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HARDENING OF HEART.—(a) The relation in Scripture between the blood and the life (Lev_17:11) is such that the heart is naturally ‘the typical centre of personal life’ (cf. Westcott on Heb_4:12 and 1Jn_1:7 Add. Notes); the seat of understanding (1Ki_3:9; 1Ki_3:12), affection (Deu_6:5), will (Jer_5:23), character (1Ki_9:4, Eze_11:21); the fountain at which all issues (Pro_4:23) may receive a Divine direction, (b) It is described as tender (2Ki_22:18 f.), hard (Exo_8:19), of flesh or of stone (Eze_11:19 ff.), not in the popular sense of merciful or cruel, but according to its receptivity (or otherwise) of Divine impressions. Of the Greek words employed to express such hardness the two more remarkable (see below) represent the heart as callous (i.e. ossified) or fat. (c) An important distinction is to be made between two expressions:—(i.) ‘Hardness of heart.’ To a certain extent this is an unavoidable infirmity of man’s natural condition. As such, it is the object of Divine condescension, which (as Christ directly asserts) is the explanation of much OT legislation (Mat_19:8 ||). It is referred to in the Gospels as (1) óêëçñïêáñäßá , Mat_19:8 || Mar_10:5 [Mar_16:14]; as (2) êáñä . ðåðùñùìÝíç , Mar_6:52; Mar_8:17. (ii.) ‘Hardening of heart.’ This is a voluntary process: the object therefore of Divine condemnation (cf. Mat_11:20 ff; Mat_13:15; Mat_23:37 ff., Rom_2:5). Its active nature, as distinguished from passive infirmity, is indicated by the form ðþñùóéò , Mar_3:5 (cf. Rom_11:25, Eph_4:18), in contrast to the pf. pt. pass. Mar_6:52; Mar_8:17. (d) Hardening is represented, alternatively with conversion, as a direct consequence of contact with grace and the gospel (Mat_13:15, Joh_3:19 f., Joh_9:39; cf. 2Co_5:10). The origin of the process is variously stated, according to the side from which it is viewed. Thus—(1) The heart is hardened, as though by the action of a mechanical law: Mat_13:15 = Isa_6:10 LXX Septuagint (cf. Act_19:9, Rom_11:7; Rom_11:25, 2Co_3:14). (2) Man hardens his heart. This aspect, though necessarily involved in man’s responsibility and often stated in the OT (Exo_9:34, 1Sa_6:8, 2Ch_36:13), is not expressly referred to in the NT, except in Heb_3:8 = Psa_95:8. (3) God hardens it: Joh_12:40 = a paraphrase of Isa_6:10; see Westcott, ad loc., and cf. Rom_9:18. This is often known as ‘judicial hardening’: it is ‘the inexorable law of moral consequence’ (Westcott on Heb_3:8). It comes to pass that ‘he who will not turn at last cannot. And God, who established that law of man’s nature, is said in Scripture to do that which occurs under it or results from it’ (Vaughan on Rom_9:18). (e) In the OT the typical case is that of Pharaoh; in which all three statements are remarkably exemplified (Exo_7:14; Exo_8:15; Exo_9:12). Bunyan’s ‘Man in the iron cage’ is a powerful picture of hardening in its final stage: at the same time, the man who is past repentance is usually past feeling (Eph_4:18 f.).
F. S. Ranken.