I have more a question surrounding the word for strengthened, חזק in piel form throughout Exodus. The Christian rendition seems to need the term hardened to fit along the theology, but the Stone Edition Tanach translates the word throughout the verses as strengthened.
Isaiah 63 v. 17 uses the Hebrew word תקשיח, the hiphil form, m.s. for the definition of an actual hardening of the heart. "Why Hashem, do you let us stray from your paths, letting our heart become hardened from fearing you?"
Wouldn't the same term be used, הקשיח, for hardened in Exodus if that meaning was intended?
I have the book by Rabbi Fohrman on the Exodus, temporarily misplaced, and would like to see again what he has written about it.
Edit: Adding. I found the book by Rabbi Fohrman. He makes a distinction between the two words for strengthening, chizuk halev, and hardening, kibbud halev, כבד לב throughout the course of the 10 plagues where Pharaoh's heart goes through changes.
I thought a very good example was in Exodus 7:13 where chizuk halev is used to describe Pharaoh's heart as being strong and not heeding, while the very next verse the term, kibbud halev, Pharaoh's heart is described as being stubborn.
Excellent book, one that demonstrates how the Hebrew language varies with subtle differences describing the changes happening to Pharaoh.
Isaiah 63 v. 17 uses the Hebrew word תקשיח, the hiphil form, m.s. for the definition of an actual hardening of the heart. "Why Hashem, do you let us stray from your paths, letting our heart become hardened from fearing you?"
Wouldn't the same term be used, הקשיח, for hardened in Exodus if that meaning was intended?
I have the book by Rabbi Fohrman on the Exodus, temporarily misplaced, and would like to see again what he has written about it.
Edit: Adding. I found the book by Rabbi Fohrman. He makes a distinction between the two words for strengthening, chizuk halev, and hardening, kibbud halev, כבד לב throughout the course of the 10 plagues where Pharaoh's heart goes through changes.
I thought a very good example was in Exodus 7:13 where chizuk halev is used to describe Pharaoh's heart as being strong and not heeding, while the very next verse the term, kibbud halev, Pharaoh's heart is described as being stubborn.
Excellent book, one that demonstrates how the Hebrew language varies with subtle differences describing the changes happening to Pharaoh.