Exodus 7:3 (KJV)

What does Exodus 7:3 mean?

Exodus 7:3 says that God will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn and will increase the number of miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt. This means that Pharaoh will resist letting the Israelites go, and as a result, God will perform many powerful acts to show His presence and authority.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses about what will happen when Moses confronts Pharaoh. The situation is tense: Moses and Aaron are about to demand the release of the Israelites from slavery. God is preparing Moses by explaining that Pharaoh will not easily agree, and that this stubbornness will actually lead to more opportunities for God to display His power through signs and wonders.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 7:3

• The word “harden” is קָשָׁה (qāšāh), which means to make stubborn or unyielding. This word suggests an active process where Pharaoh’s resistance is strengthened, not just a passive attitude.
• “Signs” is אוֹת (’ōt), meaning a mark or miraculous event that points to something significant. In this context, it refers to the miracles that will show God’s power.
• “Wonders” is מוֹפֵת (mōphet), which means extraordinary acts or marvels. These are events that go beyond the ordinary, meant to amaze and get attention.
• “Multiply” is רָבָה (rābāh), meaning to increase or make many. God is saying that the number of miraculous acts will grow as Pharaoh continues to resist.

Why Exodus 7:3 matters

• This verse helps clear up the idea that Pharaoh’s stubbornness was simply his own doing; the text shows that God had a purpose in allowing and even strengthening Pharaoh’s resistance.
• Exodus 7:3 sets the stage for the dramatic series of plagues and miracles that follow, explaining why so many signs and wonders occur before the Israelites are freed.
• The verse emphasizes that God’s actions are not random; even Pharaoh’s hard heart becomes part of a larger plan to reveal God’s power to both Egypt and Israel.