σκληροτράχηλος

stubborn

Definition

The adjective σκληροτράχηλος literally means 'stiff-necked' and is a powerful metaphor for stubbornness and obstinate resistance to authority, especially God's will. It describes a person who refuses to bend or submit, much like an ox that stiffens its neck against the yoke. In its sole New Testament occurrence in Acts 7:51, Stephen uses it to accuse the Jewish leaders of resisting the Holy Spirit, just as their ancestors did. This connects directly to its Old Testament usage in the Septuagint (e.g., Exodus 33:3, Deuteronomy 9:6), where it describes Israel's persistent rebellion against God.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 7:51, during Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin. He declares, 'You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!' The usage is entirely accusatory and prophetic, drawing a direct line between the present leaders and the rebellious Israelites of the Exodus narrative. Its power comes from this deliberate echo of the Septuagint's language for covenant unfaithfulness.

Etymology

A compound adjective from σκληρός (sklēros, G4642), meaning 'hard, harsh, or dry,' and τράχηλος (trachēlos, G5137), meaning 'neck.' It is a direct calque, or loan translation, of the Hebrew idiom 'קשה ערף' (qĕšeh-ʿōreph), which appears frequently in the Old Testament. The Greek term was adopted into the Septuagint to translate this Hebrew idiom, carrying its full metaphorical weight into the New Testament context.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as a diagnosis of the human condition in relation to God. It encapsulates the sin of prideful autonomy and active resistance to divine revelation and grace. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by connecting Stephen's accusation in Acts 7:51 directly to the core narrative of Israel's covenant failure in the Torah. It highlights continuity in human rebellion and underscores the necessity of a softened heart, a theme fulfilled in the New Covenant (e.g., Ezekiel 36:26).

In the ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman world, the imagery of a 'stiff neck' was a common metaphor for stubbornness and unyielding pride, easily understood in agrarian societies where a draft animal refusing the yoke was a familiar problem. For Jewish listeners, Stephen's use would have immediately evoked the Torah's repeated condemnations of Israel's idolatry and disobedience during the wilderness wanderings, framing his audience as heirs to that same rebellious spirit.

σκληρύνω (sklērynō, G4645) — a verb meaning 'to harden,' often describing the heart. ἀπειθέω (apeitheō, G544) — a verb meaning 'to disobey' or 'be disobedient,' focusing on the act of refusal rather than the metaphorical posture.

Word Details

Scripture References