The term “Pharaoh” in the Bible refers to the rulers of ancient Egypt, often depicted as powerful and influential, yet sometimes antagonistic to the Israelites. The title “Pharaoh” is not a personal name but a designation for the king of Egypt. These rulers appear in several key biblical narratives, especially in the Old Testament.
Bible Pharaoh Family Tree
Egyptologists and biblical scholars attempt to align these pharaohs with known historical rulers of ancient Egypt. Below is an overview of the pharaohs mentioned in the Bible and their possible historical counterparts:
1. Pharaoh of Abraham’s Time (Genesis 12:10-20)
Biblical Context: Abraham and Sarah visited Egypt during a famine. Pharaoh took Sarah into his household, believing she was Abraham’s sister.
Possible Historical Counterparts: Scholars suggest this could have been a pharaoh from the Middle Kingdom (12th Dynasty) or an earlier ruler.
2. Pharaoh of Joseph’s Time (Genesis 37–50)
Biblical Context: Joseph rose to power in Egypt under a pharaoh who appointed him as his vizier (prime minister). This pharaoh welcomed Joseph’s family into Egypt.
Possible Historical Counterparts: Often associated with the Hyksos rulers or a pharaoh of the 12th Dynasty, such as Amenemhat III.
3. Pharaoh of Oppression (Exodus 1:8-22)
Biblical Context: A pharaoh who “did not know Joseph” enslaved the Israelites and ordered the killing of Hebrew male infants.
Possible Historical Counterparts: Frequently identified with Seti I or Ramesses II of the 19th Dynasty, though this remains debated.
4. Pharaoh of the Exodus (Exodus 5–14)
Biblical Context: This pharaoh confronted Moses and refused to let the Israelites go, leading to the plagues and the Exodus.
Possible Historical Counterparts: Often associated with Ramesses II or his successor Merneptah, but some suggest earlier or later rulers.
5. Pharaoh of Solomon’s Time (1 Kings 3:1, 9:16)
Biblical Context: This pharaoh gave his daughter in marriage to Solomon and captured Gezer, which he gave as her dowry.
Possible Historical Counterparts: Likely from the 21st or 22nd Dynasty, such as Pharaoh Siamun.
6. Pharaoh Shishak (1 Kings 14:25-26; 2 Chronicles 12:2-9)
Biblical Context: Invaded Judah during the reign of Rehoboam and looted the Temple in Jerusalem.
Historical Counterpart: Identified with Pharaoh Shoshenq I of the 22nd Dynasty.
7. Pharaoh Necho II (2 Kings 23:29-35; 2 Chronicles 35:20-24)
Biblical Context: Killed King Josiah of Judah at the Battle of Megiddo and installed Jehoiakim as king.
Historical Counterpart: Necho II of the 26th Dynasty, who sought to expand Egypt’s influence in the region.
8. Pharaoh Hophra (Jeremiah 44:30)
Biblical Context: Mentioned as a ruler whom God would hand over to his enemies.
Historical Counterpart: Identified with Pharaoh Apries of the 26th Dynasty.
Constructing a Family Tree
The family trees of these pharaohs depend on Egyptian history rather than biblical narratives. For instance:
19th Dynasty: Ramesses I → Seti I → Ramesses II → Merneptah
22nd Dynasty: Osorkon I → Shoshenq I
26th Dynasty: Psamtik I → Necho II → Psamtik II → Apries
Each pharaoh would have familial ties (often involving marriages to siblings or close relatives to maintain dynastic power).
Scriptures about Pharaoh
Exodus 1:8-10: “Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, ‘Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us.'”
Exodus 3:7-10: “And the Lord said: ‘I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey.'”
Exodus 4:21: “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.'”
Exodus 5:1-2: “Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ And Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.'”
Exodus 7:14-18: “So the Lord said to Moses, ‘Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him…'”
Exodus 7:22: “And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said.”
Exodus 8:1-2: “And the Lord spoke to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘Let My people go, that they may serve Me.'”
Exodus 8:15: “But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said.”
Exodus 9:13-16: “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: ‘Let My people go, that they may serve Me.'”
Exodus 9:27-28: “And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, ‘I have sinned this time. The Lord is righteous, and my people and I are wicked. Entreat the Lord that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough.'”
Exodus 10:3-6: “So Moses and Aaron came in to Pharaoh and said to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me.'”
