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. And they did so.

EXODUS 14:4KJV
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Exodus 14:4 (KJV)

What does Exodus 14:4 mean?

Exodus 14:4 describes God telling Moses that He will make Pharaoh stubborn so that Pharaoh will chase after the Israelites, and through this, God will gain honor for Himself, showing the Egyptians that He is truly the LORD. The verse ends by saying that the Israelites did as God instructed.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses as the Israelites are leaving Egypt. Pharaoh had let them go, but God says He will "harden" Pharaoh’s heart, meaning Pharaoh will become determined to pursue them. The purpose is for God to display His power and identity to the Egyptians, making it clear that He is the LORD (Yahweh), not just to Israel but to Egypt as well.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 14:4

  • "harden" (חָזַק, ḥāzaq): This word means to make strong or stubborn. Here, it shows that Pharaoh’s determination is not just his own but is allowed and used by God for a purpose.
  • "honoured" (כָּבֵד, kāvēd): This word carries the sense of being made weighty or significant. God says He will be "honored" through Pharaoh, meaning His greatness will be recognized, even by those who oppose Him.
  • "know" (יָדַע, yāda‘): This word means to know deeply or recognize. The verse emphasizes that the Egyptians will come to truly recognize who the LORD is through these events.

Why Exodus 14:4 matters

  • Exodus 14:4 clears up that Pharaoh’s pursuit of Israel was not just a political or personal decision, but was part of a bigger plan that God was directing for a purpose.
  • The verse highlights that God’s actions are meant to reveal His identity and power not just to Israel, but to the Egyptians as well, showing a broader audience for His works.
  • This verse connects to the larger story of the Exodus, where God’s deliverance of Israel is also a demonstration to the world of who He is, setting the stage for the dramatic events at the Red Sea.

Where else these words appear

“honoured” Hebrew H3513 · used in 109 verses

  • Genesis 13:2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
  • 2 Samuel 10:3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
  • Proverbs 12:9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

“follow” Hebrew H7291 · used in 135 verses

  • Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
  • Judges 8:5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
  • Psalms 69:26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.