In verses 3-5 there is a series of six clauses, each beginning with the Hebrew conjunction waw. In English this may be understood as describing events in the order in which they occur. In Hebrew, however, the logical relationship of these clauses to one another often has to be determined by the context, and the waw must be translated in different ways. In some cases it is advisable to rearrange the clauses, as in Good News Translation. These clauses may be identified in Revised Standard Version by the different ways in which the waw is rendered (as seen in bold type as follows):
But I will harden …
and though I multiply …
(and) Pharaoh will not listen … (“and” appearing in 3b)
then I will lay …
And the Egyptians …
when I stretch forth …

I will harden Pharaoh’s heart is a figure of speech meaning “I will make the king stubborn.” The Hebrew word used here literally means “hard” or “difficult,” but a figure of speech usually cannot be translated literally. This idiom is found nineteen times in Exodus and is first mentioned in 4.21. (See the comments there and especially at 7.13.)

And though in Revised Standard Version introduces a subordinate clause that is connected with the first part of verse 4. The combination and though is not in the Hebrew of verse 3, but Revised Standard Version borrows the additional waw from verse 4a. As explained above, clauses beginning with the conjunction waw often have a different logical relationship to each other. For this reason the conjunction must be translated in different ways, or else the clauses must be rearranged. The following comparison of three translations shows some of the possibilities. It should be noted that Good News Translation interchanges clauses b) and c) for a more natural flow of thought in English. Contemporary English Version does the same thing, with the rendering “He won’t listen even when I do many terrible things to him and his nation.”
Revised Standard Version
a) But I will harden Pharoah’s heart.
b) and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,
c) Pharoah will not listen to you;
New American Standard Bible
a) But I will harden Pharoah’s heart
b) that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.
c) When Pharoah will not listen to you, [then …]
Good News Translation
a) But I will make the king stubborn,
c) and he will not listen to you,
b) no matter how many terrifying things I do in Egypt.

Signs and wonders translates two words with almost the same meaning. They are frequently used together and refer to supernatural events or omens. Signs were often given as proof of a special revelation, while wonders may refer to miracles in general. (See the comment on wonders at 3.20.) Multiply literally means “to make many.” I will multiply my signs and wonders therefore means “I will show sign after sign and portent after portent” (New English Bible), or “I shall perform many a sign and wonder” (Jerusalem Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). Good News Translation combines them into doing “many terrifying things,” and Contemporary English Version has “many terrible things.” These two models will be helpful for many translators. Another way to express this is “even when I do many things that fill people’s hearts with terror.” This of course refers to the terrible plagues “in Egypt” that are described in the following chapters.

Will not listen means he “will not pay any attention” (Translator’s Old Testament). To you is plural, addressed to both Moses and Aaron.

I will lay my hand upon Egypt is an idiom meaning “I will assert my power in Egypt” (New English Bible, Translator’s Old Testament) or “I will use my power against Egypt.” The word for Egypt may also mean “the Egyptians.” My hosts is the same military term used in 6.26. Here it refers to my people, that is, the sons of Israel, or the Israelites. This may be rendered as “the tribes of my people” (Good News Translation). (See also the comments on hosts at 6.26.) Bring forth is literally “cause to go out,” meaning “lead out,” as in 6.26. But here the subject of the verb is I (the LORD), not Moses.

The phrase by great acts of judgment is related to the idiom I will lay my hand upon Egypt. It describes the way the LORD will punish Egypt. Acts of judgment is one word in the Hebrew (shefatim) and refers to the “signs and wonders” in verse 3. These terms are discussed at 3.20. The adjective great may also be understood as “severe” (Good News Translation) or “mighty” (New International Version, Revised English Bible). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “with extraordinary chastisements.” Good News Translation skillfully combines the two phrases into one: “I will bring severe punishment on Egypt.” In some languages this will be expressed as “I will severely punish the Egyptians.”

An alternative translation model for verses 3-4 is:

• But I will make the king so stubborn [or, harden his heart] that he won’t listen to you [Moses and Aaron]. He won’t listen even though I do many terrifying things in the land of Egypt. Then I will use my great power against the Egyptians and punish them severely. And I will lead the tribes of Israel [or, my people] out of Egypt.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .