Definition and Context:
Stoutness, in a biblical context, often refers to a sense of pride, arrogance, or a hardened heart against God. It is characterized by an obstinate spirit and a refusal to submit to divine authority. The term can also imply a physical or metaphorical robustness, but its spiritual implications are more frequently addressed in Scripture.

Biblical References:

1. Isaiah 10:12 · "So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, 'I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes.'"
· Here, stoutness is associated with the pride and arrogance of the Assyrian king, who attributes his success to his own strength rather than acknowledging God's sovereignty.

2. Isaiah 9:9-10 · "All the people will know it—Ephraim and the dwellers of Samaria. With pride and arrogance of heart they will say: 'The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.'"
· The stoutness of heart is evident in the people's defiance and self-reliance, choosing to rebuild in their own strength rather than turning to God in repentance.

3. Daniel 7:20 · "And about the ten horns on its head, and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke arrogant words, and that was more imposing than the others."
· This passage describes a vision of Daniel, where stoutness is depicted through the arrogance and imposing nature of a horn, symbolizing a kingdom or ruler that exalts itself against God.

Theological Implications:

Stoutness, as a form of pride, is consistently condemned in Scripture. It represents a heart that is resistant to God's will and often leads to judgment. The Bible warns against the dangers of stoutness, urging believers to cultivate humility and dependence on God.

Moral and Spiritual Lessons:

1. Humility Over Pride:
· The Bible teaches that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Stoutness is a barrier to receiving God's grace and blessings.

2. Dependence on God:
· Stoutness often stems from a misplaced confidence in one's own abilities. Believers are encouraged to trust in the Lord with all their heart and not lean on their own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

3. Repentance and Submission:
· The antidote to stoutness is a repentant heart that submits to God's authority. Scripture calls for a contrite spirit and a willingness to follow God's commands.

Historical and Cultural Context:

In the ancient Near Eastern context, stoutness was not only a personal failing but also a national one. Nations that exhibited stoutness, such as Assyria and Babylon, often faced divine retribution. This serves as a historical lesson on the consequences of national pride and the importance of acknowledging God's sovereignty over nations.

Practical Application:

Believers today are called to examine their hearts for any signs of stoutness. This involves a regular practice of self-reflection, prayer, and seeking God's guidance in all areas of life. By doing so, Christians can avoid the pitfalls of pride and live in a manner that honors God.(n.) The state or quality of being stout.STOUT; STOUTNESS

stout, stout'-nes: In modern English the word signifies strength firmness, corpulence, etc., but in English Versions of the Bible (Psalm 76:5 Isaiah 10:12; Isaiah 46:12 Daniel 7:20 Malachi 3:13 with stoutness" in Isaiah 9:9) it always means "bold" or "proud" and invariably in a bad sense; compare the German stolz, with which "stout" is allied.

1433. godel -- greatness
... greatness, stoutness. From gadal; magnitude (literally or figuratively) -- greatness,
stout(-ness). see HEBREW gadal. 1432, 1433. godel. 1434 . ...
/hebrew/1433.htm - 6k

The Soul, as to Its Nature Uniform, but Its Faculties Variously ...
... health. Stoutness hinders knowledge, but a spare form stimulates it;
paralysis prostrates the mind, a decline preserves it. How ...
/.../tertullian/a treatise on the soul/chapter xx the soul as to.htm

Shod for the Road
... God gives to us certain endowments and equipments which are only calculated for
very toilsome paths, the roughness of the road will match the stoutness of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/shod for the road.htm

A Righteousness Near and a Swift Salvation
... That temper is branded here, though, of course, there is a sense in which a stout
heart is a priceless possession, but that sort of stoutness of heart is best ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/a righteousness near and a.htm

Letter ccxx. To the Ber??ans.
... has told me much in addition to what you have written, and has brought before my
eyes the conflict you have to keep up day by day, and the stoutness of the ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ccxx to the beraeans.htm

Beside the Still Waters.
... If you, my brethren, have any stoutness of heart to resist mean temptation, if you
are conscious of any uplifting of desire towards better and more stable ...
/.../beard/beside the still waters/beside the still waters.htm

Knox in the War of the Congregation: the Regent Attacked: Her ...
... minds of men began to be wonderfully erected." In Arran and Lord James too, manifestly
not jealous rivals, Randolph found "more honour, stoutness, and courage ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter xii knox in the.htm

A vindication of Gospel Truths Opened,
... O you despised begging Lazarus's (as in Luke 16:24.) For the world, for all their
stoutness, must be forced to come to judgment, before your Lord and you (1 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a vindication of gospel truths.htm

A Sermon on the Parable of a King that Married his Son, Made by ...
... to come to heaven, must be a saucy fellow; he must be well powdered with the sauce
of affliction, and tribulation; not with proudness and stoutness, but with ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/a sermon on the parable.htm

Jacob Boehme's "Way of Salvation"
... It requires "mighty endurance," "hard labour," "stoutness of spirit,"
and "a great storm, assault, and onset" to open the Gate. ...
/.../chapter xi jacob boehmes way.htm

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and ...
... xxviii.1: "The wicked fleeth when no man pursueth; but the righteous is bold as
a lion." Wicked men are now chosen for stoutness and courage, but they have no ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section v scriptures showing the.htm

Stoutness (2 Occurrences)
... (n.) The state or quality of being stout. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. STOUT;
STOUTNESS. ... Multi-Version Concordance Stoutness (2 Occurrences). ...
/s/stoutness.htm - 7k

Stout (6 Occurrences)
... 4. (superl.) Large; bulky; corpulent. 5. (n.) A strong malt liquor; strong
porter. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. STOUT; STOUTNESS. ...
/s/stout.htm - 9k

Stove (4 Occurrences)

/s/stove.htm - 8k

Confidence (103 Occurrences)
... Kecel ("firmness," "stoutness") is rendered "confidence" in Proverbs 3:26, and kiclah
in Job 4:6; peitho ("to persuade") is translated "confidence" in 2 ...
/c/confidence.htm - 39k

Arrogancy (16 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY). Isaiah 9:9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the
inhabitant of Samaria, that say in pride and in stoutness of heart, (See JPS). ...
/a/arrogancy.htm - 11k

Stoutly (1 Occurrence)

/s/stoutly.htm - 6k

Stoutness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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