Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 7

See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh ... — This is God’s answer to the objection of Moses that his lips were uncircumcised (Exodus 6:12), and probably followed it immediately. The force of it would seem to be: “You are not called on to speak, but to act. In action you will be to Pharaoh as a god—powerful, wonder-working, irresistible; it is Aaron who will have to speak to him, and he is eloquent” (Exodus 4:14).

Thy prophet. —Or spokesman— the declarer of your mind, which is the primary sense of “prophet.”

I will harden Pharaoh’s heart. —See the comment on Exodus 4:21.

My signs and my wonders. —“Signs” (‘othoth) were miracles done as credentials, to prove a mission (Exodus 4:8–9; Exodus 4:30). “Wonders” (môphôth) were miracles generally; niphle’oth, also translated “wonders” (Exodus 3:20), were miracles performed as punishment. These last are also called shôphëtiin, “judgments.” (See Exodus 7:4.)

Pharaoh will not listen to you, that I may lay. —Hebrew, Pharaoh will not listen to you, and I will lay. No relation of effect and cause is asserted here as existing between the two clauses, which are coordinate.

My armies, and my people. Rather, my armies, my people. The two expressions are in apposition—the second exegetical of the first.

Great judgments. —See the comment on Exodus 6:6.

The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord. — In Hebrew, that I am Jehovah: that is, that I answer to my name—that I am the only truly existing God, their so-called gods being “vapor, smoke, nothingness.” No doubt this was one of the main lessons intended to be taught by the whole series of miraculous events connected with the Exodus.

Egypt was the greatest monarchy in the whole world. She was then at the height of her glory. Among existing polytheisms, hers was the most famous; and her gods must have seemed, not only to herself but also to all the surrounding nations, the most powerful. To discredit them was to throw discredit upon polytheism generally and to exalt the name of Jehovah above that of all the deities of the nations .

Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them. —The reluctance and resistance of Moses ceased from this time. He subdued his own will to God’s, and gained the praise of being faithful as a servant in all his house (Hebrews 3:5). Aaron’s obedience continued until Sinai was reached, but there it failed before the frenzy of the people (Exodus 32:1–6).