Did God literally harden Pharaoh's heart?

Answer 1

No , the attitude of Pharoah did! We need to remember that Pharoah would not listen to the reasonable request that God made through Moses! He thought too much of himself being considered a god , rather than accept the real Godship! (Exodus5:1-3) ". . .And afterward Moses and Aaron went in and proceeded to say to Phar´aoh: "This is what Jehovah the God of Israel has said, 'Send my people away that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.'" 2 But Phar´aoh said: "Who is Jehovah, so that I should obey his voice to send Israel away? I do not know Jehovah at all and, what is more, I am not going to send Israel away." 3 However, they went on to say: "The God of the Hebrews has come in touch with us. We want to go, please, a journey of three days into the wilderness and sacrifice to Jehovah our God; otherwise he may strike at us with pestilence or with sword. . ." --IF YOU noted the request was made for 3 days, to worship God! --Pharoah's attitude was indeed highly disrespectful for the Israelites God , Jehovah and to them as a people! He then ridicules Jehovah! --IF YOU FOLLOW the progressive thrust(you would find that God's powers were reasonably shown until Pharoah rejected them, and sought to destroy the Israelites AND their God if possible) of the exposing of the worthlessness of Pharoah's gods, IT WOULD have to be a very obstinate person to ignore the proof God provided , with powers that his gods could not & never did display! --Pharoah resembles Cain , in that despite God accepting Abels sacrifice and rejecting Cains(and the kind warning God gave Cain) , the disposition of Pharoah & Cain developed despite the admonition that both were given! --THERE ARE examples of children who despite efforts of their parents and authorities who become progressively hardened to what is right. AND some have chosen to become murderers because of their own obstenance, Pharoah also fits that scenario --A BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE that applies to the above is: (Ecclesiastes 8:11) ". . .Because sentence against a bad work has not been executed speedily, that is why the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad." Firstly, we need to understand what is meant by the expression 'hard heart.' This can be either referring to a medical condition or to an attitude, even today. Someone who is stubborn and lacking in human compassion is even today called a 'hard hearted' person. This does not refer to the condition of arteriosclerosis but to their attitude.

If you read the Exodus account from chapter 7 through 14 there are a number of references to Pharaoh's heart. There seems to be a progression from 'Pharaoh hardened his heart,' to 'his heart was hardened,' to 'God hardened his heart.' Thus there is apparently enough difference in the Hebrew original to translate it differently. This would seem to indicate that Pharaoh was the agent in the beginning and God then 'took over' later. In other words God gave him what he wanted as a result of repeated choices on his part.

This is much the same idea as is found in Romans chapter 1 where people reject God and then God 'gives them over' to the consequences of their own choices. If The Bible is true, then the answer to your question is yes. ; Exodus 4 : 21 : And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall 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. ; Exodus 7 : 13 : And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said. ; Exodus 9 : 12 : And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses. ; Exodus 10 : 1 : And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: ; Exodus 10 : 20 : But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would 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 : 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. ; Exodus 14 : 4 : And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. ; Exodus 14 : 8 : And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel ; Exodus 14 : 17 : I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour. The Bible itself shows two different assertions about how Pharaoah got his hard heart. The assertions from Exodus have been noted above, however there is also an assertion from the book of Samuel which may enlarge the scope of interpretation suggesting a development in the interpretation of events rendered in the Scriptures. 1 Sam 6:6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed.