The term "obdurate" refers to a state of hardened heart or stubbornness, particularly in resisting moral or spiritual influence. In the biblical context, it often describes individuals or groups who persist in sin or rebellion against God despite clear evidence of His will or presence. The concept of obduracy is closely related to themes of hard-heartedness and spiritual insensitivity.

Biblical Instances and Themes

1. Pharaoh's Heart: One of the most prominent examples of obduracy in the Bible is Pharaoh during the Exodus narrative. Despite witnessing numerous signs and wonders performed by God through Moses, Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his heart and refused to let the Israelites go. The Berean Standard Bible recounts this in Exodus 9:12: "But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had told Moses." This hardening serves as a demonstration of God's sovereignty and a warning against persistent rebellion.

2. Israel's Stubbornness: The Israelites themselves are often depicted as obdurate in their relationship with God. Despite experiencing His deliverance and provision, they frequently turned to idolatry and disobedience. In Deuteronomy 9:6 , Moses reminds them, "Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people." This term "stiff-necked" is synonymous with obduracy, highlighting their resistance to divine guidance.

3. Prophetic Warnings: The prophets frequently addressed the obdurate nature of the people. Isaiah, for instance, speaks of a people who are "ever hearing but never understanding; ever seeing but never perceiving" (Isaiah 6:9-10). This spiritual insensitivity is a form of obduracy that prevents repentance and reconciliation with God.

4. New Testament Reflections: In the New Testament, Jesus encounters obduracy among the religious leaders and some of the people. Despite His miracles and teachings, many remained unrepentant. In Mark 3:5 , Jesus is described as being grieved by the hardness of their hearts: "And He looked around at them with anger, grieved by their hardness of heart, and He said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored."

Theological Implications

Obduracy is not merely a personal failing but a spiritual condition that can have severe consequences. It is often portrayed as a barrier to receiving God's grace and truth. The Bible warns that persistent obduracy can lead to judgment, as seen in the fate of Pharaoh and the warnings given to Israel.

Moral and Spiritual Lessons

The biblical portrayal of obduracy serves as a cautionary tale for believers. It underscores the importance of maintaining a soft and responsive heart towards God. Hebrews 3:15 exhorts, "As it has been said: 'Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.'" This call to vigilance against obduracy is a reminder of the need for humility, repentance, and openness to the Holy Spirit's work in one's life.1. (a.) Hardened in feelings; unyielding; hard-hearted; stubbornly wicked.

2. (a.) Hard; harsh; rugged; rough; intractable.

3. (v. t.) To harden.

Archaisms in the Hymns
... Give the sweet relenting grace,. Soften this obdurate stone! [32]. ... That witnessed
huge affliction and dismay,. Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate. [33] ...
/.../iii archaisms in the hymns.htm

Conversational Phrases
... question? Are you prepared to go to that length? Are you still obdurate? [obdurate
= Hardened in wrongdoing; stubbornly impenitent]. As ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section ix conversational phrases.htm

The Universality of Actual Grace
... that ordinary sinners always receive sufficient grace to avoid mortal sin and do
penance; (2) that God never entirely withdraws His grace even from the obdurate ...
/.../pohle/grace actual and habitual/section 3 the universality of.htm

The Weeping Saviour.
... His murder. When He observed the impenitence of these obdurate hearts at
His side, He could not subdue His tenderest emotion. We ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xii the weeping saviour.htm

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians the Creator the Father of ...
... The Veil of Obdurate Blindness Upon Israel, Not Reprehensible on Marcion's
Principles. ... Paul certainly refers only to the obdurate Jews. ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xi the second epistle to.htm

Translated from Latin of Rufinus.
... Nor could any one be said to be hardened by another, save him who of himself
was not obdurate. And if he were not obdurate of himself ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/translated from latin of rufinus.htm

To Alexander, Bishop of the City of Constantinople.
... in order that reading these to the men whom they have deceived, they may make them
impenitent in the errors into which they have fallen, and obdurate in impiety ...
/.../i to alexander bishop of the.htm

The Corruption of Man, his Conversion to God, and the Manner ...
... place thereof became involved in blindness of mind, horrible darkness, vanity, and
perverseness of judgment; became wicked, rebellious, and obdurate in heart ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/synod of dort/the corruption of man his.htm

At Court
... to beg her to reconsider her decision. But Anne was obdurate, and Vincent
was forced to yield. "I have never been more worthy of ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/forbes/life of st vincent de paul/chapter 8 at court.htm

The Very Simplicity of God's Means of Working, a Stumbling-Block ...
... There is absolutely nothing which makes men's minds more obdurate than the simplicity
of the divine works which are visible in the act, when compared with the ...
/.../tertullian/on baptism/chapter ii the very simplicity of.htm

Obdurate (2 Occurrences)
...Obdurate (2 Occurrences). Exodus 7:3 And I will render Pharaoh's heart obdurate,
and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. (DBY). ...
/o/obdurate.htm - 7k

Obduracy (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The duality or state of being obdurate; invincible
hardness of heart; obstinacy. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/o/obduracy.htm - 6k

Obed (13 Occurrences)

/o/obed.htm - 12k

Till (774 Occurrences)
... and appearing as if formed in the same manner. 6. (n.) A kind of coarse,
obdurate land. 7. (vt) To; unto; up to; as far as; until ...
/t/till.htm - 36k

Rabshakeh (15 Occurrences)
... He and the other envoys returned to their master and reported that Hezekiah
and his people were obdurate, and would not submit. Int. ...
/r/rabshakeh.htm - 14k

Rocky (14 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Like a rock; as, the rocky orb of a shield. 3. (a.) Fig.: Not easily impressed
or affected; hard; unfeeling; obdurate; as, a rocky bosom. ...
/r/rocky.htm - 10k

Soften (1 Occurrence)
... voice. 10. (vi) To become soft or softened, or less rude, harsh, severe, or
obdurate. Multi-Version Concordance Soften (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/soften.htm - 7k

Steel (7 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) To overlay, point, or edge with steel; as, to steel a razor; to steel an
ax. 9. (n.) To make hard or strong; hence, to make insensible or obdurate. 10. ...
/s/steel.htm - 10k

Stony (8 Occurrences)
... 3. (superl.) Inflexible; cruel; unrelenting; pitiless; obdurate; perverse; cold;
morally hard; appearing as if petrified; as, a stony heart; a stony gaze. ...
/s/stony.htm - 9k

Render (95 Occurrences)
... (ASV DBY YLT NAS). Exodus 7:3 And I will render Pharaoh's heart obdurate, and
multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. (DBY). ...
/r/render.htm - 36k

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