# hard, harden, hardness

## Definition:

The term “hard” has several different meanings, depending on the context. It usually describes something that is difficult, persistent, or unyielding.

* The expressions “hard heart” or “hard-headed” refer to people who are stubbornly unrepentant. These expressions describe people who persist in disobeying God.
* The figurative expressions “hardness of heart” and “hardness of their hearts” also refer to stubborn disobedience.
* If someone’s heart is “hardened” this means that person refuses to obey and remains stubbornly unrepentant.
* When used as an adverb, as in “work hard” or “try hard,” it means to do something very strongly and diligently, making an effort to do something very well.

## 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 15:07](rc://en/tn/help/deu/15/07)
* [Exodus 14:04](rc://en/tn/help/exo/14/04)
* [Hebrews 04:07](rc://en/tn/help/heb/04/07)
* [John 12:40](rc://en/tn/help/jhn/12/40)
* [Matthew 19:08](rc://en/tn/help/mat/19/08)

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H553, 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, G917, G1419, G1421, G1422, G1423, G2205, G2532, G2553, G2872, G2873, G3425, G3433, G4053, G4183, G4456, G4457, G4641, G4642, G4643, G4645, G4912
