Original Word: קָשֶׁה
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: qasheh
Pronunciation: kah-SHEH
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-sheh')
KJV: churlish, cruel, grievous, hard((-hearted), thing), heavy, + impudent, obstinate, prevailed, rough(-ly), sore, sorrowful, stiff((necked)), stubborn, + in trouble
NASB: hard, harshly, harsh, cruel, difficult, fierce, severe
Word Origin: [from H7185 (קָשָׁה - stiffened)]

1. severe (in various applications)

churlish, cruel, grievous, hardhearted, thing, heavy, impudent, obstinate,

From qashah; severe (in various applications) -- churlish, cruel, grievous, hard((-hearted), thing), heavy, + impudent, obstinate, prevailed, rough(-ly), sore, sorrowful, stiff((necked)), stubborn, + in trouble.

see HEBREW qashah

Word Origin
from qashah
Definition
hard, severe
NASB Translation
cruel (2), difficult (2), fierce (2), hard (5), hardship (1), harsh (4), harshly (5), heavier (1), obstinate (1), obstinate* (5), oppressed (1), severe (2), stubborn (1), stubborn* (3), stubbornness* (1).

קָשֶׁה adjective hard, severe; — absolute ׳ק Exodus 18:26 +; construct Exodus 32:9 +; feminine singular קָשָׁה Deuteronomy 26:6 +; construct קְשַׁת 1 Samuel 1:15; masculine plural קָשִׁים 2 Samuel 3:39; construct קְשֵׁי Ezekiel 2:4; Ezekiel 3:7; feminine plural קָשׁוֺת Genesis 42:7,30; —

1 hard, difficult, of a legal question (דָּבָר) Exodus 18:26 (E).

2. a. severe, of battle 2 Samuel 2:17, wind Isaiah 27:8, servitude (עֲבֹדָה) 1 Kings 12:4 2Chronicles 10:4; Deuteronomy 26:6; Isaiah 14:3; Exodus 1:14; Exodus 6:9 (both P); as n.collective הִרְאִיתָ עַמְּךָ קָשָׁה Psalm 60:5 thou hast made thy people see severe things; קְשֵׁה יוֺם Job 30:25 i.e. one whose time (life) is hard, so 1 Samuel 1:15 (reading קְשַׁת יוֺם for רוּחַ ׳ק, ᵐ5 Th We Dr and others); severe, rough, of lord (אֲדֹנִים) Isaiah 19:4, compare 2 Samuel 3:39 (with מִן compare [מִמֶּנּוּ? see HPS]); הָלוֺח וְקָשָׁה עַלֿ Judges 4:24 the hand of the sons of Israel went on being more and more severe upon Jabin; fierce, relentless, of ׳י's sword Isaiah 27:1 (in figurative); rough, rude 1 Samuel 25:3; severe things, of language Genesis 42:7,30 (E; with דִּדֶּר), 1 Samuel 20:10; 1 Kings 12:13 2Chronicles 10:13 (all with עָנָה); וְאָנֹכִי שָׁלוּחַ אֵלַיִח קָשָׁה 1 Kings 14:6 I am commissioned with a severe (message) unto thee (Ges^{§ 121d}. N.2 Da^{Synt. §§ 75} (d), 80); חָזוּת קָשָׁה Isaiah 21:2.

b. fierce, intense, vehement, of קִנְאָה Songs 8:6 ("" עַזָּה; compare Genesis 49:9).

3 עַםקְֿשֵׁהעֹֿרֶף a people stiff of neck, stubborn, Exodus 32:9; Exodus 33:3,5; Exodus 34:9 (all J E), Deuteronomy 9:6,13; עָרְמְּךָ הַקָּשֶׁה Deuteronomy 31:27; compare דַּרְכָּם הַקָּשָׁה Judges 2:19; קְשֵׁי פָנִים Ezekiel 2:4 (+ חִזְקֵילֵֿב), קְשֵׁאלֵֿב Ezekiel 3:7 (+ חִזְקֵימְֿצַח); ׳ק alone = stubborn Isaiah 48:4.

Overview

The adjective קָשֶׁה (qāšeh, Strong’s 7186) describes what is hard, harsh, severe, heavy, or stiff. About thirty-six Old Testament verses apply the term to physical burdens, verbal responses, inner dispositions, judicial dilemmas, and divine judgments. Each sphere of usage illuminates both the fallen condition of humanity and the gracious call of God to repentance and faith-filled obedience.

Hard Servitude and Oppression

Qāšeh first appears in the context of slavery. Egypt “made their lives bitter with harsh labor” (Exodus 1:14). The same expression recurs when Moses recounts Israel’s anguish: “I will deliver you from their bondage and redeem you from slavery with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment” (Exodus 6:6). The adjective exposes the cruelty of Pharaoh’s regime and magnifies the LORD’s compassion and power in redemption.

