12
But YHWHוַ יְהוָהmadeיְחַזֵּקthe heartאֶת לֵבof Pharaohפַּרְעֹהobstinate,יְחַזֵּקand he did notוְלֹאlistenשָׁמַעto them,אֲלֵהֶםasכַּאֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהhad spokenדִּבֶּרtoאֶלMoses.מֹשֶׁה
Exodus 9:12
Study it in the app“But YHWH made the heart of Pharaoh obstinate, and he did not listen to them, as YHWH had spoken to Moses.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Exodus 9:12, word by word
- But YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- madeיְחַזֵּקyechazek
be stubborn
To harden the heart, become stubborn.
Where else “yechazek” appears- the heartלֵבlev
heart
The deepest part of a person: where they think, feel and decide.
Where else “lev” appears- of Pharaohפַּרְעֹהparo
Pharaoh
Pharaoh: the title of the kings of Egypt, not a personal name.
Where else “paro” appears- listenשָׁמַעshama
listen
To pay close attention, or heed a plea.
Where else “shama” appears- had spokenדִּבֶּרdiber
speak
To speak, say something; above all God to his people.
Where else “diber” appears- Mosesמֹשֶׁהmoshe
Moses
Moses, the man God called to bring Israel out of Egypt and through whom he gave the Law. His name sounds like "draw out" (Exodus 2:10).
Where else “moshe” appears
Translation note
It is the first time that the account says that it was YHWH who made Pharaoh’s heart obstinate; until now it said that Pharaoh himself became obstinate (7:13, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7). See the note on 4:21.
The context
11The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians.
12 · This verse (above)
13YHWH said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and station yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says YHWH, the Elohim of the Hebrews: “Let my people go, that they may serve me.