Exodus 14:4

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.

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.

NASB And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.' And they did so.

CSB I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. Then I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." So the Israelites did this.

NLT And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!' So the Israelites camped there as they were told.

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.

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.

What does Exodus 14:4 mean?

Before Moses came to demand Israel's freedom, the Lord promised to "harden" Egypt's king against cooperation (Exodus 4:21). God would prevent Pharaoh from obeying, so miracles could demonstrate the Lord's power (Exodus 3:19–20; 10:1–2). However, God did not apply this "hardening" until after Pharaoh repeatedly chose defiance (Exodus 5:2; 7:12, 14, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 34; 10:10). That included blatantly breaking his own word (Exodus 8:15, 31–32; 9:34–35). Only after Pharaoh passed this point of no return (Proverbs 29:1) did the Lord interfere with the king's free will (Exodus 14:8).

God will use Pharaoh, one last time, as a demonstration of divine power in rescuing Israel from Egypt. Egyptian soldiers will pursue the Hebrews and encounter them by the seashore (Exodus 14:1–2). Thinking the Israelites are lost (Exodus 14:3) and regretting letting them go (Exodus 14:5–7), Pharoah will launch an attack. This will be a spectacular failure (Exodus 14:21–28) and an historic moment in the history of God's chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2).

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