King James Version

What Does Exodus 7:4 Mean?

Exodus 7:4 in the King James Version says “But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people th...” — study this verse from Exodus chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.”

Exodus 7:4 · KJV

Context

2

Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

3

And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

4

But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

5

And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

6

And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.

Read Exodus 7 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. God prophetically declares Pharaoh's resistance while revealing His sovereign purpose behind it. The phrase shall not hearken (לֹא־יִשְׁמַע, lo-yishma) uses the verb shama (שָׁמַע), meaning to hear, listen, or obey—Pharaoh will refuse to heed Moses' demands. Yet this disobedience serves divine purpose.

The crucial phrase that I may lay my hand upon Egypt reveals God's redemptive-judicial aim. The Hebrew לְמַעַן (lema'an, "that" or "in order that") indicates purpose: Pharaoh's hardness becomes the occasion for demonstrating Yahweh's power over Egypt and its gods. God's hand (יָד, yad) symbolizes His power—the same hand that would part the Red Sea, provide manna, and write the commandments. Here it executes judgment on Egypt's false gods (12:12) and liberates Israel.

Bring forth mine armies (אֶת־צִבְאֹתַי, et-tziv'otai) describes Israel as Yahweh's tzava'ot—His hosts or armies. This military language elevates Israel's identity: not merely escaped slaves but Yahweh's organized forces marching out in divine order (12:51, 13:18). The plural my people the children of Israel emphasizes covenant relationship: Israel belongs to Yahweh, not Pharaoh. Egypt's stubbornness cannot thwart God's redemptive plan.

By great judgments (בִּשְׁפָטִים גְּדֹלִים, bishphatim gedolim) anticipates the ten plagues. The noun shphatim comes from shaphat (שָׁפַט, "to judge"), indicating these weren't mere natural disasters but divine judicial sentences against Egypt's false deities. Each plague targeted specific Egyptian gods—the Nile (Hapi), the sun (Ra), etc.—revealing their impotence before Yahweh. This prefigures God's ultimate judgment on all evil and idolatry, culminating in Christ's victory over sin, death, and Satan (Colossians 2:15; Revelation 20).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Exodus 7 inaugurates the plague cycle (chapters 7-12), Egypt's ten judgments. Ancient Egypt was a superpower—the dominant civilization with advanced architecture, agriculture, military might, and religious sophistication. Egypt's pantheon included hundreds of deities governing natural forces, cosmic order, and daily life. Pharaoh himself was considered divine, the living incarnation of Horus and son of Ra. For Yahweh to challenge Egypt meant confronting the world's greatest power and its elaborate theological system.

The phrase "my armies" reflects ancient Near Eastern conquest narratives where gods led their people to victory. However, Israel's exodus differed radically from typical ancient warfare—Yahweh alone fought while Israel witnessed His salvation (14:13-14). The exodus became Israel's foundational narrative, shaping national identity, worship, and theology. Prophets repeatedly referenced the exodus when calling Israel to faithfulness (Jeremiah 2:6, Amos 2:10, Micah 6:4).

The statement that Pharaoh "shall not hearken" raises the theological problem of divine hardening (explored in 4:21, 7:3, 9:12, etc.). Reformed theology interprets this as God's judicial hardening of those already resistant—God gives them over to their chosen rebellion (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). Pharaoh's initial refusals were his own (7:13-14, 22-23; 8:15, 19, 32), then God confirms him in that hardness to accomplish redemptive purposes. This mysterious interplay of divine sovereignty and human responsibility appears throughout Scripture.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's use of Pharaoh's hardness to accomplish redemption help us trust His sovereignty when people resist the gospel?
  2. What does Israel's identity as God's "armies" teach about the church's spiritual warfare and identity as God's people?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וְלֹֽא1 of 19
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יִשְׁמַ֤ע2 of 19

“shall not hearken”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

אֲלֵכֶם֙3 of 19
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

פַּרְעֹ֔ה4 of 19

“But Pharaoh”

H6547

paroh, a general title of egyptian kings

וְנָֽתַתִּ֥י5 of 19

“unto you that I may lay”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

אֶת6 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יָדִ֖י7 of 19

“my hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

מִצְרַ֔יִם8 of 19

“of Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

וְהֽוֹצֵאתִ֨י9 of 19

“and bring forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

אֶת10 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

צִבְאֹתַ֜י11 of 19

“mine armies”

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

אֶת12 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

עַמִּ֤י13 of 19

“and my people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

בְנֵֽי14 of 19

“the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשְׂרָאֵל֙15 of 19

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

מֵאֶ֣רֶץ16 of 19

“out of the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרַ֔יִם17 of 19

“of Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

בִּשְׁפָטִ֖ים18 of 19

“judgments”

H8201

a sentence, i.e., infliction

גְּדֹלִֽים׃19 of 19

“by great”

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Exodus. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Exodus 7:4 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Exodus 7:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Exodus 11:9Exodus 6:6Exodus 12:51Ezekiel 25:11Exodus 9:3Proverbs 19:29

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in Exodus 7 →

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