The term "harder" in the biblical context often refers to the increased difficulty or intensity of a situation, task, or condition. It can be understood both in a literal and metaphorical sense, reflecting the challenges faced by individuals or groups in their spiritual, moral, or physical endeavors.

Biblical Usage and Context

1. Labor and Toil: The concept of work becoming harder is evident in the curse pronounced upon Adam after the Fall. Genesis 3:17-19 states, "Cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground." Here, the difficulty of labor is a direct consequence of sin, illustrating how human effort became more arduous as a result of disobedience.

2. Spiritual Hardening: The Bible also speaks of the hardening of hearts, a condition where individuals become resistant to God's will and truth. In Exodus 7:3 , God says, "But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you." This hardening serves as a divine judgment and a means to fulfill God's purposes, demonstrating the increased spiritual difficulty faced by those who oppose God's plans.

3. Moral and Ethical Challenges: The call to live a righteous life often involves facing harder moral and ethical challenges. Jesus, in His teachings, frequently raised the standard of righteousness, making it clear that following Him requires a deeper commitment. In Matthew 5:21-22 , He says, "You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder,’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." This illustrates the harder ethical demands placed upon believers, emphasizing internal transformation over mere external compliance.

4. Perseverance in Trials: The New Testament encourages believers to endure hardships as a means of spiritual growth. James 1:2-4 exhorts, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Here, the harder trials are seen as opportunities for developing perseverance and maturity in faith.

5. The Narrow Path: Jesus describes the path to life as narrow and hard, contrasting it with the broad and easy way that leads to destruction. In Matthew 7:13-14 , He warns, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it." This passage highlights the harder journey of discipleship, requiring dedication and sacrifice.

Theological Implications

The concept of "harder" in the Bible underscores the reality of human struggle in a fallen world. It reflects the increased challenges faced due to sin, the necessity of spiritual resilience, and the call to a higher standard of living. These challenges are not without purpose; they serve to refine and strengthen believers, drawing them closer to God and aligning them with His will. The biblical narrative consistently points to the hope and strength found in God, who empowers His people to overcome the harder aspects of life through faith and obedience.(n.) A South African mullet, salted for food.2389. chazaq -- strong, stout, mighty
... Word Origin from chazaq Definition strong, stout, mighty NASB Word Usage compulsion*
(3), fiercest (1), hard (2), harder (1), loud (1), might (1), mighty (20 ...
/hebrew/2389.htm - 6k

2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
... his own (1), hold fast (5), holding (3), holds fast (3), joining (1), laid hold
(1), louder (1), made (1), made himself secure (1), made their harder (1), made ...
/hebrew/2388.htm - 8k

4843. marar -- to be bitter
... to be bitter NASB Word Usage bitter (2), bitter weeping (1), bitterly (2),
dealt...bitterly (1), embittered (2), enraged (2), had (1), harder* (1), made bitter ...
/hebrew/4843.htm - 6k

3966. meod -- muchness, force, abundance
... 3), excessive (1), extremely* (1), far (1), firmly (1), fully (1), great (16), great
abundance (1), greatly (52), greatly* (1), hard (1), harder* (1), highly (4 ...
/hebrew/3966.htm - 7k

"True Love Teacheth us that we Should Hate Sin Only for Love. " " ...
... THE THIRTEENTH REVELATION CHAPTER XL "True love teacheth us that we should hate
sin only for love." "To me was shewed no harder hell than sin." "God willeth ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter xl true love teacheth.htm

A Question How it is that it is Harder Work to Preserve than to ...
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter VII. A question how it is that
it is harder work to preserve than to originate good thoughts. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter vii a question how.htm

Sorrow the Pledge of Joy.
... New Testament employed exclusively in this sense, neither do I imagine it stands
here for such only: there are griefs than death sorer far, and harder far to ...
/.../macdonald/hope of the gospel/sorrow the pledge of joy.htm

The Stony Heart Removed
... The heart of man is compared in Scripture to the nether millstone, and in another
place it is even compared to the adamant stone; it is harder than the diamond ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/the stony heart removed.htm

The Northern Iron and the Steel
... love of God. There is nothing but what you can make a way through if you
can find something harder to bore it with. Look at the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the northern iron and the.htm

Grant Now, O Blessed, that Even to Christians the Prison is ...
... the arena, has seen it good, before the day of conflict, to take you from a condition
more pleasant in itself, and has imposed on you a harder treatment, that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/ad martyras/chapter iii grant now o.htm

The Parable of the Householder. A Sermon, by Bishop Latimer.
... This parable is written by the evangelist Matthew in the twentieth chapter, and
is very dark and hard to be understood; yea, there is no harder piece of ...
/.../the pulpit of the reformation nos 1 2 and 3 /the parable of the householder.htm

Letter ii. Self-Control and Self-Culture.
... substantial reward. The more you indulge yourself, the harder does the
task of rising and getting ready for the day become. But ...
/.../letter ii self-control and self-culture.htm

Finger-Posts
... Finger-Posts. The Parable of the Finger-Posts. Waiting is harder work than working.
It takes more out of you. ... It is harder to hold steady, and not break. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/finger-posts.htm

The Prophet Nehemiah
... If a blessing doesn't come to-night, pray harder to-morrow, and if it doesn't come
to-morrow, pray harder, and then, if it doesn't come keep right on, and you ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/iv the prophet nehemiah.htm

Snakes (25 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 12:11 If my father put a hard yoke on you, I will make it harder: my father
gave you punishment with whips, but I will give you blows with snakes. ...
/s/snakes.htm - 13k

Flint (12 Occurrences)
... for hardness in Isaiah 50:7, "Therefore have I set my face like a flint." A similar
use of tsor is found in Ezekiel 3:9, "As an adamant harder than flint have ...
/f/flint.htm - 14k

Forehead (23 Occurrences)
... as an adamant harder than flint," whereby an unflinching loyalty to God and a complete
disregard of opposition is meant (Jeremiah 3:8, 9). Compare the phrase ...
/f/forehead.htm - 19k

Blows (105 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 12:11 If my father put a hard yoke on you, I will make it harder: my father
gave you punishment with whips, but I will give you blows with snakes. ...
/b/blows.htm - 35k

Harder (17 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Harder (17 Occurrences). ... (WEY). Exodus 1:13 And they
gave the children of Israel even harder work to do: (BBE). ...
/h/harder.htm - 11k

Hard (733 Occurrences)
... millstone," the Revised Version (British and American) "firm"; Ezekiel 3:7, qasheh,
"sharp," "hard of heart"; chazaq, "firm," "As an adamant harder than flint ...
/h/hard.htm - 18k

Harden (22 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To make hard or harder; to make firm or
compact; to indurate; as, to harden clay or iron. 2. (vt ...
/h/harden.htm - 19k

Hardest (6 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 3:9 As an adamant harder than a rock I have made thy forehead; thou dost
not fear them, nor art thou affrighted before them, for a rebellious house 'are ...
/h/hardest.htm - 8k

Harddiness
... millstone," the Revised Version (British and American) "firm"; Ezekiel 3:7, qasheh,
"sharp," "hard of heart"; chazaq, "firm," "As an adamant harder than flint ...
/h/harddiness.htm - 14k

Hardly (26 Occurrences)
... millstone," the Revised Version (British and American) "firm"; Ezekiel 3:7, qasheh,
"sharp," "hard of heart"; chazaq, "firm," "As an adamant harder than flint ...
/h/hardly.htm - 23k

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