Definition:
Obduracy refers to the hardness of heart or stubbornness against moral or spiritual influence. In a biblical context, it denotes a persistent resistance to God's will and commands, often leading to a state of spiritual insensitivity or rebellion.

Biblical Instances and Themes:

1. Pharaoh's Hardened Heart:
One of the most notable examples of obduracy in the Bible is Pharaoh's hardened heart during the Exodus narrative. Despite witnessing numerous miracles and plagues, Pharaoh repeatedly refused to let the Israelites go. The Bible states, "But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had said" (Exodus 7:13). This hardening of heart is both a divine judgment and a personal choice, illustrating the interplay between human free will and divine sovereignty.

2. Israel's Stubbornness:
The Israelites themselves are often depicted as a "stiff-necked people" (Exodus 32:9), demonstrating obduracy through their repeated disobedience and idolatry. Despite God's continuous guidance and provision, they frequently turned away from Him, prompting divine discipline and calls for repentance.

3. Warnings Against Hardness of Heart:
The Bible frequently warns against the dangers of a hardened heart. In the New Testament, the author of Hebrews exhorts believers, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion" (Hebrews 3:15). This admonition serves as a reminder to remain receptive to God's voice and responsive to His guidance.

4. Spiritual Blindness and Obduracy:
Obduracy is often linked with spiritual blindness, where individuals are unable or unwilling to perceive spiritual truths. Jesus encountered such hardness of heart among the Pharisees and religious leaders, who, despite witnessing His miracles and teachings, refused to acknowledge Him as the Messiah. Jesus lamented, "For this people's heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes" (Matthew 13:15).

5. Consequences of Obduracy:
The Bible illustrates that obduracy leads to severe consequences, both temporally and eternally. Persistent hardness of heart can result in divine judgment, as seen in the case of Pharaoh, and ultimately, spiritual death. Romans 2:5 warns, "But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed."

6. Call to Repentance and Renewal:
Despite the grave nature of obduracy, the Bible offers hope through repentance and renewal. God, in His mercy, calls individuals to turn from their stubborn ways and seek a softened heart. Ezekiel 36:26 promises, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

Theological Implications:

Obduracy highlights the tension between human responsibility and divine sovereignty. While God may allow a heart to harden as a form of judgment, individuals are also accountable for their response to God's revelation. The biblical narrative underscores the importance of humility, repentance, and openness to the Holy Spirit's work in overcoming obduracy.(n.) The duality or state of being obdurate; invincible hardness of heart; obstinacy.4044. meginnah -- a covering
... sorrow. From magan; a covering (in a bad sense), ie Blindness or obduracy -- sorrow.
See also magen. see HEBREW magan. see HEBREW magen. 4043, 4044. ...
/hebrew/4044.htm - 6k

Third Circuit of Galilee. The Twelve Instructed and Sent Forth.
... Israel, till the Son of man be come. [The apostles were not to meet obduracy
with obduracy. Moving as swiftly as they could along ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxi third circuit of galilee.htm

Prepositional Phrases
... nightingale of affection. nobility of purpose. note of triumph. O. obduracy of mind
[obduracy = intractable; hardened]. object of contempt. obligation of loyalty ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section v prepositional phrases.htm

Divine Election and Reprobation
... hearts of the elect, however obstinate, and inclines them to believe; while He leaves
the non-elect in His just judgment to their own wickedness and obduracy. ...
/.../anonymous/synod of dort/divine election and reprobation.htm

The Introduction to the Work, with Some Account of the Nature of ...
... The apostle aims most of this Epistle against this obduracy, and clearly and largely
proves that the end of all ceremonies and shadows is to direct them to ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter i the introduction to.htm

Closing Hours.
... Not only did He foresee the grievous obduracy of His own infatuated countrymen,
but His Omniscient eye, travelling down to the consummation of all things, wept ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xx closing hours.htm

The Lamb of God, the Great Atonement
... relapse into their former stupidity. What can engage the attention, or soften
the obduracy, of such creatures? Behold, one wonder more ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xvi the lamb of.htm

And Lead us not into Temptation.
... and disregard both the Word and works of God to tear us away from faith, hope, and
love and bring us into misbelief, false security, and obduracy, or, on the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/and lead us not into.htm

The Fear which Terminates in the Second Death.
... greatly.". To have no fear of God before one's eyes, is expressive of great
obduracy in sin; of the last grade of depravity. Yet ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xx the fear which.htm

Sixteenth Day. Grief at Sin.
... Do we know any thing of "vexing our souls," like righteous Lot, "from day to day,"
with the world's "unlawful deeds," the stupid hardness and obduracy of the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/macduff/the mind of jesus/sixteenth day grief at sin.htm

Christians Charged with an Obstinate Contempt of Death Instances ...
... this indictment, that we boldly refuse neither your swords, nor your crosses, nor
your wild beasts, nor fire, nor tortures, such is our obduracy and contempt ...
/.../tertullian/ad nationes/chapter xviii name charged with.htm

Obduracy (1 Occurrence)
... obstinacy. Multi-Version Concordance Obduracy (1 Occurrence). Lamentations
3:65 give them obduracy of heart, thy curse unto them; (DBY). ...
/o/obduracy.htm - 6k

Obdurate (2 Occurrences)

/o/obdurate.htm - 7k

Obdia

/o/obdia.htm - 6k

Obduracy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus