The term "stiffnecked" is a metaphorical expression used in the Bible to describe a stubborn, obstinate, and rebellious attitude, particularly in relation to one's response to God and His commandments. This term is often associated with the Israelites in the Old Testament, highlighting their frequent resistance to divine guidance and correction.

Biblical Usage and Context

The term "stiffnecked" appears multiple times in the Bible, primarily in the context of God's relationship with the Israelites. It is used to describe their persistent disobedience and unwillingness to submit to God's authority. The imagery of a "stiff neck" suggests an animal, such as an ox, that refuses to be guided by a yoke, symbolizing a refusal to be led or controlled.

Key Biblical References

1. Exodus 32:9 : "The LORD also said to Moses, 'I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people.'" This verse occurs in the context of the Israelites' idolatry with the golden calf. Despite witnessing God's miracles and deliverance from Egypt, the people quickly turn to idol worship, demonstrating their stubbornness.

2. Exodus 33:3 : "Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people, and I might destroy you on the way." Here, God expresses His frustration with the Israelites' obstinacy, indicating that their rebellious nature could lead to severe consequences.

3. Deuteronomy 9:6 : "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." Moses reminds the Israelites that their possession of the Promised Land is not due to their merit but rather God's promise, despite their stubbornness.

4. 2 Chronicles 30:8 : "Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you." This verse is a call to repentance, urging the people to abandon their stubborn ways and return to faithful worship.

5. Acts 7:51 : "You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did." In the New Testament, Stephen uses this term in his speech before the Sanhedrin, accusing them of resisting God's Spirit and rejecting the prophets, just as their ancestors did.

Theological Implications

The concept of being "stiffnecked" serves as a warning against the dangers of pride and self-will. It underscores the importance of humility, obedience, and a receptive heart towards God's will. The repeated use of this term in Scripture highlights the human tendency to resist divine authority and the need for repentance and submission to God's guidance.

Application for Believers

For believers, the admonition against being "stiffnecked" is a call to examine one's own heart and attitude towards God. It encourages a posture of humility, openness to correction, and a willingness to follow God's leading. By recognizing the pitfalls of stubbornness, believers are reminded to cultivate a spirit of obedience and faithfulness in their walk with the Lord.STIFF-NECKED

stif'-nekt (qesheh `oreph, literally, "hard of neck"): As it is figuratively used, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, the word means "stubborn," "untractable," "not to be led." The derivation of the idea was entirely familiar to the Jews, with whom the ox was the most useful and common of domestic animals. It was especially used for such agricultural purposes as harrowing and plowing (Judges 14:18 1 Corinthians 9:9).

The plow was usually drawn by two oxen. As the plowman required but one hand to guide the plow, he carried in the other an "ox-goad." This was a light pole, shod with an iron spike. With this he would prick the oxen upon the hind legs to increase their speed, and upon the neck to turn, or to keep a straight course when deviating. If an ox was hard to control or stubborn, it was "hard of neck," or stiff-necked. Hence, the figure was used in the Scriptures to express the stubborn, untractable spirit of a people not responsive to the guiding of their God (Exodus 32:9; Exodus 33:3 Deuteronomy 9:6 2 Chronicles 36:13 Jeremiah 17:23, etc.). See also the New Testament where sklerotrachelos, is so translated (Acts 7:51), "Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit.". Compare Baruch 2:30, 33.

Arthur Walwyn Evans

4644. sklerotrachelos -- stiff-necked
... stiff-necked. From skleros and trachelos; hardnaped, ie (figuratively) obstinate --
stiffnecked. see GREEK skleros. see GREEK trachelos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4644.htm - 6k

A Loving Call to Reunion
... brethren, which trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers, who therefore
gave them up to desolation, as ye see.8. Now, be ye not stiffnecked, as your ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a loving call to reunion.htm

The Apostolic Love.
... The Scripture may not be emasculated. It was Jesus who discovered that these
wretchedly sinful men of Jerusalem were hardened and stiffnecked. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxvi the apostolic love.htm

Election and Holiness
... is this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no
more stiffnecked.""Deuteronomy 10:14-16. HE WHO PREACHES ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/election and holiness.htm

The General Service of the Holy Fathers, in Remembrance of ...
... all people as it is this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your
heart, and be no more stiffnecked. For the Lord our God is ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter v1 the general service.htm

2 Timothy iii. 16, 17
... Ver.3. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.".
Before they grow stiffnecked, [1427] preoccupy them all. ...
/.../homily ix 2 timothy iii.htm

Acts vii. 35
... case. "Ye stiffnecked," he says, "and uncircumcised in heart and ears."
This also is from the prophets: nothing is of himself. "Ye ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xvii acts vii 35.htm

The Death of Moses
... of sin, its readiness to confess the ugly truth that the Jews are a foolish, ignorant,
unmanageable, lawless, sensual race, stiffnecked and rebellious, always ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon xviii the death of.htm

Chapter xvii
... relation, with God, namely primarily to put away the foreskin of their hearts (Jeremiah
4:4), to circumcise the heart and "be no longer stiffnecked" (De 10:16 ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xvii.htm

Psalm CV.
... this for the present occurs: "They provoked not His words," that is, in Moses and
Aaron; because they most patiently bore with a very stiffnecked people, until ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cv.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xxii. 2, Etc. , About the ...
... a guest "with the wedding garment." Look at the blessed Stephen, how he rebukes
the Jews as though in rage and resentment, "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xl on the words.htm

Stiffnecked (9 Occurrences)
...Stiffnecked (9 Occurrences). Acts 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart
and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. ...
/s/stiffnecked.htm - 11k

Stiff-necked (18 Occurrences)
Stiff-necked. Stiffnecked, Stiff-necked. Stiffness . Noah Webster's Dictionary ...
Stiffnecked, Stiff-necked. Stiffness . Reference Bible.
/s/stiff-necked.htm - 14k

Ornaments (50 Occurrences)
... Exodus 33:5 For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye
are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment ...
/o/ornaments.htm - 22k

Fierceness (33 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 30:8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves
unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified ...
/f/fierceness.htm - 16k

Stiffen (3 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 30:8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were; but yield yourselves
unto the LORD, and enter into His sanctuary, which He hath sanctified ...
/s/stiffen.htm - 7k

Stiff-hearted (1 Occurrence)
Stiff-hearted. Stiffhearted, Stiff-hearted. Stiffnecked . Noah Webster's
Dictionary ... (WEB JPS BBE). Stiffhearted, Stiff-hearted. Stiffnecked . Reference ...
/s/stiff-hearted.htm - 6k

Shoulder (72 Occurrences)
... the shoulder," ie "submit" (Baruch 2:21). Compare "stiffnecked"; see NECK.
Somewhat difficult for the understanding of Occidentals ...
/s/shoulder.htm - 37k

Neck (97 Occurrences)
... Compare sklerotracholes, "stiffnecked" (Acts 7:51). Similarly Isaiah (48:4) speaks
of the neck of the obstinate sinner as resembling an iron sinew. HLE Luering. ...
/n/neck.htm - 45k

Ghost (123 Occurrences)
... Acts 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always
resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. (KJV). ...
/g/ghost.htm - 39k

Understand (208 Occurrences)
... 9:6 Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to
possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people. ...
/u/understand.htm - 36k

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