σκληρότης G4643
Hardness, callousness, or stubborn resistance; the quality of being hard-hearted or unyielding
Paul warns against storing up wrath 'according to your hardness and unrepentant heart' (Romans 2:5). The term σκληρότης designates rigidity, hardness, or stubborn resistance—the opposite of soft responsiveness to God. Classical usage included physical hardness (hard wood, stiff limbs) and metaphorical inflexibility. Paul applies it to the heart that refuses to repent despite God's kindness, patience, and forbearance. This hardness accumulates divine judgment, treasuring up wrath for the day of revelation. The anatomy of unbelief involves willful resistance rather than mere ignorance.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Romans 2:5 employs the accusative singular σκληρότητα paired with 'unrepentant heart': κατὰ δὲ τὴν σκληρότητά σου καὶ ἀμετανόητον καρδίαν. Paul addresses the moralistic judge who condemns others while doing the same things. Spanish 'dureza,' French 'dureté,' German 'Härte'—all capture stubborn hardness. The context shows this isn't ignorance but deliberate resistance to God's goodness that should lead to repentance (2:4). Hardness becomes self-inflicted judgment, storing up wrath rather than responding to grace. 1×
AR["قَساوَتِكَ"]·ben["কঠিনতা"]·DE["Haerte"]·EN["hardness"]·FR["dureté"]·heb["קַשְׁיוּת"]·HI["कठोरता"]·ID["kekerasan"]·IT["durezza"]·jav["wangkoting"]·KO["완고함"]·PT["dureza"]·RU["жестокости"]·ES["dureza"]·SW["ugumu"]·TR["katiligin"]·urd["سختی"]
Related Senses
H3754 1. vineyard, cultivated grape plot (92×)H0730 1. cedar tree or wood (73×)H1612 1. vine, grapevine (55×)H3293a 1. forest, wood, thicket (55×)H5560 1. fine flour (53×)H5193 1. plant vegetation (48×)H2232 1. sow seed, plant crops (41×)H1715 1. grain, cereal crop (40×)H7114b 1. reap, harvest grain (36×)H2132 1. olive tree (34×)H8184 1. barley (34×)H2406 1. wheat (grain crop) (30×)H7070 1. reed, cane (plant) (30×)H7848 1. acacia (28×)H8328 1. root of a plant (28×)H8384 1. fig tree (25×)H5488 1. reeds, rushes (in 'Sea of Reeds') (24×)G0290 1. a vineyard (23×)G2325 1. reap, harvest a crop (21×)G4687 1. sow seed, plant (21×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σκληρότης, ητος, ἡ, hardness, opposed to μαλακότης, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 of taste, harshness, οἴνου Refs 4th c.BC+ __3 stiffness, rigidity, Refs 4th c.BC+ __4 ἡ τῆς κοιλίης σ. costivity, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II of persons, harshness, austerity, τοῦ δαίμονος Refs 5th c.BC+