The Greek word pōróō, represented by G4456, means to petrify or, figuratively, to harden or blind. It is derived from a word for a type of stone and describes a process of rendering something stupid or callous. This word appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible, indicating a specific and significant theological concept.
In the biblical narrative, G4456 is consistently used to describe a state of spiritual dullness or resistance. For example, the disciples' hearts were hardened after the miracle of the loaves, preventing them from considering its significance Mark 6:52. Jesus later asks them directly, "have ye your heart yet hardened?" when they fail to perceive or understand His teachings Mark 8:17. The term is also used to describe the state of Israel, where "the rest were blinded" Romans 11:7. In a pivotal passage, it is stated that God has hardened their heart, preventing them from seeing, understanding with their heart, and being converted for healing John 12:40. This spiritual condition is also described as their minds being blinded during the reading of the Old Testament 2 Corinthians 3:14.
Several related words clarify the impact of being hardened:
- G2588 kardía (heart): Defined as the thoughts or feelings (mind). This is the primary subject of hardening in multiple accounts, as in "their heart was hardened" Mark 6:52 and "hardened their heart" John 12:40.
- G3540 nóēma (mind): Meaning a perception or the intellect itself. This word is used in parallel with G4456 to describe how a spiritual dullness affects understanding, as seen in the phrase "their minds were blinded" 2 Corinthians 3:14.
- G5186 typhlóō (to make blind): This term, meaning to obscure, is used alongside G4456 to create a fuller picture of spiritual inability. For instance, God "hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart" John 12:40.
The theological weight of G4456 is significant, pointing to a state of spiritual insensibility.
- A Barrier to Salvation: Hardening is explicitly linked to an inability to perceive spiritual truth. It prevents a person from seeing with their eyes G3788, understanding G3539 with their heart G2588, being converted G1994, and ultimately being healed G2390 by God John 12:40.
- Affects Heart and Mind: The process of hardening targets the core of human perception and will. Scripture describes both the heart G2588 being hardened (Mark 6:52, Mark 8:17) and the minds G3540 being blinded 2 Corinthians 3:14, indicating a comprehensive dullness.
- Divine Action: The use of G4456 points to a divine action or judgment. John 12:40 states, "He hath... hardened their heart," and in Romans 11:7, the blinding of "the rest" is presented as a consequence within God's sovereign plan of election.
In summary, G4456 is a potent term that goes beyond simple stubbornness to describe a state of spiritual petrification. It signifies a hardening of the heart G2588 and a blinding of the mind G3540 that makes an individual incapable of understanding spiritual realities or responding to God. This condition is presented as a direct obstacle to conversion G1994 and divine healing G2390, making G4456 a crucial word for understanding biblical concepts of unbelief and divine judgment.
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