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G4641 (σκληροκαρδία)

Summary

Quick facts

Strong’s Number: G4641
Original Word: σκληροκαρδία
Transliteration: sklērokardía
Pronunciation: sklay-rok-ar-dee'-ah
Part of Speech: noun
Category: Warnings in Love
Root / Etymology: feminine of a compound of G4642 (σκληρός) and G2588 (καρδία);
Frequency: 5×
Gematria: 564

Where it appears

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Definition

Strong 1890 hard-heartedness, i.e. (specially), destitution of (spiritual) perception

hardness of heart

feminine of a compound of G4642 (σκληρός) and G2588 (καρδία);

Commentary

Contributors:

Strong's G4641: A feminine noun meaning "hardness of heart," composed of "hard" (sklēros) and "heart" (kardia). Used by Jesus to describe spiritual stubbornness and resistance to God's will. Particularly associated with the rejection of divine truth and inability to perceive spiritual realities.

U- Unveiling the Word

Σκληροκαρδία is a powerful compound word describing a spiritual condition of willful resistance to God's truth and purposes. Jesus used it to explain why certain accommodations were made in Mosaic law and to rebuke His disciples' unbelief. The term echoes Old Testament descriptions of Israel's stubbornness (cf. Exodus 7:3). Early church fathers saw it as one of the primary obstacles to faith and spiritual growth. Today, it remains a crucial concept in understanding human resistance to divine truth and the need for spiritual transformation.

N - Necessary Information

Greek Word: σκληροκαρδία, sklērokardia, sklay-ro-kar-DEE-ah
Detailed Pronunciation: σκλη (sklay) ρο (ro) καρ (kar) δία (DEE-ah) - stress on penultimate syllable
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine

Etymology:

Compound word from:
σκληρός (hard, tough)
καρδία (heart)
Mirrors Hebrew לֵב אֶבֶן (lev even, "heart of stone")

D - Defining Meanings

Hardness of heart
Spiritual stubbornness
Willful resistance to God

For compound words:

σκληρο- contributes the sense of hardness or inflexibility
-καρδία indicates the spiritual center of person

Translation Options:

Hardness of heart - traditional rendering
Spiritual stubbornness - emphasizing attitude
Heart-hardening - preserving compound nature

E - Exploring Similar Words

πώρωσις (pōrōsis, PO-ro-sis) - See G4457: Hardening, callousness
ἀπείθεια (apeitheia, a-PAY-thay-a) - See G543: Disobedience
σκληρότης (sklērotēs, sklay-RO-tays) - See G4643: Hardness

R - Reviewing the Word's Morphology

Case: Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative
Number: Singular (rarely plural)
Gender: Feminine
Declension: First declension

The word follows standard first declension patterns but typically appears in accusative or dative cases in NT usage.

S - Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its moral and spiritual significance. Thayer's notes its connection to Old Testament concepts. LSJ documents limited classical usage. Vine's highlights its use in Jesus' teaching. Moulton and Milligan note its rarity in non-biblical texts.

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T - Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 19:8: "Jesus replied, 'Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your [hardness of heart] [σκληροκαρδία], but it was not this way from the beginning.'"

Additional References:
Mark 10:5, Mark 16:14

A - Analyzing Classical Usage

Author: Work	Text
Philo: On Abraham	"Their [hardness of heart] [σκληροκαρδία] prevented them from receiving divine truth."
Septuagint: Deuteronomy	"The Lord warned against [hardness of heart] [σκληροκαρδία] in His people."
Josephus: Antiquities	"The people's [hardness of heart] [σκληροκαρδία] led them to reject the prophets."

N - Noteworthy Summary

Σκληροκαρδία describes one of the primary obstacles to receiving the good news of King Jesus. Yet the gospel itself provides the solution: the promise of a new heart that can respond to God's truth and love, highlighting our need for divine transformation.

D - Did You Know?

The term appears mainly in discussions of marriage and resurrection
Reflects a common biblical metaphor of heart condition
Used exclusively by Jesus in the New Testament

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: hardness-of-heart, stubbornness, unbelief, spiritual-resistance, heart-condition, jesus-teaching, marriage, resurrection, spiritual-blindness, transformation

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