What Does Exodus 10:1 Mean in the King James?
And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew root behind “hardened” also gives kavod its sense of weight and honor: the heart is made heavy as the LORD’s signs are displayed.
THE MEANING
The verse places you before a stark claim: the LORD makes the heart heavy, including the hearts of Pharaoh’s servants, while setting signs before him. Its revelation unfolds alongside that weight, not after the resistance has lifted.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that divine signs appear only after human resistance yields is unsettled here: the verse places the signs alongside a heart the LORD makes heavy.
THE ROOT
הִכְבַּדְתִּי
hikbadti
GROWS FROM
כבד
k-b-d
To be heavy, make heavy, or carry weight.
The verb translated “hardened” literally means “I made heavy.” The same root gives kavod its meanings of weight, honor, and glory, linking the heavy heart to the language of weight and honor.
ALSO GROWS
kaved: Heavy, weighty
כָּבֵד
This is the quality the verb assigns to the heart: it bears weight.
kavod: Weight, honor, glory
כָּבוֹד
The same root connects the heart’s heaviness with the weight associated with honor and glory.
THE PATTERN
The text places God’s power on display within the human conditions through which its signs are seen.
And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.THE THREAD
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.Exodus 14:4 uses כבד (k-b-d) in “I will be honoured upon Pharaoh,” the same root this verse uses for “I have made heavy.” The shared root joins the heart’s weight here to the language of divine honor there.
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