Exodus 4:21 - Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

I will harden. I will embolden. By Hebrew idiom active verbs of doing are used of suffering or permitting. 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.