God’s Word Translation
Exodus 14:4
4I will make Pharaoh so stubborn that he will pursue them. Then, because of what I do to Pharaoh and his entire army, I will receive honor, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So that is what the Israelites did.
Exodus 14:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord." And they did so.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.
Context of Exodus 14:4
2“Tell the Israelites to go back and set up their camp facing Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. Set up your camp facing north—by the sea. 3Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are ⌞just⌟ wandering around. The desert is blocking their escape.’ I will make Pharaoh so stubborn that he will pursue them. Then, because of what I do to Pharaoh and his entire army, I will receive honor, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So that is what the Israelites did. 5When Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) was told that the people had fled, he and his officials changed their minds about them. They said, “What have we done? We’ve lost our slaves because we’ve let Israel go.” 6So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him.
Read all of Exodus 14Exodus 14:4 word by word
וְחִזַּקְתִּ֣י אֶת־לֵב־פַּרְעֹה֮ וְרָדַ֣ף אַחֲרֵיהֶם֒ וְאִכָּבְדָ֤ה בְּפַרְעֹה֙ וּבְכָל־חֵיל֔וֹ וְיָדְע֥וּ מִצְרַ֖יִם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵֽן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And I will hardenחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388
- Pharaoh’sפַּרְעֹהpar‛ôh · PharaohH6547
- heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- that he shall followרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
- afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- them; and I will be honouredכָּבֵדkâbad kâbêd · to honor: honourH3513
- and upon all his hostחַ֫יִלchayil · armyH2428
- that the Egyptiansמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
- may knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- And they didעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
Cross-references for Exodus 14:4
- Exodus 14:8The Lord made Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) so stubborn that he pursued the Israelites, who were boldly leaving Egypt.
- Exodus 4:21The Lord said to Moses, “When you get back to Egypt, see that you show Pharaoh all the amazing things that I have given you the power to do. But I will make him stubborn so that he will not let the people go.
- Exodus 7:3But I will make Pharaoh stubborn. Even though I will do many miraculous signs and amazing things in Egypt,
- Romans 11:8as Scripture says, “To this day God has given them a spirit of deep sleep. Their eyes don’t see, and their ears don’t hear!”
- Exodus 14:18The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I am honored for what I did to Pharaoh, his chariots, and his cavalry.”
- Exodus 9:16But I have spared you for this reason. I want to show you my power and make my name famous throughout the earth.
- Exodus 15:10Your breath blew the sea over them. They sank like lead in the raging water.
- Exodus 18:11who treated Israel with contempt. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods.”
- Nehemiah 9:10You performed miraculous signs and did amazing things to Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people in his land because you knew how arrogantly they were treating our ancestors. You made a name for yourself, a name which remains to this day.
- Isaiah 2:11The eyes of arrogant people will be humbled. High and mighty people will be brought down. On that day the Lord alone will be honored.
- Ezekiel 20:9But I acted so that my name would not be dishonored among the nations where they were living. While other nations were watching, I made myself known to them by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.
- Ezekiel 28:22Tell it, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I’m against you, Sidon. I will show my greatness through you. Then people will know that I am the Lord, because I will punish you and show you how holy I am.
- Ezekiel 39:13All the common people will be burying them. The people of Israel will be honored on the day of my victory, declares the Almighty Lord.
- Daniel 4:30The king thought, “Look how great Babylon is! I built the royal palace by my own impressive power and for my glorious honor.”
- Romans 9:17For example, Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I put you here for this reason: to demonstrate my power through you and to spread my name throughout the earth.”
- Revelation 19:1After these things I heard what sounded like the loud noise from a large crowd in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God.
Commentaries on Exodus 14:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4I will harden Pharaoh's heart - After relenting and giving them permission to depart, he now changes his mind and determines to prevent them; and without any farther restraining grace, God permits him to rush on to his final ruin, for the cup of his iniquity was now full.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4know that I am the LORD: This event was the climactic (final and most important) demonstration of the Lord’s character and power in the Exodus. Through it, God showed clearly who he is and what he can do. Rescue comes through God’s self-revelation. This means that God saves people by making himself known. God does this by entering into human life and experience. He makes himself present and active among his people. this is what the Israelites did: In this…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-312. Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp--The Israelites had now completed their three days' journey, and at Etham the decisive step would have to be taken whether they would celebrate their intended feast and return, or march onwards by the head of the Red Sea into the desert, with a view to a final departure. They were already on the borders of the desert, and a short march would have placed them beyond the reach of pursuit, as…Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 14:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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