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1. In Hebrew Scripture, (even Greek Classics), "Heart" is in reference to the most inward part, (i.e., your thoughts), and "Spirit" is in reference to emotions, (Abraham said in his heart, Gen. 17:17) ...

NASB, Deut. 2:30 - But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his land; for the Lord your God hardened [incited, הִקְשָׁה֩] his spirit ר֫וּחַ and made his heart לֵבָב - obstinate, [Determined, Strengthened, וְאִמֵּץ֙], in order to deliver him into your hand, as he is today.

2. כָּבֵד - Always connotes "burden", a sense of being "overwhelmed".

3. חָזַק along with אָמַץ - When used as an attribute of the heart, (the mind), very nearly mean the same thing. אָמַץ is also another, very important, term used in this "context", though not Pharaoh specifically.

4. קָשָׁה and/or קָשֶׁה - can always be understood to mean "incited", or "Contentious", "Severely Against".

5. In Scripture, "קשׁה" against God is bad - but Having a "Strong Heart" is not Necessarily Bad:

NASB, Is. 35:3-5 - Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen [חַזְּק֖וּ] the feeble. 4 Say to those with anxious heart, “Take courage [חִזְק֖וּ], fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you.” 5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.

NASB, Ezekiel 16:52 - Also bear your disgrace [Israel] in that you have made judgment favorable for your sisters, (Egypt, Sodom, Gomorrah, etc).

 

NASB, Is. 63:17 - Why, O Lord, do You cause us to stray from Your ways And harden [תַּקְשִׁ֥יחַ] our heart from fearing You? Return for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage. 65:1 “I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. ... To a nation which did not call on My name.

1. In Hebrew Scripture, (even Greek Classics), "Heart" is in reference to the most inward part, (i.e., your thoughts), and "Spirit" is in reference to emotions, (Abraham said in his heart, Gen. 17:17) ...

   NASB, Deut. 2:30 - But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his land; for the Lord your God hardened [incited, הִקְשָׁה֩] his spirit ר֫וּחַ and made his heart לֵבָב - obstinate, [Determined, Strengthened, וְאִמֵּץ֙], in order to deliver him into your hand, as he is today.

2. כָּבֵד - Always connotes "burden", a sense of being "overwhelmed".

3. חָזַק along with אָמַץ - When used as an attribute of the heart, (the mind), very nearly mean the same thing. אָמַץ is also another, very important, term used in this "context", though not Pharaoh specifically.

4. קָשָׁה and/or קָשֶׁה - can always be understood to mean "incited", or "Contentious", "Severely Against".

5. In Scripture, "קשׁה" against God is bad - but Having a "Strong Heart" is not Necessarily Bad:

   NASB, Is. 35:3-5 - Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen [חַזְּק֖וּ] the feeble. 4 Say to those with anxious heart, “Take courage [חִזְק֖וּ], fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you.” 5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.

NASB, Ezekiel 16:52 - Also bear your disgrace [Israel] in that you have made judgment favorable for your sisters, (Egypt, Sodom, Gomorrah, etc).

NASB, Is. 63:17 - Why, O Lord, do You cause us to stray from Your ways And harden [תַּקְשִׁ֥יחַ] our heart from fearing You? Return for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage. 65:1 “I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. ... To a nation which did not call on My name.

Even before the first plague, Pharaoh's heart was already overburdened, (כָּבֵ֖ד, Ex. 7:14), and by the end of the first plague Pharaoh's heart was strengthened/ more determined against Moses, (חֱזַ֤ק Ex. 7:22).

The significance is: קשׁה is never actually attributed to Pharaoh - even after his son is killed - but it is attributed to God's own people - over, and over again, (List 1 list 2) - that's an impossible coincidence.

In a way, it's pretty much the same exact question, "why would God deliberately cause an oppressor to stumble? -- for Justice.

Even before the first plague, Pharaoh's heart was already overburdened, (כָּבֵ֖ד, Ex. 7:14), and by the end of the first plague Pharaoh's heart was strengthened/ more determined against Moses, (חֱזַ֤ק, Ex. 7:22).

The significance is: קשׁה is never actually attributed to Pharaoh - even after the firstborn are killed - but קשׁה is attributed to God's own people - over, and over again, (List 1, list 2) - that's an impossible coincidence.

Why would God deliberately cause an oppressor to stumble?

NASB, Exodus 7:3 - But I will harden [אַקְשֶׁ֖ה] Pharaoh's heart.

Even before the first plague, Pharaoh's heart was already overburdened, (כָּבֵ֖ד, Ex. 7:14), and by the end of the first plague Pharaoh's heart was strengthened/ more determined, (חֱזַ֤ק Ex. 7:22).

Even before the first plague, Pharaoh's heart was already overburdened, (כָּבֵ֖ד, Ex. 7:14), and by the end of the first plague Pharaoh's heart was strengthened/ more determined against Moses, (חֱזַ֤ק Ex. 7:22).

NASB, Exodus 7:3 - But I will harden [אַקְשֶׁ֖ה] Pharaoh's heart.

So - why were more plagues added - if Pharaoh's heart was already hardened - without God having to do anything else? - To demonstrate the severity of Israel's own קְשָׁ֣ה against God.