Lexical Summary qeshi: Hardness, obstinacy Original Word: קְשִׁי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance stubbornness From qashah; obstinacy -- stubbornness. see HEBREW qashah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom qashah Definition stubbornness NASB Translation stubbornness (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs קְשִׁי noun [masculine] stubbornness; — construct Deuteronomy 9:27. Topical Lexicon Topical Bible Encyclopedia Entry: Strong’s Hebrew 7190 קְשִׁיBiblical Setting and Immediate Context The single appearance of קְשִׁי occurs in Moses’ plea for mercy after Israel’s flagrant rebellion at Sinai. Deuteronomy 9:27 records his prayer: “Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Overlook the stubbornness of this people, and their wickedness and their sin”. The term rises at the climax of Israel’s crisis, where national survival hangs on God’s covenant faithfulness rather than the people’s moral record. Portrait of the Wilderness Generation קְשִׁי encapsulates a settled posture of resistance—an obstinate refusal to submit to the Lord’s revealed will. The surrounding narrative (Deuteronomy 9:7-29) rehearses the golden calf incident (Exodus 32), the revolt at Kadesh-barnea (Numbers 14), and the incessant grumbling that defined the generation. קְשִׁי therefore functions as a summary verdict on Israel’s heart condition during the formative wilderness years. Covenant Memory and Mediatorial Intercession Moses counters Israel’s קְשִׁי not by minimizing the offense but by invoking the patriarchal promises: “Remember Your servants…” (Deuteronomy 9:27). The prayer appeals to God’s self-attested fidelity (Genesis 15:7-21; Exodus 34:6-7). Thus קְשִׁי becomes the backdrop against which divine mercy shines. Moses models intercession that (1) confesses sin honestly, (2) appeals to God’s covenant, and (3) seeks God’s own glory among the nations (Deuteronomy 9:28). Broader Canonical Connections Though קְשִׁי itself is unique to Deuteronomy 9:27, its concept resonates across Scripture: • Hard-heartedness in Pharaoh (Exodus 7:13) and Israel (Psalm 95:8) shows stubbornness can enslave both pagan and covenant people. Such continuity underscores Scripture’s unified diagnosis of humanity’s need for a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). Theological Significance 1. Anthropology: קְשִׁי exposes the depth of innate human rebellion; sin is not merely an act but a disposition. Pastoral and Discipleship Applications • Preaching: Moses’ strategy guides modern proclamation—present sin plainly while magnifying covenant grace. Christological Fulfillment Jesus embodies the antithesis of קְשִׁי. His yoke is easy (Matthew 11:29), inviting the stiff-necked to learn meekness from Him. At the cross He fulfills Moses’ mediatorial pattern, pleading “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34), thereby securing the promised new heart for all who believe. Missional Implications The reality of קְשִׁי demands patient evangelism. Resistance to truth is expected (2 Timothy 3:8-9), yet God can replace stone with flesh. Intercessory prayer grounded in the finished work of Christ remains a primary weapon against stubborn unbelief. Conclusion קְשִׁי, though appearing only once, encapsulates the chronic human problem of hardened resistance to God. In Scripture’s grand narrative, this obstinacy magnifies the necessity—and the sufficiency—of covenant mercy, ultimately realized in the Lord Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations קְשִׁי֙ קשי keShi qə·šî qəšîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 9:27 HEB: תֵּ֗פֶן אֶל־ קְשִׁי֙ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה NAS: do not look at the stubbornness of this KJV: look not unto the stubbornness of this people, INT: look at the stubbornness people of this |
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