To those of you who read the Bible regularly, have you like me ever wondered what this verse and others like it mean?
Exodus 11:10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and THE LORD HARDENED PHARAOH'S HEART, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.
First, "hardened" means to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore. That's the definition from the enhanced Strong's Lexicon Hebrew dictionary.
Second, the following are English translations of the same Hebrew word in the King James Bible: AV translates as “strong” 48 times, “repair” 47 times, “hold” 37 times, “strengthened” 28 times, “strengthen” 14 times, “harden” 13 times, “prevail” 10 times, “encourage” 9 times, “take” 9 times, “courage” 8 times, “caught” 5 times, “stronger” 5 times, “hold” 5 times, and translated miscellaneously 52 times.
Considering the above think about the reaction you would have if someone you did not respect or revere issued you an ultimatum. Think also about how you would respond if they followed through with their threat.
In doing so I think we can understand what the Bible means when it says God hardened Pharaoh's heart.
Exodus 11:10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and THE LORD HARDENED PHARAOH'S HEART, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.
First, "hardened" means to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore. That's the definition from the enhanced Strong's Lexicon Hebrew dictionary.
Second, the following are English translations of the same Hebrew word in the King James Bible: AV translates as “strong” 48 times, “repair” 47 times, “hold” 37 times, “strengthened” 28 times, “strengthen” 14 times, “harden” 13 times, “prevail” 10 times, “encourage” 9 times, “take” 9 times, “courage” 8 times, “caught” 5 times, “stronger” 5 times, “hold” 5 times, and translated miscellaneously 52 times.
Considering the above think about the reaction you would have if someone you did not respect or revere issued you an ultimatum. Think also about how you would respond if they followed through with their threat.
In doing so I think we can understand what the Bible means when it says God hardened Pharaoh's heart.
