Pharaoh
King of Egypt and Opponent of God's Deliverance
Name Information
- Meaning: Great House (Egyptian title for king)
- Language of Origin: Egyptian
- Gender Usage: Masculine
Pharaoh, the title given to the king of Egypt, was the ruler who opposed Moses and resisted God's command to release the Israelites from slavery. His hardened heart and defiance led to the ten plagues and the dramatic Exodus of God’s people. Pharaoh's story is one of pride, judgment, and the ultimate demonstration of God's power over earthly kings.
⏰ Exodus
Roles
- King
- Oppressor
- Adversary of Moses
Relationships
- Spouse: Unknown
- Children: Unspecified (possibly the son who died in the tenth plague)
Story
A new Pharaoh arose in Egypt who did not know Joseph and grew fearful of the growing Israelite population, leading to their enslavement (Exodus 1).
Pharaoh ordered the death of Hebrew male infants, a decree that was defied by midwives and led to Moses being hidden and eventually adopted (Exodus 1–2).
When Moses returned from exile with God’s command to let Israel go, Pharaoh rejected him, increasing the Israelites' labor and questioning God’s authority (Exodus 5).
Despite witnessing ten devastating plagues — from the Nile turning to blood to the death of Egypt’s firstborn — Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his heart and refused to yield (Exodus 7–12).
After finally releasing the Israelites, Pharaoh changed his mind and pursued them to the Red Sea, where his army was drowned as God parted the waters for His people and then closed them upon Egypt’s forces (Exodus 14).
Spiritual Significance
- Represents the oppressive power that enslaved Israel and resisted God's deliverance.
- Serves as the central antagonist in the Exodus narrative, refusing to let the Israelites go despite increasing divine pressure.
- His hardened heart becomes a key theological theme, showing both divine sovereignty and human rebellion.
- Through Pharaoh, God displayed His signs and wonders, leading to Israel's freedom and Egypt's downfall.
What We Can Learn
- God’s power is greater than any earthly ruler or empire.
- A hardened heart, when resistant to God's will, leads to destruction.
- Pride and defiance can blind a person to truth and bring judgment.
- Even the most powerful leaders are subject to God’s authority.
- Deliverance often comes through trials that reveal God's faithfulness and sovereignty.
Memory Verses
But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you.
— Exodus 7:3–4For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
— Romans 9:17
Key Passages
- Exodus 1–14
- Romans 9:17
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