“And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt” (Ex. 7:3).

The interplay between Pharaoh and the LORD during the ramp-up to the Jewish exodus from Egypt reflects the tension between divine sovereignty and human free will.

Critics have suggested that Pharaoh can't be blamed for his actions in the Book of Exodus because God is the One who hardened his heart—and yes, they have Scripture to prove it!

But wait a minute. Is it really that simple?

Here in the Book of Exodus, we have a monumental confrontation between the most powerful man on the planet (the King of Egypt) and Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Pharaoh (who was revered as a deity by his people) was accustomed to getting his way; but alas, his winning streak was about to come to an end.

Pharaoh and the LORD were at odds over the fate of the Hebrew people, who were slaves in Egypt. The LORD wanted them freed; but the Egyptian economy had grown dependent on the massive amount of free labor the slaves provided—so Pharaoh refused to let them go. Three times the Bible says the LORD hardened (or would harden) Pharaoh's heart. Seven times it simply says the king's heart was hard (or was hardened)—without saying why. Three more times it says that Pharaoh hardened his own heart.

One other time it says God would send plagues "to Pharaoh's heart” (9:14), probably to reveal what lurked within the king's innermost being. After all, this is when we reveal what we really are—when we're under fire and the pressure is on.

Three different Hebrew words for hard/harden(ed) are found in this passage:

• Chazaq — Means "to strengthen" or "to make firm." When the psalmist says we should "be of good courage" (Ps. 27:14), the word for "courage" is chazaq. In the Exodus story, the same word refers to Pharaoh (see below). Therefore, a righteous man's heart is courageous for good; but an evil man's heart (like Pharaoh’s) is courageous for evil. It's two contrasting reflections of the same attribute.
• Qashah — Means "to harden" or to make something (or to be) "difficult." The psalmist uses this word when he says we shouldn't "harden" our hearts like Israel did in the wilderness (95:8; see below).
• Kaved — Means “to become heavy” or “burdensome” (related to kavod, the Hebrew word for “glory”). Isaiah used this term when he chastised Israel for being “a people laden (kaved) with iniquity” (1:4). 

Here's a summary of the verses that tell us what was happening to Pharaoh's heart:

1. Ex. 4:21 — God says He will harden Pharaoh's heart — Heb., chazaq
2. Ex. 7:3 — God again says He will harden Pharaoh's heart — qashah
3. Ex. 7:13 — Pharaoh's heart grows hard (source unspecified) — chazaq
4. Ex. 7:14 — Pharaoh's heart is hard (source unspecified) — kaved
5. Ex. 7:22 — Pharaoh's heart grows hard (source unspecified) — chazaq
6. Ex. 7:23 — Pharaoh's heart remains "unmoved" (source unspecified)
7. Ex. 8:15 — Pharaoh hardens his own heart — kaved
8. Ex. 8:19 — Pharaoh's heard grows hard (source unspecified) — chazaq
9. Ex. 8:32 — Pharaoh hardens his own heart again — kaved
10. Ex. 9:7 — Pharaoh's heart becomes hard (source unspecified) — kaved
11. Ex. 9:12 — The LORD hardens Pharaoh's heart — chazaq
12. Ex. 9:14 — God will target Pharaoh's heart with a series of plagues
13. Ex. 9:34 — Pharaoh hardens his own heart yet again — kaved
14. Ex. 9:35 — Pharaoh's heart is hard (source unspecified) — chazaq

The Pharaoh-Yahweh interchange boils down to one simple question: Who's in charge?

Having the benefit of hindsight, we can see that the LORD was in charge—and He ultimately prevailed. However, the Egyptian King's own free will also played a role in the shaping and severity of these events. Choices were placed before him and he had to decide what he would do. Then he did it.

It's interesting that the narrative strikes a balance between the human and divine dynamics. Three times it says the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart. Three other times it says he hardened his own heart (and it uses kaved in each of these instances). The rest of the time, it just says his heart was hard (or hardened).

Nowhere does it say that God forced Pharaoh to do anything. It’s more like the LORD was letting Pharaoh do what he was prone to do anyway—and prompting him at critical points along the way.