Stubbornness is a sin that is strongly warned against throughout the Bible. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about being stubborn and stubbornness:
Definitions
The Hebrew word translated “stubborn” or “stubbornness” is kâbad, which means “to be heavy, unyielding, obstinate, stubborn” (Strong’s H3513). The Greek word is sklērotēs, meaning “obstinacy, stubbornness” (Strong’s G4643).
So biblical stubbornness refers to being unyielding, obstinate, and refusing to bend your will or desires to God’s.
Stubbornness is Sinful Rebellion Against God
The Bible makes it clear that stubbornness is sin because it is rebellion against God’s authority. Here are some verses that reveal this:
“For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Samuel 15:23)
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness.” (Hebrews 3:15)
“They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.” (Nehemiah 9:17)
These verses reveal that stubbornness is linked to rebellion, hardening your heart against God, and rejecting His leadership and commandments.
Examples of Stubbornness in the Bible
The Bible contains many examples of stubbornness and its consequences:
Pharaoh (Exodus)
Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let the Israelites leave Egypt despite seeing God’s miraculous plagues. As a result, Egypt was destroyed (Exodus 7-14).
Israel’s Rebellion in the Wilderness
God freed Israel from slavery, but they rebelled and were stubbornly discontented, grumbling against Moses and God. As a result, that generation was forbidden from entering the Promised Land (Numbers 13-14).
Saul’s Disobedience (1 Samuel 15)
God commanded Saul to totally destroy the Amalekites, but Saul stubbornly kept the best cattle and king alive. As a result, God rejected Saul from being king over Israel.
Consequences of Stubbornness
The Bible is clear that stubbornness has dire consequences:
- God’s discipline and punishment (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)
- Rejection by God (1 Samuel 15:23)
- Broken relationships and disharmony (Proverbs 13:10)
- Poverty, distress and anguish (Isaiah 48:22, Ezekiel 2:3-7)
- Hardened heart and closed ears (Zechariah 7:11-12)
- Wandering from the truth (1 Samuel 15:23)
Contrast Between the Stubborn and Humble
The Bible contrasts stubbornness with humility and teachability:
“He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble his way” (Psalm 25:9)
“The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.” (Proverbs 15:31-32)
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15)
So while the stubborn person arrogantly persists in their own way, the humble listen, accept correction, and follow God’s ways.
Causes of Stubbornness
While stubbornness stems from our sinful human nature, here are more specific attitudes and mindsets that contribute to stubbornness:
- Pride – An inflated view of oneself and refusal to submit to others (Proverbs 16:18)
- Self-will – Insisting on your own way instead of God’s way (Isaiah 53:6)
- Rebellion – Resistance to authority (1 Samuel 15:23)
- Discontentment – Refusal to accept one’s circumstances (Numbers 11:1)
- Self-deception – Believing in one’s own way over God’s way (Jeremiah 49:16)
- Worldliness – Following culture over God’s ways (1 John 2:15-17)
How to Overcome Stubbornness
Though stubbornness is deeply rooted in our sinful hearts, God can give us grace and strength to overcome it. Here are biblical strategies for overcoming stubbornness:
- Repent and humbly confess your stubbornness to God (1 John 1:9)
- Believe God’s Word and ways over your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6)
- Ask God to change your heart and make you humble (Psalm 51:10)
- Submit to godly authority even when difficult (Hebrews 13:17)
- Receive godly counsel from others (Proverbs 12:15)
- Pray for patience and contentment in all circumstances (Hebrews 13:5)
- Walk in step with the Spirit to align your heart with God’s (Galatians 5:16-17)
As we surrender our stubborn wills to Christ, He transforms and renews our minds to desire God’s will above our own (Romans 12:1-2). We must daily submit to Christ’s lordship in our lives.
God’s Response to Repentant Stubbornness
When we humbly confess stubbornness, God responds with great mercy, patience and forgiveness. He never rejects a truly repentant heart.
Examples of God’s grace to the repentant stubborn:
- Manasseh – an evil and stubborn king who God forgave when he repented (2 Chronicles 33:12-13)
- Jonah – At first stubbornly rebelled against God’s command but later obeyed (Jonah 3)
- Paul – Zealous in his own way but repented at his conversion (Acts 9)
“For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.” (2 Chronicles 30:9)
God Desires to Heal and Restore the Stubborn
Though God hates stubbornness, in His grace He earnestly desires to heal and restore stubborn people:
“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17)
“The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” (Titus 2:11-12)
Despite our stubborn tendencies, God sent Jesus to tear down the separation our sin created. As we turn to Him, He transforms our hearts by His Spirit to desire His will and walk in His ways.
God Judges the Unrepentantly Stubborn
While God has great mercy for the repentant, His Word warns of harsh judgment for those who stubbornly continue rebelling against Him:
“Like Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7)
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31)
“But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:5)
Our gracious window of opportunity to repent will not remain open forever. There is an eternal peril in stubbornly rejecting Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
Key Verses About Stubbornness
Here are some key Bible verses about the dangers of stubbornness and the blessings of having a humble, submitted heart:
“For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Samuel 15:23)
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5)
“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)
“Whoever heeds life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Those who ignore instruction despise themselves, but those who heed admonition gain understanding.” (Proverbs 15:31-32)
Conclusion
In summary, stubbornness is a serious sin that the Bible strongly warns against. It leads to rebellion against God, strained relationships, dire consequences and the judgment of God. However, in His mercy, God stands ready to forgive and restore the stubborn who humbly repent and submit their wills to His authority. We overcome stubborn tendencies by God’s grace, through surrendering our wills to Christ and walking in step with the Spirit.