Keluaran 7:13

7:13 Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard, ¹  and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.

Keluaran 7:16

7:16 Tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you to say, ²  “Release my people, that they may serve me ³  in the desert!” But until now ⁴  you have not listened. ⁵ 

Keluaran 7:22

7:22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same ⁶  by their secret arts, and so ⁷  Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, ⁸  and he refused to listen to Moses and Aaron ⁹  – just as the Lord had predicted.

[7:13]  ¹ tn This phrase translates the Hebrew word חָזַק (khazaq); see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 53.

[7:13]  sn For more on this subject, see B. Jacob, Exodus, 241-49. S. R. Driver (Exodus, 53) notes that when this word (חָזַק) is used it indicates a will or attitude that is unyielding and firm, but when כָּבֵד (kaved) is used, it stresses the will as being slow to move, unimpressionable, slow to be affected.

[7:16]  ² tn The form לֵאמֹר (le’mor) is the Qal infinitive construct with the lamed (ל) preposition. It is used so often epexegetically that it has achieved idiomatic status – “saying” (if translated at all). But here it would make better sense to take it as a purpose infinitive. God sent him to say these words.

[7:16]  ³ tn The imperfect tense with the vav (וְיַעַבְדֻנִי, vÿya’avduni) following the imperative is in volitive sequence, showing the purpose – “that they may serve me.” The word “serve” (עָבַד, ’avad) is a general term to include religious observance and obedience.

[7:16]  ⁴ tn The final עַד־כֹּה (’ad-koh, “until now”) narrows the use of the perfect tense to the present perfect: “you have not listened.” That verb, however, involves more than than mere audition. It has the idea of responding to, hearkening, and in some places obeying; here “you have not complied” might catch the point of what Moses is saying, while “listen” helps to maintain the connection with other uses of the verb.

[7:16]  ⁵ tn Or “complied” (שָׁמַעְתָּ, shama’ta).

[7:22]  ⁶ tn Heb “thus, so.”

[7:22]  ⁷ tn The vav consecutive on the preterite introduces the outcome or result of the matter – Pharaoh was hardened.

[7:22]  ⁸ tn Heb “and the heart of Pharaoh became hard.” This phrase translates the Hebrew word חָזַק (khazaq; see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 53). In context this represents the continuation of a prior condition.

[7:22]  ⁹ tn Heb “to them”; the referents (Moses and Aaron) have been specified in the translation for clarity.