# stiff-necked, stubborn, stubbornly, stubbornness, stiffens ... neck, stiffened ... neck, stiffened ... necks ## Definition: The term "stiff-necked" is an idiom used in the Bible to describe people who keep disobeying God and refuse to repent. Such people are very proud and will not submit to God's authority. * Similarly, the term "stubborn" describes a person who refuses to change his mind or actions even when urged to do so. Stubborn people will not listen to good advice or warnings that other people give them. * The Old Testament described the Israelites as "stiff-necked" because they did not listen to the many messages from God's prophets who urged them to repent and turn back to Yahweh. * If a neck is "stiff" it does not bend easily. The project language may have a different idiom that communicates that a person is "unbending" in that he refuses to change his ways. * Other ways to translate this term could include "pridefully stubborn" or "arrogant and unyielding" or "refusing to change." (See also: [arrogant](../other/arrogant.md), [proud](../other/proud.md), [repent](../kt/repent.md)) ## Bible References: * [Acts 07:51](rc://en/tn/help/act/07/51) * [Deuteronomy 09:13-14](rc://en/tn/help/deu/09/13) * [Exodus 13:14-16](rc://en/tn/help/exo/13/14) * [Jeremiah 03:17](rc://en/tn/help/jer/03/17) ## Word Data: * Strong's: H47, H3513, H5637, H6203, H6484, H7185, H7186, H7190, H8307, G483, G4644, G4645