What does קָשֶׁה (qāšeh) mean in the Bible?
קָשֶׁה (qāšeh): Resistance or rigidity—physical hardness, emotional obstinacy, or relational harshness—unified by inflexibility.
Hebrew · H7186
קָשֶׁה
Severe (in various applications)
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קָשֶׁהH7186
Pronunciationqāšeh
What does קָשֶׁה (qāšeh) mean in the Bible?
קָשֶׁה (qāšeh): Resistance or rigidity—physical hardness, emotional obstinacy, or relational harshness—unified by inflexibility.
Full entry for קָשֶׁה (H7186) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7186?
The BSB source-word alignment has 36 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include harshly (4), are a stiff-necked (3), a stiff-necked (2), the burden (2), . . . (1).
Where does קָשֶׁה (qāšeh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 42:7. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (7), Isaiah (6), Deuteronomy (4), 1 Kings (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itharshly4×Genesis 42:7, Genesis 42:30, 1 Kings 12:13, 2 Chronicles 10:13
are a stiff-necked3×Exodus 33:3, Exodus 33:5, Deuteronomy 9:6
a stiff-necked2×Exodus 32:9, Deuteronomy 9:13
the burden2×1 Kings 12:4, 2 Chronicles 10:4
. . .1×Deuteronomy 31:27
[will take] His sharp1×Isaiah 27:1
[with] bad [news]1×1 Kings 14:6
A dire1×Isaiah 21:2
and cruel1×Exodus 6:9
and from the hard1×Isaiah 14:3
and hard-hearted1×Ezekiel 3:7
and stronger1×Judges 4:24
and stubborn1×Judges 2:19
are stubborn1×Isaiah 48:4
are too fierce1×2 Samuel 3:39
as unrelenting1×Song Of Solomon 8:6
for those in trouble1×Job 30:25
hardship1×Psalms 60:3
intense1×2 Samuel 2:17
is a stiff-necked1×Exodus 34:9
of a harsh1×Isaiah 19:4
the difficult1×Exodus 18:26
They are obstinate1×Ezekiel 2:4
to hard1×Deuteronomy 26:6
troubled1×1 Samuel 1:15
was harsh1×1 Samuel 25:3
with a fierce1×Isaiah 27:8
with hard1×Exodus 1:14
you harshly1×1 Samuel 20:10
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 42:7קָשׁ֗וֹתtoharshlyAdjective - feminine pluralGenesis 42:30קָשׁ֑וֹתtoharshlyAdjective - feminine pluralExodus 1:14קָשָׁ֗הtowith hardAdjective - feminine singularExodus 6:9קָשָֽׁה׃פtoand cruelAdjective - feminine singularExodus 18:26הַקָּשֶׁה֙tothe difficultArticle | Adjective - masculine singularExodus 32:9קְשֵׁה־toa stiff-neckedAdjective - masculine singular constructExodus 33:3קְשֵׁה־toare a stiff-neckedAdjective - masculine singular constructExodus 33:5קְשֵׁה־toare a stiff-neckedAdjective - masculine singular constructExodus 34:9קְשֵׁה־tois a stiff-neckedAdjective - masculine singular constructDeuteronomy 9:6קְשֵׁה־toare a stiff-neckedAdjective - masculine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 42:7
Aligned rows36
Books represented13
Genesis2Exodus7Deuteronomy4Judges21 Samuel32 Samuel21 Kings32 Chronicles2Job1Psalms1Song Of Solomon1Isaiah6Ezekiel2
Source forms
קְשֵׁה־6xqə·šêh-Exodus 32:9, Exodus 33:3, Exodus 33:5, Exodus 34:9
קָשָׁ֑ה3xqā·šāh1 Kings 12:13, 2 Chronicles 10:13, Psalms 60:3
הַקָּשָׁ֗ה2xhaq·qā·šāh1 Kings 12:4, 2 Chronicles 10:4
הַקָּשָׁ֖ה2xhaq·qā·šāhIsaiah 14:3, Isaiah 27:8
קָשָׁ֥ה2xqā·šāh2 Samuel 2:17, Song Of Solomon 8:6
קָשָֽׁה׃2xqā·šāhDeuteronomy 26:6, 1 Kings 14:6
הַקָּשֶׁה֙1xhaq·qā·šehExodus 18:26
הַקָּשֶׁ֑ה1xhaq·qā·šehDeuteronomy 31:27
Parsing patterns
Adjective - feminine singular11xExodus 1:14, Exodus 6:9, Deuteronomy 26:6, 1 Samuel 20:10
Adjective - masculine singular construct6xExodus 32:9, Exodus 33:3, Exodus 33:5, Exodus 34:9
Article | Adjective - feminine singular6xJudges 2:19, 1 Kings 12:4, 2 Chronicles 10:4, Isaiah 14:3
Adjective - masculine singular3x1 Samuel 25:3, Isaiah 19:4, Isaiah 48:4
Adjective - feminine plural2xGenesis 42:7, Genesis 42:30
Article | Adjective - masculine singular2xExodus 18:26, Deuteronomy 31:27
Adjective - feminine singular construct1x1 Samuel 1:15
Adjective - masculine plural1x2 Samuel 3:39
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Resistance or rigidity—physical hardness, emotional obstinacy, or relational harshness—unified by inflexibility.
Source Gloss
severe (in various applications)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Resistance or rigidity—physical hardness, emotional obstinacy, or relational harshness—unified by inflexibility.
severe (in various applications) BDB: hard Usage: churlish, cruel, grievous, hard((-hearted), thing), heavy, impudent, obstinate, prevailed, rough(-ly), sore, sorrowful, stiff(necked), stubborn, in trouble.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Hard or obstinate.
Showing 1 selected witness from 36 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
קָשֶׁה is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Describes resistant rebellion against God.Isaiah 48:1-8
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.