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קָשֶׁה

𐤒𐤔𐤄

qâsheh

H7186 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root קשה to be hard, to be severe, to be heavy, to be difficult

Definition

Adjective describing that which is hard, difficult, severe, or obstinate, both literally (as in hardness of material) and figuratively (as in inflexibility, severity, or stubbornness of persons or situations). Frequently used to denote severity, harshness, stubborn resistance, obstinacy, or difficulty in bearing, enduring, or accomplishing.

Semantic Range

hard, difficult, severe, harsh, stubborn, obstinate, unyielding, ruthless, tough circumstance, severe (of famine, labor, taskmaster), hard-hearted, stiff-necked, inflexible, impudent, heavy, grievous, rough, sore, sorrowful, hard to bear or accomplish

Root / Etymology

From the root קשה meaning 'to be hard, severe, heavy, difficult.' The adjective קָשֶׁה derives directly from this root, characterizing the nature of a material, circumstance, or personality as hard, severe, difficult, or unyielding.

Historical & Contextual Notes

קָשֶׁה is used widely across the Hebrew Bible to describe both physical and figurative conditions. In physical contexts, it may denote the hardness of a material (e.g., a hard yoke, hard labor). More frequently, it refers to severity of circumstances (hard service, harsh famine) or to personality traits such as stubbornness or obstinacy (especially in reference to Israelite rebellion—cf. 'stiff-necked people' for obstinate resistance to instruction or change). The term characterizes both adversity and inflexibility: oppressive masters, ruthless oppressors, or inflexible rulers may be termed קָשֶׁה. In legal or wisdom literature, it can describe moral intransigence or severity of judgment. The English translations (e.g., 'hard-hearted,' 'stubborn,' 'hard,' 'severe') reflect this semantic breadth, but often obscure the continuities between literal hardness and figurative obstinacy or severity. The use of related phrases ('stiff-necked,' 'hard heart') underline the stubborn, unyielding sense inherent in the term. While the core meaning is already firmly established in the earliest Israelite narratives, over time the figurative sense (esp. stubbornness and moral inflexibility) grows in prominence, particularly in prophetic and post-exilic literature. The negative connotation (adverse, stubborn) is dominant, but it can also appear neutrally or positively as 'strong,' depending on context. Contrasts are seen with רַךְ (rakh, 'soft, tender') and עָנָו (anav, 'humble, yielding'), illustrating its cultural resonance in describing personality and ethical dispositions.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from קָשָׁה; severe (in various applications); churlish, cruel, grievous, hard((-hearted), thing), heavy, [phrase] impudent, obstinate, prevailed, rough(-ly), sore, sorrowful, stiff(necked), stubborn, [phrase] in trouble.

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Root Family

קשה (q-š-h) — hardness, severity, heaviness, difficulty

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4749 מִקְשָׁה one-piece hammered metalwork
H7184 קָשָׂה the rounded flasks
H7185 קָשָׁה I will make hard
H7190 קְשִׁי stubbornness of
H7191 קִשְׁיוֹן Hard-Ground Settlement

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7186-04 קָשָׁ֗ה qashah HAafsa hard hard 11
H7186-09 קְשֵׁה qesheh HAamsc stiffnecked hard-of 6
H7186-01 הַ/קָּשָֽׁה haqashah HTd/Aafsa the hard the severe 6
H7186-05 קָשֶׁ֛ה qasheh HAamsa harsh hard, severe 3
H7186-07 קָשׁ֗וֹת qashot HAafpa harshly hard ones 2
H7186-02 הַ/קָּשֶׁה֙ haqasheh HTd/Aamsa difficult the hard one 2
H7186-10 קְשֵׁ֤י qeshey HAampc stubborn hard ones of 1
H7186-12 וְ/קָשָׁ֔ה veqashah HC/Aafsa and was hard severe 1
H7186-08 קְשַׁת qeshat HAafsc hard hard-of 1
H7186-06 קָשִׁ֣ים qashim HAampa too hard hard ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

36 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7186-07 Genesis 42:7 קָשׁ֗וֹת qashot HAafpa harshly hard ones
H7186-07 Genesis 42:30 קָשׁ֑וֹת qashot HAafpa harshly hard ones
H7186-04 Exodus 1:14 קָשָׁ֗ה qashah HAafsa hard hard
H7186-04 Exodus 6:9 קָשָֽׁה qashah HAafsa harsh hard
H7186-02 Exodus 18:26 הַ/קָּשֶׁה֙ haqasheh HTd/Aamsa difficult the hard one
H7186-09 Exodus 32:9 קְשֵׁה qesheh HAamsc stiff-necked hard-of
H7186-09 Exodus 33:3 קְשֵׁה qesheh HAamsc stiff-necked hard-of
H7186-09 Exodus 33:5 קְשֵׁה qesheh HAamsc stiff hard-of
H7186-09 Exodus 34:9 קְשֵׁה qesheh HAamsc stiffnecked hard-of
H7186-09 Deuteronomy 9:6 קְשֵׁה qesheh HAamsc stiffnecked hard-of
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