Exodus 9:35

And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel goe, as the Lord had spoken by Moses. Exodus 9:35 (KJV)

This verse is part of the account of the plagues that God brought upon Egypt to secure the release of the Israelites from their slavery. While Exodus 9:35 does not focus on a single plague such as hail, it serves as a summary of Pharaoh’s continued refusal to let the Israelites go, in alignment with what God had foretold. The book of Exodus recounts the story of the Israelites’ liberation from Egypt. Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, initially refused to release the Israelites from bondage despite repeated warnings and dramatic demonstrations of God’s power through miraculous signs and plagues.

The phrase “the heart of Pharaoh was hardened” signifies that Pharaoh stubbornly persisted in his decision not to let the Israelites go. It suggests that his heart became increasingly resistant to the divine message and hardened against God’s command. The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is presented as primarily an act of God’s sovereignty, as explicitly stated in Exodus 9:12 and echoed in this verse. God had forewarned Moses that, despite the signs and miracles that would be performed, Pharaoh’s heart would be hardened and he would not willingly release the Israelites until a series of plagues had been unleashed upon Egypt.

The account raises the tension between human free will and divine sovereignty. Although Pharaoh exhibited personal stubbornness, the Bible makes clear that God sovereignly hardened Pharaoh’s heart. This was not merely a matter of Pharaoh’s independent decisions but an act of divine intervention that advanced God’s purpose of judgment and deliverance.

Consequently, the verse serves as a reminder of the consequences of a hardened heart: it can lead to a rejection of God’s will and a resistance to His commands. At the same time, it highlights the sovereignty of God, who works through human actions and choices to bring about His purposes, displaying His power and ensuring the eventual liberation of His people.