σκληροκαρδία (sklērokardia)
sklērokardia
hardness of heart
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun sklērokardia describes a state of spiritual insensitivity, literally translating to "hardness of heart." It depicts a condition where the inner person becomes rigid and unresponsive to divine truth or moral conviction. The term combines words for hardness and heart, suggesting a callousness that prevents empathy or understanding.
Scripture uses this word sparingly, appearing in only three passages within the Gospels. Jesus applies it to explain why Moses permitted divorce in Deuteronomy, attributing the allowance to the people’s stubborn refusal to accept God’s original design for marriage (Matthew 19:8). He also uses it to rebuke his disciples for their lingering disbelief after witnessing His resurrection appearances (Mark 16:14).
While often linked with obstinacy, the concept emphasizes a hardened resistance rather than simple disobedience. It portrays a heart that has become like stone, unable to receive or process spiritual reality. This usage highlights the tragic consequence of persistent rejection of God's will.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read about hardness of heart in the Gospels, it is easy to feel a distant sense of relief that this was a problem for ancient people rather than ourselves. Yet Jesus uses this term to describe a very real spiritual condition: a heart that has become rigid and unresponsive to God’s truth. It is not merely stubbornness, but a callousness that blocks empathy and understanding, making it difficult to receive the grace offered in Christ.
In Matthew 19:8, Jesus explains that Moses permitted divorce because of this hardness, pointing back to God’s original design for love and unity. This reminder invites us to examine our own hearts. Are we resisting God’s will in small ways? Do we find ourselves ignoring the gentle nudges of the Holy Spirit? Recognizing this tendency is the first step toward healing.
The good news is that God does not leave us in this state. In Mark 16:14, Jesus rebukes the disciples for their hardness, yet He remains with them, offering correction and presence. This shows that even when we are slow to believe or quick to doubt, God’s patience endures. We can ask Him to soften our hearts, replacing rigidity with a willingness to trust and obey.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hardness of heart3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σκληροκαρδίαν3×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 19:8
He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.
Jesus identifies this hardness as the reason Moses allowed divorce, contrasting it with God’s original intent for marriage.
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Mark 10:5
But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment.
Here the term explains why a specific commandment was given, linking human stubbornness to legal concessions rather than divine ideal.
-
Mark 16:14
Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table; and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
Jesus directly rebukes the disciples for this trait after His resurrection, showing it hindered their belief in the empty tomb.