Exodus 10:16-17: “Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and he said, ‘I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and entreat the Lord your God that He may take away from me this death only.'”
Exodus 11:1-3: “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt; afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether.'”
Exodus 12:29-30: “And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock.”
Exodus 14:5-8: “Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people, and they said, ‘Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?'”
Exodus 14:21-28: “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.”
Exodus 14:30-31: “Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses.”
Exodus 15:19: “For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.”
Deuteronomy 5:6: “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”
Romans 9:17: “For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.'”
Story of Pharaoh in the Bible
1. Pharaoh in the Story of Joseph (Genesis 41)
One of the earliest mentions of a Pharaoh in the Bible occurs in the story of Joseph (Genesis 41). Joseph, the son of Jacob, was sold into slavery by his brothers and eventually found himself in Egypt. Through his ability to interpret dreams, Joseph gained favor with Pharaoh.
Pharaoh had a troubling dream about seven fat cows being eaten by seven skinny cows, and seven healthy ears of grain being swallowed by seven withered ears. Joseph interpreted the dream, predicting seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. Impressed by Joseph’s wisdom, Pharaoh appointed him as a high-ranking official in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself. Joseph managed Egypt’s resources during the years of plenty and prepared for the famine, which ultimately brought his family to Egypt. This story sets the stage for the Israelites’ later enslavement.
2. Pharaoh and Moses (Exodus 1-14)
The most well-known Pharaoh in the Bible is the one who ruled during the time of Moses. While the exact name of this Pharaoh is not specified in the Bible, many scholars traditionally identify him as Ramses II or possibly Seti I, though there is no definitive archaeological evidence to confirm this.
The Enslavement of the Israelites
At the beginning of the book of Exodus, we are told that a new Pharaoh came to power who did not know Joseph. He saw the growing population of the Israelites as a threat and enslaved them, subjecting them to harsh labor. Despite their oppression, the Israelites continued to multiply.
Moses’ Calling
God called Moses, who had been raised as an Egyptian prince but fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian taskmaster, to return and lead the Israelites out of slavery. God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush on Mount Horeb (Exodus 3), instructing him to go back to Egypt and demand the release of the Israelites.
The Ten Plagues
When Moses and his brother Aaron approached Pharaoh with God’s command to “Let my people go,” Pharaoh refused and hardened his heart. In response, God sent a series of ten plagues to Egypt, each one more severe than the last. These plagues were a direct challenge to the power of Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods:
Water turned to blood
Frogs
Gnats or lice
Flies
Livestock disease
Boils
Hail and fire
Locusts
Darkness
Death of the firstborn
Despite the devastation, Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened, and he refused to release the Israelites after each plague. However, after the final plague, the death of the firstborn, including Pharaoh’s own son, Pharaoh finally relented and allowed the Israelites to leave.
The Exodus
After Pharaoh gave his consent, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt in an event known as the Exodus. As they reached the Red Sea, Pharaoh’s heart once again hardened, and he pursued the Israelites with his army. However, God parted the waters of the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape, and then drowned Pharaoh’s army when they attempted to follow.
The story of Pharaoh and Moses is a central narrative in the Bible, illustrating themes of liberation, divine judgment, and the power of God. The Pharaoh’s refusal to heed God’s commands is a key part of the narrative, demonstrating the consequences of pride and obstinacy.
3. Pharaoh in the Time of King Solomon (1 Kings 3:1, 1 Kings 10)
A later Pharaoh appears during the reign of King Solomon. In 1 Kings 3:1, Pharaoh is mentioned in relation to Solomon’s political alliances. Solomon married the daughter of Pharaoh to solidify peace between Israel and Egypt. Pharaoh’s daughter is described as living in Jerusalem, where she had a palace built for her (1 Kings 7:8).
In 1 Kings 10, another reference to Pharaoh occurs when Solomon’s wealth and wisdom attract the attention of various rulers, including Pharaoh, who sends envoys to Jerusalem. However, this interaction is more of a political and trade relationship rather than a significant biblical story.
4. Pharaoh and the Prophets (Jeremiah and Ezekiel)
Pharaoh also appears in the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, where the Pharaoh of Egypt is often portrayed as a symbol of pride and false security. In Jeremiah 46, Egypt is prophesied to fall at the hands of the Babylonians. Ezekiel 29-32 contains several prophecies against Egypt, describing the downfall of Pharaoh and the eventual desolation of Egypt.