Later generations experienced similar oppression. Isaiah warns, “I will hand the Egyptians over to harsh masters” (Isaiah 19:4), indicating that the measure with which they treated Israel would be measured back to them. In each case qāšeh frames the backdrop against which God’s salvation shines.

Harsh Speech and Leadership

The word also characterizes abrasive words. Joseph, masking his identity, “spoke harshly” to his brothers (Genesis 42:7, 30). Rehoboam’s catastrophic reply to Israel is described the same way: “The king answered the people harshly… ‘My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke’” (1 Kings 12:13-14; cf. 2 Chronicles 10:13-14). Scripture thereby contrasts servant-hearted leadership with dictatorial severity and warns that harshness fractures community.

Stiff-Necked Rebellion

Most occurrences speak to obstinacy toward God. Israel in the wilderness is called “a stiff-necked people” (Exodus 32:9; 33:3, 5; 34:9; Deuteronomy 9:6, 13). Nehemiah’s prayer repeats the charge: “They and our fathers acted arrogantly… They became stiff-necked and would not listen” (Nehemiah 9:16-17, 29). The prophets reiterate the indictment (Jeremiah 17:23; 19:15). Qāšeh here depicts an inflexible will that resists divine instruction—an attitude later condemned in Proverbs: “He who hardens his heart will fall into calamity” (Proverbs 28:14; 29:1).

Weighty Matters and Difficult Decisions

Moses directs judges concerning “the case that is too difficult for you” (Deuteronomy 1:17). The same term appears in Deuteronomy 15:18—“Do not regard it as a hardship to set your servant free”—calling Israel to mercy even when obedience feels costly. Qāšeh thus addresses not only sin but the perceived difficulty of righteous action.

Severe Judgment and Providential Discipline

God’s discipline can itself be קָשֶׁה. Isaiah foresees a day when the land is left “hard-pressed and hungry” (Isaiah 8:21). Yet even severe judgment has redemptive purpose: to break the pride of the stiff-necked and draw them back to covenant faithfulness. Proverbs confirms the principle: refusal to heed reproof invites sudden, irreparable ruin (Proverbs 29:1).

Theological Trajectory

By tracing qāšeh from Egypt’s bondage through Israel’s rebellion to prophetic warnings, Scripture reveals a consistent moral logic: hardness against God begets harsh consequences, whereas humility invites liberation. The motif anticipates the New Testament call, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15), grounding that exhortation in the well-documented tragedy of Israel’s qāšeh disposition.

Ministry Implications

1. Shepherds are cautioned to shun harshness in speech and governance (cf. 1 Kings 12). Pastoral authority must mirror Christ, “gentle and humble in heart.”
2. Believers are urged to examine heart posture; habitual resistance to conviction signals the dangerous onset of spiritual sclerosis (Proverbs 28:14).
3. Congregations facing “hard” commands—such as costly generosity or reconciliation—should remember Deuteronomy 15:18: what seems qāšeh is in fact liberating obedience.
4. When discipline feels severe, God’s purpose is restorative, not vindictive (Isaiah 8:21; Hebrews 12:11).

Summary

Strong’s 7186 draws one unbroken line: harsh bondage, harsh words, stiff necks, and severe judgments all spring from or address a hardness alien to God’s character. Yet every text containing qāšeh simultaneously testifies to divine patience and the possibility of softening. The LORD who delivers from harsh labor can also replace the heart of stone with a heart of flesh, fulfilling the promise of Ezekiel 36:26 and securing a people eager to obey rather than hardened to resist.

הַקָּשֶׁ֑ה הַקָּשֶׁה֙ הַקָּשָֽׁה׃ הַקָּשָׁ֖ה הַקָּשָׁ֗ה הַקָּשָׁ֜ה הקשה הקשה׃ וְקָשָׁ֔ה וּקְשֵׁי־ וקשה וקשי־ לִקְשֵׁה־ לקשה־ קְשֵׁ֤י קְשֵׁה־ קְשַׁת־ קָשִׁ֣ים קָשֶׁ֑ה קָשֶׁ֖ה קָשֶׁ֛ה קָשָֽׁה׃ קָשָׁ֑ה קָשָׁ֖ה קָשָׁ֗ה קָשָׁ֥ה קָשׁ֑וֹת קָשׁ֗וֹת קשה קשה־ קשה׃ קשות קשי קשים קשת־ hakkaShah hakkaSheh haq·qā·šāh haq·qā·šeh haqqāšāh haqqāšeh kaShah kaSheh kaShim kaShot keshat kesheh keShei liksheh liq·šêh- liqšêh- qā·šāh qā·šeh qā·šîm qā·šō·wṯ qāšāh qāšeh qāšîm qāšōwṯ qə·šaṯ- qə·šê qə·šêh- qəšaṯ- qəšê qəšêh- ū·qə·šê- ukeshei ūqəšê- vekaShah wə·qā·šāh wəqāšāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts