Original Word: πωρόω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: póroó
Pronunciation: po-ro'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (po-ro'-o)
Definition: To harden, to make callous, to render insensitive
Meaning: I harden, render callous, petrify.

Word Origin: From the Greek word "πῶρος" (póros), meaning a kind of stone or callus.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H2388 (חָזַק, chazaq): Often translated as "to harden," used in contexts like the hardening of Pharaoh's heart (Exodus 4:21).

- H7185 (קָשָׁה, qashah): Meaning "to harden" or "to make stiff," used in reference to the Israelites' stubbornness (Deuteronomy 9:27).

Usage: The verb "póroó" is used in the New Testament to describe the process of hardening, particularly in a spiritual or moral sense. It refers to the dulling or insensitivity of one's heart or mind, often as a result of persistent unbelief or disobedience. This hardening can lead to an inability to perceive or understand spiritual truths.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of hardening was often associated with a lack of responsiveness or sensitivity, whether physically or metaphorically. In the biblical context, it is frequently used to describe the spiritual state of individuals or groups who resist God's revelation and truth. The imagery of a hardened heart is rooted in the Old Testament, where it often describes the obstinacy of the Israelites or their leaders.

4456 pōróō (from pōros, a kind of marble) – properly, made of stone; (figuratively) insensible; dull, unperceptive as a rock; calloused (hardened); i.e. unresponsive (dense), completely lacking sensitivity or spiritual perception.

[From the time of Hippocrates, 4456 (pōróō) means "harden," like a formed callus which petrifies (cf. DNTT, 2, 153).

4456 (pōróō) was applied to bony formations on the joints (a "callus," ossification) – hence meaning "to petrify" (as in "covering over with a callus"). 4456 (pōróō) is only used figuratively in the NT meaning "to deaden (dull), to make (render) obtuse (dull, dead)" (Souter).]

Word Origin
from póros (a stone, a callous)
Definition
to petrify, i.e. to harden
NASB Translation
hardened (5).

STRONGS NT 4456: πωρόω

πωρόω, πώρω: 1 aorist ἐπωρωσα (John 12:40 T Tr WH); perfect πεπώρωκα; perfect passive participle πεπωρωμενος; 1 aorist passive ἐπωρωθην; (πῶρος, hard skin, a hardening, induration); to cover with a thick skin, to harden by covering with a callus (R. V. everywhere simply to harden): metaphorically, καρδίαν, to make the heart dull, John 12:40; passive, to grow hard or callous, become dull, lose the power of understanding: Romans 11:7; τά νοήματα, 2 Corinthians 3:14; ἡ καρδία, Mark 6:52; Mark 8:17. Cf. Fritzsche, Commentary on Mark, p. 78f; on Romans, ii., p. 451f. ((Hippocrates (), Aristotle, others.))

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

harden, blind

Apparently from poros (a kind of stone); to petrify, i.e. (figuratively) to indurate (render stupid or callous) -- blind, harden.

Forms and Transliterations

επωρωθη επωρώθη ἐπωρώθη επωρωθησαν επωρώθησαν ἐπωρώθησαν επωρωσεν ἐπώρωσεν πεπώρωκεν πεπωρωμενη πεπωρωμένη πεπωρωμενην πεπωρωμένην πεπώρωνται eporosen epōrōsen epṓrosen epṓrōsen eporothe eporṓthe epōrōthē epōrṓthē eporothesan eporṓthesan epōrōthēsan epōrṓthēsan peporomene peporoméne pepōrōmenē pepōrōménē peporomenen peporoménen pepōrōmenēn pepōrōménēn

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