Topical Encyclopedia In biblical terminology, the concept of being "hardened" often refers to the spiritual and moral state of an individual whose heart is resistant or unresponsive to God's will and truth. This condition is frequently depicted in Scripture as a serious spiritual ailment that can lead to further estrangement from God.Old Testament Context The theme of hardening is prominently featured in the narrative of Pharaoh during the Exodus. God tells Moses, "But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you" (Exodus 7:3-4). This hardening serves as a demonstration of God's sovereignty and power over human will, as well as a means to fulfill His divine purposes. The Hebrew word often translated as "harden" is "chazaq," which can mean to strengthen, make firm, or obstinate. In the case of Pharaoh, the hardening of his heart is depicted as both a divine act and a self-inflicted condition, as Pharaoh repeatedly chooses to resist God's commands. New Testament Context In the New Testament, the concept of a hardened heart is addressed by Jesus and the apostles. Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and others for their hardened hearts, which prevent them from understanding His teachings and recognizing Him as the Messiah. In Mark 3:5, Jesus is described as being grieved by the hardness of their hearts: "And looking around at them with anger, grieved by their hardness of heart, He said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored." The Apostle Paul also discusses the hardening of hearts in his epistles. In Romans 9:18, Paul writes, "Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden" . This passage underscores the mystery of divine election and the interplay between human responsibility and God's sovereign will. Spiritual Implications A hardened heart is often associated with unbelief and disobedience. Hebrews 3:12-13 warns believers, "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" . This exhortation highlights the danger of allowing sin to deceive and harden one's heart, leading to a departure from faith. Moral and Ethical Considerations The condition of a hardened heart is not only a spiritual concern but also a moral and ethical one. It reflects an individual's unwillingness to respond to God's moral law and to the needs of others. In Ephesians 4:18-19, Paul describes those who are alienated from the life of God due to the hardness of their hearts: "They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more" . Remedy and Hope Despite the grave nature of a hardened heart, Scripture offers hope for transformation. The prophet Ezekiel speaks of God's promise to give His people a new heart: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26). This promise points to the redemptive work of God through the Holy Spirit, who can soften even the hardest heart and lead individuals to repentance and faith. In summary, the biblical concept of being "hardened" serves as a warning against spiritual insensitivity and rebellion, while also pointing to the hope of renewal and transformation through God's grace. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (imp. & p. p.) of Harden.2. (a.) Made hard, or compact; made unfeeling or callous; made obstinate or obdurate; confirmed in error or vice. Greek 4456. poroo -- to petrify, ie to harden ... 4456 (from , a kind of marble) -- properly, made of ; (figuratively) ; dull, as ; calloused (hardened); ie unresponsive (dense), completely lacking sensitivity ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4456.htm - 7k 4645. skleruno -- to harden Strong's Hebrew 2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen... grasp (1), forces (1), fortified (1), gain ascendancy (1), gave him strong support (1), grasp (1), gripped (3), grow strong (1), harden (4), hardened (9), held ... /hebrew/2388.htm - 8k 3513. kabad -- to be heavy, weighty, or burdensome 7185. qashah -- to be hard, severe or fierce 553. amets -- to be stout, strong, bold, alert 3515. kabed -- heavy Library The Hardened Sinner. "He Hardened his Heart" It Frequently Happens that a Creature who is not Entirely Hardened ... Whether Blindness and Hardness of Heart are Directed to the ... What Say Ye, O Minds Incredulous, Stubborn, Hardened? did that ... The Forgiveness of Sins and Example of Christ Held by Pelagius ... The Cause of Unbelief. The Hardening in the Sacred Scripture. The Reason Why one Person is Assisted by Grace, and Another is not ... The Apostolic Love. Thesaurus Stubborn (40 Occurrences)... Acts 19:9 But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples ... /s/stubborn.htm - 18k Necks (28 Occurrences) Pharaoh's (72 Occurrences) Proudly (23 Occurrences) Arrogantly (15 Occurrences) Israelites (468 Occurrences) Neck (97 Occurrences) Arrogant (60 Occurrences) Obdurate (2 Occurrences) Wondrous (41 Occurrences) Resources What are the causes and solutions for a hardened heart? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did God harden Pharaoh's heart? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible mean when it says that we will receive a new heart? | GotQuestions.org Hardened: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Hardened (45 Occurrences)Mark 6:52 Mark 8:17 John 12:40 Acts 19:9 Romans 11:7 2 Corinthians 3:14 Hebrews 3:13 Exodus 7:13 Exodus 7:14 Exodus 7:22 Exodus 8:15 Exodus 8:19 Exodus 8:32 Exodus 9:7 Exodus 9:12 Exodus 9:34 Exodus 9:35 Exodus 10:1 Exodus 10:20 Exodus 10:27 Exodus 11:10 Exodus 14:8 Deuteronomy 2:30 Joshua 11:20 1 Samuel 6:6 2 Samuel 23:8 2 Kings 17:14 2 Chronicles 36:13 Nehemiah 9:16 Nehemiah 9:17 Nehemiah 9:29 Job 9:4 Job 39:16 Proverbs 7:13 Proverbs 21:29 Isaiah 10:31 Isaiah 63:17 Jeremiah 7:26 Jeremiah 17:23 Jeremiah 19:15 Jeremiah 20:7 Ezekiel 3:7 Ezekiel 3:8 Daniel 5:20 Zephaniah 1:12 Subtopics Related Terms |
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