pharaoh first hardening his own heart (Romans 9:17–18).