Pharaoh In The Bible Meaning
In the Bible, Pharaoh refers to the title of the kings of ancient Egypt. The most prominent Pharaoh in the biblical narrative is the one during the time of Moses and the Exodus. Pharaoh is depicted as a powerful ruler who enslaves the Israelites and stubbornly refuses to let them go, even after witnessing God’s miraculous plagues upon Egypt. This refusal to obey God’s command is a central theme, with Pharaoh’s heart described as being “hardened”—a term that suggests either divine intervention to harden his resolve or his own pride and stubbornness.
Pharaoh’s role in the Exodus story is symbolic of the resistance to God’s will and divine authority. His opposition to Moses and God’s plan for Israel’s liberation demonstrates the consequences of pride, sin, and disobedience. Pharaoh’s actions ultimately lead to Egypt’s judgment, as the final plague—the death of Egypt’s firstborn sons—forces him to release the Israelites. This story highlights God’s sovereignty, power over rulers, and His ability to deliver His people.
In Christian theology, Pharaoh is sometimes seen as a type of Antichrist, representing ultimate opposition to God’s kingdom. His hard-heartedness serves as a cautionary example of the dangers of defying God’s will.
Story of Pharaoh in the Bible
1. What was Pharaoh’s sin?
Pharaoh’s sin in the Bible was his pride, stubbornness, and defiance against God’s will. Despite witnessing the miracles and plagues that God sent to Egypt, Pharaoh repeatedly refused to release the Israelites from slavery. His hard-heartedness and rejection of God’s command demonstrated his arrogance and a refusal to recognize the authority of the God of Israel. His actions represented oppression, as he kept the Israelites in bondage, and rebellion against God’s divine plan for the freedom of His people.
2. Why did God punish Pharaoh?
God punished Pharaoh because of his disobedience, pride, and hard-heartedness. Even after experiencing multiple plagues, Pharaoh remained unrepentant and continued to resist God’s command to let the Israelites go. God’s punishments, in the form of the ten plagues, were a demonstration of His judgment upon Egypt and its king. Furthermore, Pharaoh’s refusal to acknowledge God’s power and the oppression of God’s chosen people warranted divine retribution. His actions led to the suffering of Egypt, and the ultimate judgment came when Pharaoh’s army was drowned in the Red Sea as the Israelites escaped.
3. What happened to Pharaoh after Moses left?
After Moses and the Israelites left Egypt, Pharaoh initially allowed them to go, but then his heart was hardened once again. He changed his mind and pursued the Israelites with his army. This led to the parting of the Red Sea, where God miraculously allowed the Israelites to cross to safety, but when Pharaoh’s army followed, the waters returned and drowned them. This catastrophic defeat marked the end of Pharaoh’s pursuit of the Israelites and the final judgment on Egypt’s rebellion. The Bible does not specify exactly what happened to Pharaoh afterward, but he is seen as a symbol of those who oppose God.
4. Who was the Pharaoh that believed in one God?
The Bible does not explicitly mention any Pharaoh who fully believed in one God. However, there are historical accounts that suggest some Egyptian rulers had beliefs in a single god, though they were often not the same God worshipped by the Israelites. One example is Akhenaten, an Egyptian Pharaoh who tried to establish the worship of Aten, a single sun god, over the traditional polytheistic religion of Egypt. While this was a form of monotheism, it was not the worship of the God of Israel. Akhenaten’s religious reforms were short-lived, and after his death, Egypt reverted to polytheism.
5. What was God’s purpose for Pharaoh?
God’s purpose for Pharaoh, according to the Bible, was to demonstrate His power and sovereignty. In Exodus 9:16, God tells Pharaoh, “But for this purpose, I have raised you up, to show you my power so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” Pharaoh’s resistance and eventual downfall served as a way for God to display His control over nature, nations, and rulers. Through Pharaoh’s stubbornness and the subsequent miracles (plagues, parting of the Red Sea), God made His name known to Egypt, Israel, and the surrounding nations. Pharaoh’s hardening allowed God’s plan of deliverance for Israel to unfold, fulfilling the prophecy that the Israelites would be freed from slavery in Egypt. In this sense, Pharaoh’s role, though one of opposition, was a crucial part of God’s larger purpose for His people and His plan of redemption.