And the Lord said to Moses: Go in to Pharao; for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants: that I may work these my signs in him,
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה בֹּ֖א אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה כִּֽי־אֲנִ֞י הִכְבַּ֤דְתִּי אֶת־לִבּוֹ֙ וְאֶת־לֵ֣ב עֲבָדָ֔יו לְמַ֗עַן שִׁתִ֛י אֹתֹתַ֥י אֵ֖לֶּה בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The Lord addressed Moses, instructing him to confront Pharaoh without fear of his arrogance. He revealed that He had hardened Pharaoh's heart to allow for the fulfillment of the decree. God had handed Pharaoh over to Moses so that he might witness Pharaoh's insincerity—not because God was unaware of it (as He had forewarned Moses that Pharaoh would not heed his words)—but so that miraculous signs could be performed, which would be recounted in future generations.
Examine Proverbs 21 in the previous chapter. Pharaoh’s continual hardening of his heart serves as a divine punishment for his deliberate misuse of free will when he chose to resist God intentionally.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS