In biblical terminology, the term "stiffened" often refers to the hardening of one's heart or the refusal to heed divine instruction or correction. This concept is frequently associated with stubbornness and rebellion against God's will. The imagery of a "stiff neck" is used metaphorically to describe a person or a people who are obstinate and resistant to change or repentance.

Old Testament Context

The notion of being "stiff-necked" is prominently featured in the Old Testament, particularly in reference to the Israelites. Despite witnessing God's miraculous works and receiving His law, the Israelites repeatedly demonstrated a tendency to resist God's commands. In Exodus 32:9 , the Lord says to Moses, "I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people." This statement occurs in the context of the golden calf incident, where the Israelites quickly turned to idolatry despite their covenant with God.

Similarly, in Deuteronomy 9:6 , Moses reminds the Israelites, "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." Here, the term underscores the Israelites' persistent disobedience and the need for divine grace rather than human merit.

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets frequently addressed the issue of a stiffened heart among the people of Israel. In Jeremiah 7:26 , God laments through the prophet, "Yet they would not listen to Me or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and did more evil than their fathers." This passage highlights the generational nature of rebellion and the increasing severity of Israel's disobedience.

Ezekiel also speaks to this condition in Ezekiel 2:4 , where God describes the people as "obstinate and stubborn." The prophet is sent to a rebellious nation, underscoring the challenge of delivering God's message to those who have hardened their hearts.

New Testament Application

In the New Testament, the concept of a stiffened heart is addressed in the context of spiritual receptivity and openness to the Gospel. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, accuses the Jewish leaders of being stiff-necked in Acts 7:51 : "You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did." This accusation connects the leaders' rejection of Jesus and the Holy Spirit to the historical pattern of resistance seen in their ancestors.

Spiritual Implications

The spiritual implications of being stiffened are significant. A stiffened heart is resistant to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit and is often closed to repentance and renewal. The Bible consistently calls for a softening of the heart, urging believers to be receptive to God's guidance and correction. In Hebrews 3:15 , believers are exhorted, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."

The call to avoid a stiffened heart is a call to humility, repentance, and a willingness to be molded by God's will. It serves as a warning against the dangers of pride and self-reliance, encouraging a posture of submission and obedience to the Lord.(imp. & p. p.) of Stiffen.7185. qashah -- to be hard, severe or fierce
... qashah. 7186 . to be hard, severe or fierce. Transliteration: qashah Phonetic
Spelling: (kaw-shaw') Short Definition: stiffened. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7185.htm - 6k

The Fall of Judah
... And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God:
but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the fall of judah.htm

The Resurrection of Dead Souls
... Him, you are as unconscious as the corpse upon its bier is of the sunshine that
plays upon its pallid features, or of the dew that falls on its stiffened limbs ...
/.../the resurrection of dead souls.htm

The Spirit of Power
... But when he got the bow in his hand and drew the arrow to its head, the infused
power stiffened his muscles and strengthened him to pull; and though he could ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the spirit of power.htm

On the Fall of Man
... continually adhere to the inner surface of the vessels through which they flow;
so that in the same proportion as any vessel is enlarged, it is stiffened also. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 57 on the fall.htm

The Young Saul and the Aged Paul [Footnote: to the Young. ]
... Associations and companions will have more and more power over you; and
you will be stiffened as an old tree-trunk is stiffened. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the young saul and the.htm

The Highway of Holiness
... necked "I." The stiff neck began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve, who had
always bowed their heads in surrender to God's will, stiffened their necks ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hession/the calvary road/chapter 4 the highway of.htm

The Samaritan and Alexandrian Canons.
... her mother"a spiritual power that continues ever to work"an emanation from the divine
Spirit"is not, indeed, the thing which has stiffened Judaism into ...
/.../davidson/the canon of the bible/chapter iii the samaritan and.htm

The Road to Pella
... "True to thy promise, friend, friend!" the boy cried. "She is here!". The Maccabee
stiffened. "Is there one with her?" he demanded fiercely. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter xxiv the road to.htm

Juventus Mundi
... their little brains were burst With sharp pain, and heat, and thirst, Over her the
poor boy lay, Tried to keep the blows away, Till they stiffened into clay ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/juventus mundi.htm

'According To' --I.
... Because these wild desert tribes were all stiffened, or I might say inflamed, by
that profound conviction, the sovereign will of God, they came down like a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/according toi.htm

Stiffened (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Stiffen. Multi-Version Concordance
Stiffened (7 Occurrences). 2 Kings 17:14 And they did ...
/s/stiffened.htm - 8k

Nebuchadnez'zar (55 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 36:13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made
him swear by God; but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from ...
/n/nebuchadnez'zar.htm - 24k

Lot (145 Occurrences)
... long behind in the desire to save some of her goods, that she became involved in
the destruction which fell on the city, and became a stiffened corpse, fixed ...
/l/lot.htm - 60k

Tip (17 Occurrences)
... shoe, a gas burner, etc. 3. (n.) A piece of stiffened lining pasted on
the inside of a hat crown. 4. (n.) A thin, boarded brush ...
/t/tip.htm - 13k

Eli (36 Occurrences)
... When the old man, whose eyes were "stiffened" (ie, fixed, as of a blind eye unaffected
by the light) with age, heard this sad story of woe, he fell backward ...
/e/eli.htm - 24k

Allegiance (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 36:13 He also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him
swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart against ...
/a/allegiance.htm - 9k

Stiffens (2 Occurrences)

/s/stiffens.htm - 6k

Stiffen (3 Occurrences)

/s/stiffen.htm - 7k

Stiff (23 Occurrences)
... (BBE). 2 Chronicles 36:13 He also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had
made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart against ...
/s/stiff.htm - 14k

Stiff-necked (18 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 36:13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made
him swear by God; but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from ...
/s/stiff-necked.htm - 14k

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