Choosing Submission Despite Hardened Heart

עד מתי מאנת לענות.

“Until when will you refuse to humble yourself?”

This challenges Pharaoh directly: his resistance is not merely political but a spiritual refusal to accept humility before God.

כי ה' הכביד לבו.

“For the Lord had hardened his heart.”

The Sefat Emet notes that even though God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, this does not remove Pharaoh’s responsibility.

אבל הי' צריך להיות לו עכ"פ רצון להיות נכנע.

“But he still should have had at least the desire to become submissive.”

Even when full repentance is beyond a person, the minimal inner willingness to yield to truth is still demanded.

והוא שמח עוד בחיזוק לבבו:

“Yet he even rejoiced in the strengthening of his heart.”

Instead of struggling against his hardened state, Pharaoh embraced it—deepening his opposition and demonstrating his culpability.

Summary: Though God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, Pharaoh remained responsible for lacking even the barest desire for humility and for taking pleasure in his own obstinacy.