קָשָׁה
𐤒𐤔𐤄
qâshâh
H7185 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be hard or difficult in character or circumstance; to be severe, stubborn, or unyielding, whether of persons, actions, or situations. The verb קָשָׁה (qāshâ) can refer to physical hardness, harshness in dealing with others, stubbornness of attitude (especially in the phrase 'stiff-necked'), the severity of labor, the difficulty of experiences, or expressions of cruelty or hardship. The word expresses a range of tangible and abstract 'hardness.'
Semantic Range
to be hard (physically or metaphorically), to be severe or harsh, to be stubborn or obstinate, to deal harshly, to be cruel or fierce, to stiffen or make stiff (esp. neck), to be difficult or grievous, to make or render hard or severe (causative)
Root / Etymology
From the root ק-ש-ׁה (קשה), which in Semitic languages carries the notion of being hard, severe, or harsh. In Hebrew, קָשָׁה developed from this root to denote hardness or severity in both literal (physical hardness) and metaphorical senses (severity in action or attitude).
Historical & Contextual Notes
קָשָׁה occurs frequently in varying contexts: describing land or material as hard (e.g., Joshua 19:47); people or kings as harsh or cruel in their demands (e.g., Exodus 1:14; 1 Samuel 8:18, harshness of service under Pharaoh); stubbornness or being stiff-necked in refusing to yield (e.g., Exodus 32:9; Deuteronomy 9:6). The idiom 'stiff-necked' (קְשֵׁה־עֹרֶף) is especially important within the Deuteronomistic and prophetic traditions, denoting Israelite intransigence. In later texts (e.g., post-exilic or wisdom literature), קָשָׁה can describe the severity of experiences, such as suffering, or the difficulty of words (hard speech). English translations often render the word as 'harden,' 'be severe,' 'be stubborn,' or 'be cruel,' but the Hebrew encapsulates a richer spectrum, from physical toughness to moral or emotional severity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to be dense, i.e. tough or severe (in various applications); be cruel, be fiercer, make grievous, be ((ask a), be in, have, seem, would) hard(-en, (labour), -ly, thing), be sore, (be, make) stiff(-en, (-necked)).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קשה (q-sh-h) — hardness, severity, harshness, stubbornness
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4749 | מִקְשָׁה | one-piece hammered metalwork |
| H7184 | קָשָׂה | the rounded flasks |
| H7186 | קָשֶׁה | the severe |
| H7190 | קְשִׁי | stubbornness of |
| H7191 | קִשְׁיוֹן | Hard-Ground Settlement |
Word Forms
16 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7185-02 |
הִקְשָׁ֣ה | hiqeshah | HVhp3ms |
has hardened | he made hard | 5 |
H7185-12 |
וַ/יַּקְשׁ֤וּ | vayaqeshu | HC/Vhw3mp |
and they hardened | and they made hard | 5 |
H7185-09 |
תַקְשׁ֖וּ | taqeshu | HVhi2mp |
harden | you will make hard | 3 |
H7185-04 |
הִקְשׁוּ֙ | hiqeshu | HVhp3cp |
they have stiffened | they hardened | 2 |
H7185-16 |
יִקְשֶׁ֣ה | yiqesheh | HVqi3ms |
be hard | he will be hard | 2 |
H7185-03 |
הִקְשִׁ֣יתָ | hiqeshita | HVhp2ms |
You have made hard | you made hard | 1 |
H7185-14 |
וַ/יִּ֨קֶשׁ֙ | vayiqesh | HC/Vqw3ms |
and-[the word of] | and he became hard | 1 |
H7185-06 |
נִקְשֶׁ֣ה | niqesheh | HVNrmsa |
hard-pressed | hardened one | 1 |
H7185-07 |
קָשָׁ֑תָה | qashatah | HVqp3fs |
it was cruel | she was harsh | 1 |
H7185-01 |
אַקְשֶׁ֖ה | aqesheh | HVhi1cs |
will harden | I will make hard | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
28 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7185-11 |
Genesis 35:16 | וַ/תְּקַ֥שׁ | vateqash | HC/Vpw3fs |
and she had hard labour | and she made hard |
H7185-15 |
Genesis 35:17 | בְ/הַקְשֹׁתָ֖/הּ | vehaqeshotah | HR/Vhc/Sp3fs |
when her labor was at its hardest | causing her hardship |
H7185-07 |
Genesis 49:7 | קָשָׁ֑תָה | qashatah | HVqp3fs |
it was cruel | she was harsh |
H7185-01 |
Exodus 7:3 | אַקְשֶׁ֖ה | aqesheh | HVhi1cs |
will harden | I will make hard |
H7185-02 |
Exodus 13:15 | הִקְשָׁ֣ה | hiqeshah | HVhp3ms |
stubbornly refused | he made hard |
H7185-16 |
Deuteronomy 1:17 | יִקְשֶׁ֣ה | yiqesheh | HVqi3ms |
is too hard | he will be hard |
H7185-02 |
Deuteronomy 2:30 | הִקְשָׁה֩ | hiqeshah | HVhp3ms |
had hardened | he made hard |
H7185-09 |
Deuteronomy 10:16 | תַקְשׁ֖וּ | taqeshu | HVhi2mp |
harden | you will make hard |
H7185-16 |
Deuteronomy 15:18 | יִקְשֶׁ֣ה | yiqesheh | HVqi3ms |
be hard | he will be hard |
H7185-08 |
1 Samuel 5:7 | קָשְׁתָ֤ה | qashetah | HVqp3fs |
is severe | she was hard |