What does קָשָׁה · רוּחַ mean in the Bible?
קָשָׁה · רוּחַ is a Hebrew phrase meaning "To harden the spirit — divine sovereign action on an enemy's disposition".
Hebrew · H7185, H7307
קָשָׁה רוּחוֹ
Properly, to be dense , i.e. tough or severe (in various applications) · wind ; by resemblance breath , i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation ; figuratively, life , anger , unsubstantiality ; by extension, a region of the sky ; by resemblance spirit , but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
קָשָׁהH7185properly, to be dense , i.e. tough or severe (in various applications)
Pronunciationqāšāh
Describes hardness as density or rigidity—physical, moral, or relational—from obstinate resistance to severe cruelty.
Open lexicon entry →רוּחַH7307wind ; by resemblance breath , i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation ; figuratively, life , anger , unsubstantiality ; by extension, a region of the sky ; by resemblance spirit , but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
Pronunciationrûaḥ
Invisible animating force: from physical wind/breath to spiritual presence, divine agency, and human consciousness.
Open lexicon entry →What does קָשָׁה רוּחוֹ (qashah rucho) mean in the Bible?
קָשָׁה · רוּחַ is a Hebrew phrase meaning "To harden the spirit — divine sovereign action on an enemy's disposition".
Full entry for קָשָׁה רוּחוֹ (H7185, H7307) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H7185, H7307?
H7185, H7307 is connected to 406 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. To harden the spirit — divine sovereign action on an enemy's disposition
Source Gloss
To harden the spirit — divine sovereign action on an enemy's disposition
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms18
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action13×
Perfect1Kgs 12:4 · 2Chr 10:4 · Deut 2:30 · Exod 13:15 · Job 9:4 · Jer 19:15 · Neh 9:29 · 2Kgs 2:108×
Jussive2Chr 30:8 · Ps 95:82×
ImperfectDeut 10:16 · Exod 7:32×
Participle activeProv 29:11×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense4×
Perfect1Sam 5:7 · Gen 49:72×
ImperfectDeut 1:17 · Deut 15:182×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
Participle activeIsa 8:211×
Word Origins
קָשָׁה רוּחוֹ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Cross-Language Connections
Greek words that correspond to or develop the meaning of this Hebrew word in the New Testament.