Vaeira 7:14 · EXTRA 1 — Pharaoh’s heart is heavy EXTRA

Parashas Vaeira · Side page (no TT primary unit)

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה כָּבֵ֖ד לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֑ה מֵאֵ֖ן לְשַׁלַּ֥ח הָעָֽם׃

And GOD said to Moses, “Pharaoh is stubborn; he refuses to let the people go.

Shemos Rabbah 7:3 — EXTRA.

Core Text

כבד לב פרעה —\ldots לשון כבוד.

English: “Pharaoh’s heart is heavy (kaved)” — \ldots language of heaviness / glory.

On the midrash / in context: The same root is midrashically played against the “glory” Pharaoh claimed for himself.

Custom

Chazal note the wordplay of kaved as both heavy and related to honor.