A common misinterpretation views this as God arbitrarily causing Pharaoh's sinfulness from the outset, portraying God as the author of evil and negating Pharaoh's personal responsibility, since earlier passages show Pharaoh hardening his own heart through defiance; others misuse it to support fatalistic predestination that overrides free will entirely, ignoring the cumulative judicial hardening as a response to persistent rebellion rather than unprovoked coercion.
Exodus 10:27
King James Version (1769)
27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.
In the context of the escalating plagues on Egypt, this verse highlights God's sovereign control over Pharaoh's stubbornness, hardening his heart after repeated refusals and partial concessions to ensure the full demonstration of divine power through the final plagues, leading to Israel's complete deliverance; it underscores that God's purposes in judgment prevail despite human resistance, preparing the way for the Passover and exodus as prophesied.