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Exodus 9:12 - Divine hardening of Pharaoh's heart

Exodus 9:12 - שמות 9:12

Hebrew Text

וַיְחַזֵּק יְהוָה אֶת־לֵב פַּרְעֹה וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֲלֵהֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה׃

English Translation

And the Lord hardened the heart of Par῾o, and he hearkened not to them; as the Lord had spoken to Moshe.

Transliteration

Vay'chazek Adonai et-lev Par'oh v'lo shama alehem ka'asher diber Adonai el-Moshe.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיְחַזֵּ֤ק יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְלֹ֥א שָׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵהֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶֽׁה׃ <span class="mam-spi-samekh">{ס}</span>        
וַיְחַזֵּ֤ק יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְלֹ֥א שָׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵהֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶֽׁה׃ {ס}        

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Parasha Commentary

The Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart

The verse states, "And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not to them; as the Lord had spoken to Moshe." (Shemot 9:12). This concept appears multiple times in the narrative of the plagues, raising theological and ethical questions about free will and divine intervention.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Shemot 7:3) explains that Hashem hardened Pharaoh's heart after Pharaoh had already demonstrated his own wickedness by refusing to release Bnei Yisrael despite witnessing the first five plagues. At that point, Pharaoh had already forfeited his free will through his persistent defiance, and Hashem hardened his heart to ensure he would endure the full measure of punishment for his sins.

Rambam's Perspective

In Hilchot Teshuvah (6:3), the Rambam teaches that when a sinner repeatedly refuses to repent, Hashem may withhold the opportunity for repentance as a form of divine justice. Pharaoh's case exemplifies this principle—his heart was hardened as a consequence of his own prior choices.

Midrashic Insights

  • The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 13:3) compares Pharaoh to a foolish debtor who, when given a chance to repay little by little, refuses until the creditor demands full payment at once. Similarly, Pharaoh was given opportunities to relent but refused until the full weight of the plagues fell upon him.
  • Another interpretation (Tanchuma, Va'eira 14) suggests that Pharaoh's heart was hardened to demonstrate Hashem's absolute power over all creation, including the will of kings.

Philosophical Implications

The hardening of Pharaoh's heart does not negate free will in general but serves as a unique case of divine justice. The Sforno (Shemot 7:3) emphasizes that Pharaoh's punishment was measure-for-measure: since he oppressed Bnei Yisrael with a "heavy heart" (Shemot 7:14), his own heart was made heavy in return.

Purpose of the Plagues

As the verse concludes, "as the Lord had spoken to Moshe," this reaffirms that the hardening was part of Hashem's plan to reveal His supremacy through the plagues (Ramban, Shemot 7:3). Each plague served both as punishment for Egypt and as a demonstration of Hashem's might for future generations.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

The verse is discussed in the context of Pharaoh's free will and divine intervention, exploring the theological implications of God hardening Pharaoh's heart.
📖 Rosh Hashanah 29a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the nature of repentance and whether Pharaoh had the opportunity to repent after his heart was hardened.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Hashem harden Pharaoh's heart?
A: According to Rashi and other commentators, Hashem hardened Pharaoh's heart after he repeatedly chose evil on his own. This was a measure-for-measure response - since Pharaoh hardened his own heart initially (Exodus 7:13,22; 8:15), Hashem then strengthened this tendency to show that one who persists in wickedness may lose the ability to repent.
Q: Does this mean people don't have free will?
A: No, Jewish tradition maintains that humans always have free will. The Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 5-6) explains that Pharaoh first exercised his free will to do evil repeatedly, and only then did Hashem strengthen his heart as a form of punishment. This teaches that consistent bad choices can make repentance harder.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Pharaoh's hardened heart?
A: The Midrash teaches that this episode warns us about the dangers of stubbornness and refusing to change. When a person ignores opportunities to improve, they risk becoming spiritually 'hardened.' The verse reminds us to remain open to truth and moral growth before it becomes difficult to change.
Q: How many times was Pharaoh's heart hardened?
A: The Torah mentions Pharaoh's heart being hardened 20 times across the plagues narrative. Rashi notes that the first 5 times (Exodus 7:13,22; 8:15,28; 9:7), Pharaoh hardened his own heart, showing his initial free will to resist. Only afterward did Hashem strengthen this stubbornness.
Q: Why does the Torah keep repeating that Pharaoh's heart was hardened?
A: The repetition emphasizes several key ideas: 1) The importance of free will in Jewish thought (Rambam), 2) The principle that evil is ultimately punished measure-for-measure (Midrash), and 3) That Hashem's prophecy to Moshe (Exodus 4:21) was being fulfilled exactly, demonstrating divine providence.