Exodus 4:21

I will harden = I will embolden. By Hebrew idiom active verbs of doing are used of suffering or permitting a thing to be done. Compare Genesis 31:7 , e.g. Hebrew "God did not give him to do me evil". Compare Authorized Version Exodus 5:22 .Psalms 16:10 (give = suffer); Jeremiah 4:10 (deceived = suffered to be deceived). So Ezekiel 14:9 ; Ezekiel 20:25 .Matthew 6:13 ; Matthew 11:25 (hid = not revealed); Exodus 13:1 .Acts 13:29 (took him down = permitted). Romans 9:18 (hardeneth = suffereth to be). Used six times by Jehovah (Exodus 9:12 ; Exodus 10:1 , Exodus 10:20 , Exodus 10:27 ; Exodus 11:10 ; Exodus 14:8 ), but not till Pharaoh had done it seven times. Three words used for "harden": (1) hazak = to brace or tighten up (opposite to relax). Compare Exodus 4:21 ; Exodus 7:13 , Exodus 7:22 ; Exodus 7:8 .; Exodus 9:12 , Exodus 9:35 ; Exodus 10:20 , Exodus 10:27 ; Exodus 11:10 ; Exodus 14:4 , Exodus 14:8 , Exodus 14:17 (and once of the Egyptians, Exodus 12:33 ), thirteen times in all. (2) kashah = to make sharp, hard, severe, cruel. Used twice, Exodus 7:3 ; Exodus 13:15 (compare Genesis 49:7 ). (3) kdbed = to become heavy (Exodus 7:14 ; Exodus 8:15 , Exodus 8:32 ; Exodus 9:7 , Exodus 9:34 ; Exodus 9:10 . Exodus 9:1 ), six times. It was in each case God's clemency and forbearing goodness which produced the hardening. That good ness which "leadeth to repentance "(Romans 2:4 ): just as the same sun which softens the wax hardens the clay.