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Exodus 10 · a question people ask

God says, "I have hardened his heart." Why would he?

Interpretation

The chapter gives God's own reasons: "that I may show these my signs among them; and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your son’s son… that you may know that I am the LORD" (10:1-2). Twice more it says, "the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart" (10:20, 10:27). The same chapter also holds Pharaoh responsible: the LORD's message asks him, "How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?" (10:3). Christians agree that God is just and that Pharaoh answers for his refusals; they differ on how the two fit together. Exodus 4 sets out the main views more fully.

How Christians read it

Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.

God's choice comes first

Those who hold this view start from God's own words, said before any plague, "I will harden his heart" (4:21), and from what he says here, "I have hardened his heart" (10:1). They point to Paul, who quotes what God said to Pharaoh and concludes, "he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires" (Romans 9:17-18).

Exodus 4:21 · Exodus 10:1 · Romans 9:17-18

God confirmed Pharaoh's own choice

Those who hold this view note that the plague chapters say Pharaoh "hardened his heart" (8:15, 8:32) before they say "The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh" (9:12), and that after the hail "he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart" (9:34). They read God's hardening, here and in 10:20 and 10:27, as giving Pharaoh over to what he had already chosen.

Exodus 8:15 · Exodus 8:32 · Exodus 9:12 · Exodus 9:34 · Exodus 10:20 · Exodus 10:27

The verses

“The LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs among them; and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your son’s son, what things I have done to Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that you may know that I am the LORD.” Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and said to him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.”
Exodus 10:1-3 · World English Bible
“But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go.”
Exodus 10:20 · World English Bible
“But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let them go.”
Exodus 10:27 · World English Bible
“The LORD said to Moses, “When you go back into Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your hand, but I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go.”
Exodus 4:21 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Exodus 10

Exodus 10: Light in their dwellings

The signs were for Israel's grandchildren as well as for Pharaoh: "that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your son’s son" (10:2). Pharaoh bargained over who could go; Moses said, "Not a hoof shall be left behind." And while Egypt sat in a darkness that could be felt, "all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings."

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions