Who Hardened Pharaoh's Heart?


Exodus 4:21    And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.

Exodus 7:3   And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt .

Note: The Lord has said how it will happen: " I will harden his heart." All the verses that follow are fulfillments of this prophecy.

Exodus 7: 13    And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said.

Note: Those who claim that God did not harden Pharaoh's heart, but Pharaoh hardened his own heart, will point to this verse and say "This verse doesn't directly say who hardened Pharaoh's heart." But Pharaoh's heart grew hard not as a result of random evolutionary processes, or random chance, but according to the Word of the Lord. It happened "as the Lord had said." What is it the Lord had said? " I will harden his heart." It was happening the way God said it would happen.

Exodus 7:22    And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the Lord had said.

Note: This verse doesn't directly say who hardened Pharaoh's heart. But Pharaoh's heart was hardened not by impersonal processes like the alignment of the zodiac, but according to the Word of the Lord. It happened the way God said it would happen: " I will harden his heart."

Exodus 8:15    But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said.

Note: Pharaoh hardened his own heart "as the Lord had said." It happened the way God said it would happen: " I will harden his heart." In this verse, more specifically, "I will make Pharaoh harden his own heart." Exodus 8:15 ("Pharaoh hardened his heart") does not contradict all the other verses ("I will harden his heart").

Exodus 8:19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

Exodus 8:32    But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.

Exodus 9:12    But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses.

Exodus 9:34    And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35 So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses.

Exodus 10:1   Now the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him,

Exodus 10:20    But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.

Exodus 10:27    But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.

Exodus 11:10   So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land.


Exodus 14:4   Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

Exodus 14:8   And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness.

Exodus 14:17    And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.


Deuteronomy 2:30   “But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as it is this day.

Joshua 11:20   For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might utterly destroy them, and that they might receive no mercy, but that He might destroy them, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Psalm 105:25
He turned their heart to hate His people,
To deal craftily with His servants.

Proverbs 21:1
1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD,
Like the rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.

Isaiah 63:17   O Lord, why have You made us stray from Your ways, And hardened our heart from Your fear? Return for Your servants’ sake, The tribes of Your inheritance.

John 12:40    “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”

Romans 9:18    Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.