# hard, harden, hardness

## Definition:

The term “hard” generally refers to something that is difficult, persistent, or unyielding.

* The use of “hard” (in various forms) with “heart” refers to people being stubbornly unrepentant or disobedient (usually) to God.
* When used as a modifier, its meaning is similar to “great effort.”

## Translation Suggestions

* The term “hard” could also be translated as “difficult” or “stubborn” or “challenging,” depending on the context.
* The terms “hardness” or “hardness of heart” or “hard heart” could be translated as “stubbornness” or “persistent rebellion” or “rebellious attitude” or “stubborn disobedience” or “stubbornly not repenting.”
* The term “hardened” could also be translated as “stubbornly unrepentant” or “refusing to obey.”
* “Do not harden your heart” could be translated as “do not refuse to repent” or “do not stubbornly keep disobeying.”
* Other ways to translate “hard-headed” or “hard-hearted” could include “stubbornly disobedient” or “continuing to disobey” or “refusing to repent” or “always rebelling.”
* In expressions such as “work hard” or “try hard,” the term “hard” could be translated as “with perseverance” or “diligently.”
* The expression “press hard against” could also be translated as “shove with force” or “push strongly against.”
* To “oppress people with hard labor” could be translated as “force people to work so hard that they suffer” or “cause people to suffer by forcing them to do very difficult work.”
* A different kind of “hard labor” is experienced by a woman who is about to deliver a baby.

(See also: [disobey](../other/disobey.md), [evil](../kt/evil.md), [heart](../kt/heart.md), [labor pains](../other/laborpains.md), [stiff-necked](../other/stiffnecked.md))

## Bible References:

* [2 Corinthians 11:23](rc://en/tn/help/2co/11/23)
* [Deuteronomy 15:7](rc://en/tn/help/deu/15/07)
* [Exodus 14:4](rc://en/tn/help/exo/14/04)
* [Hebrews 4:7](rc://en/tn/help/heb/04/07)
* [John 12:40](rc://en/tn/help/jhn/12/40)
* [Matthew 19:8](rc://en/tn/help/mat/19/08)

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H0553, H1692, H2388, H2389, H2420, H2864, H3021, H3332, H3513, H3515, H3966, H4165, H4522, H5450, H5647, H5797, H5810, H5980, H5999, H6089, H6381, H6635, H7185, H7186, H7188, H7280, H8068, H8307, H8631, G09170, G14190, G14210, G14220, G14230, G22050, G25320, G25530, G28720, G28730, G34250, G34330, G40530, G41830, G44560, G44570, G46410, G46420, G46430, G46450, G49120
