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== Stiffnecked people ==

The people were said to have stiff neck.

The phrase "'''[[stiffnecked]] people'''" appears several times in the biblical text. In the [[Torah]] it is composed of three words.

The word ''stiff'' is from the Hebrew word qasheh(קָשֶׁה‎).<Ref name="qasheh">{{07186}}</Ref> And the Hebrew word for ''necked'' is from ‘oreph(עֹרֶף‎).<Ref name="oreph">{{06203}}</Ref> While the word for ''people'' is from am<Ref name="am">{{05971}}</Ref>:

In [[Exodus 33]]:3  '''for thou [art] a stiffnecked people'''{כי עם־קשה־ערף אתה}: where no additional letters are added and the statement is very direct and to the point.

Yet, to understand this phrase we need to see that qasheh(קָשֶׁה‎).<Ref name="qasheh">{{07186}}</Ref> actually does not mean stiff but "hard, cruel, severe, obstinate" and is identical to the verb qashah(קָשָׁה‎)<Ref name="qashah">{{07185}}</Ref> meaning "'''to be''' hard, be severe, be fierce, be harsh".

[[Proverbs 29]] verse 1 we see, "being often reproved hardeneth his neck" and as a result will be "suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." This is associated with the "righteous or the wicked in authority", the "[[father]] or [[harlot]], and kings that attend to the [[weightier matters]] by "[[judgment]]" and the [[gifts]] that destroy.<Ref name="desliberty">{{desliberty}}</Ref>

The word ''neck'' is ‘oreph(עֹרֶף‎).<Ref name="oreph">{{06203}}</Ref> The term ''oreph''(עֹרֶף‎) is ''figuratively associated'' with [[apostasy]] in the definition and is identical to araph(עָרַף‎)<Ref name="araph">{{06201}}</Ref> which is a verb that is said to mean "''drop'' or ''drop down''". It is clear that the head is supported by the neck and the neck can turn the head in whatever direction it is inclined to go. If the neck is ''cruel'' then the neck may turn the individual toward [[cruelty]].

We know now that "[[leaven]]" and getting the leaven out of your house and nation is about getting the cruelty out of your nation. This is one reason why it seems strange that the phrase [[put to death]] appears so often in the ''judgements of Moses''. And of course, we should know now that the phrase [[put to death]] does not mean that the people should be executing so many people just like we should have known that Moses did not send the [[Levites]] into the camp of the [[Golden calf]] to kill nor '''[[Put_to_death#Levites_smite|smite]]''' 3000 people with their swords at their sides in [[Exodus 32]].

But what do we do to loosen up our necks, so they are not so stiff?

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=== Stiff necks of Acts ===

In the New Testament we see ''stiffnecked'' translated from the Greek sklerotrachelos (σκληροτράχηλος)<Ref name="stiffnecked">{{4644}}</Ref> which is from two words also ''skleros'' meaning ''hard'' or ''harsh'' even ''violent'' and  ''trachelos'' meaning ''neck''. The same [[metaphor]] applies.


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"To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." ([[Acts 26]]:18)

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== Appearance in the text ==

Exodus 32:9  And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it [is] a stiffnecked people:

Exodus 33:3  Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; '''for thou [art] a stiffnecked people'''{כי עם־קשה־ערף אתה}: lest I consume thee in the way.

Exodus 33:5  For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye [are] a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.

Exodus 34:9  And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it [is] a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.

Deuteronomy 9:6  Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou [art] a stiffnecked people.

Deuteronomy 9:13  Furthermore the LORD spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it [is] a stiffnecked people:

Deuteronomy 10:16  Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

Deuteronomy 31:27  For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?

2 Chronicles 30:8  Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers [were, but] yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.

2 Chronicles 36:13  And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.

Psalms 75:5  Lift not up your horn on high: speak [not with] a stiff neck.

Jeremiah 17:23  But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

Ezekiel 2:4  For [they are] impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.

Acts 7:51  Ye stiffnecked [[4644]] and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers [did], so [do] ye.

[[Category:Sophistry]]

[[Category:Words]]