“For rebellion is comparable to the sin of divination, and rebellion is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you from being king.” – 1 Samuel 15:23
Bible Verses About Being Stubborn
1. Genesis 6:3 – God expresses His patience with humanity, yet warns that their stubbornness will lead to consequences.
“Then the LORD said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.’ – Genesis 6:3
2. Proverbs 1:24-25 – Wisdom calls out to the stubborn who refuse to listen to her warnings.
“But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke,” – Proverbs 1:24-25
3. Proverbs 29:1 – A stubborn person is one who remains unresponsive and faces harsh consequences.
“Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.” – Proverbs 29:1
4. Jeremiah 7:24 – God’s people refused to heed His voice, showcasing their stubbornness.
“Yet they did not listen or pay attention; they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.” – Jeremiah 7:24
5. Matthew 23:37 – Jesus laments over Jerusalem’s stubbornness in rejecting Him.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing!” – Matthew 23:37
6. Exodus 32:9 – God describes Israel’s stubbornness after they turned to idolatry.
“The LORD said to Moses, ‘I have seen these people, and they are a stiff-necked people.'” – Exodus 32:9
7. Romans 2:5 – God’s wrath awaits those who are stubborn and unrepentant.
“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed.” – Romans 2:5
8. Isaiah 48:4 – The Lord speaks of the stubborn heart of His people.
“For I knew how stubborn you were; your neck muscles were iron, your forehead was bronze.” – Isaiah 48:4
9. Ezekiel 2:4 – God sends Ezekiel to a stubborn people.
“For they are a rebellious house. Their ancestors and their descendants have transgressed against me; they are stubborn and obstinate.” – Ezekiel 2:4
10. Zechariah 7:12 – They made their hearts as hard as flint, refusing the truth.
“They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry.” – Zechariah 7:12
11. 1 Samuel 15:26 – Stubborn disobedience leads to rejection.
“But Samuel said to Saul, ‘I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!'” – 1 Samuel 15:26
12. Luke 9:62 – God’s calling requires commitment, not a stubborn heart.
“Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'” – Luke 9:62
13. Jeremiah 11:8 – The people were stubborn, ignoring God’s calls to obedience.
“Yet they did not obey or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.'” – Jeremiah 11:8
14. Hebrews 3:15 – A warning against hardening our hearts as they did in the desert.
“As has just been said: ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.'” – Hebrews 3:15
15. Acts 7:51 – Stephen confronts the stubbornness of his listeners.
“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” – Acts 7:51
16. Romans 10:21 – God’s heart is heavy for those who are stubbornly rebellious.
“But regarding Israel He says, ‘All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.'” – Romans 10:21
17. Galatians 6:7 – A reminder that stubbornness will have its consequences.
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” – Galatians 6:7
18. Proverbs 12:15 – A wise person listens, unlike the stubborn.
“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” – Proverbs 12:15
19. Exodus 34:9 – Moses asks God to forgive the stubbornness of His people.
“And he said, ‘O LORD, if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the LORD go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and sin and take us as your inheritance.'” – Exodus 34:9
20. Proverbs 28:14 – Blessed are those who are careful, unlike the stubborn.
“Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.” – Proverbs 28:14
21. Jonah 1:2 – God calls Jonah, but Jonah stubbornly runs away.
“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” – Jonah 1:2
22. Matthew 11:20 – Jesus rebukes unrepentant cities for their stubborn hearts.
“Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.” – Matthew 11:20
23. Isaiah 48:8 – The Lord acknowledges the stubbornness of the Israelites.
“You have heard; look at all this. Will you not admit it? From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you.” – Isaiah 48:8
24. Deuteronomy 9:6 – A reminder that it was not their righteousness that saved them, but God’s mercy.
“Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.” – Deuteronomy 9:6
25. Jeremiah 5:3 – God laments the stubbornness of His people.
“LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; You crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.” – Jeremiah 5:3
26. Proverbs 16:18 – Pride leads to destruction, a sign of stubbornness.
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” – Proverbs 16:18
27. 1 Peter 5:5 – A call to humility instead of stubborn pride.
“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'” – 1 Peter 5:5
28. Ezekiel 3:7 – Not everyone will listen to God’s prophets.
“But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate.” – Ezekiel 3:7
29. Hebrews 4:7 – A call to not harden our hearts.
“God again set a certain day, calling it ‘Today.’ This He did when a long time later He spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.'” – Hebrews 4:7
30. 2 Chronicles 36:13 – The king’s pride and stubbornness lead to downfall.
“He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God’s name. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the LORD, the God of Israel.” – 2 Chronicles 36:13
31. Proverbs 3:11-12 – The Lord disciplines those He loves.
“My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent His rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.” – Proverbs 3:11-12
32. Matthew 15:8 – God wants our hearts, not just our words.
“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.'” – Matthew 15:8
33. Numbers 14:22 – Ten times the Israelites had refused to obey the Lord.
“Not one of those who treated me with contempt will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors.” – Numbers 14:22
34. Luke 18:22 – Jesus challenges the rich ruler’s stubbornness about following Him.
“When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'” – Luke 18:22
35. Exodus 10:1-2 – God telling Moses He has hardened Pharaoh’s heart.
“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them.'” – Exodus 10:1-2
36. Jeremiah 8:5 – The people remain stubborn despite their sin.
“Why then has this people turned away from Jerusalem, as by a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return.” – Jeremiah 8:5
37. John 12:40 – A warning about being spiritually blind and hard-hearted.
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” – John 12:40
38. Matthew 12:34 – The connection between words and a stubborn heart.
“You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” – Matthew 12:34
39. Luke 24:25 – Jesus reveals the stubbornness of hearts unwilling to believe.
“He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!'” – Luke 24:25
40. Revelation 3:19 – God disciplines those He loves.
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” – Revelation 3:19
Final Thoughts
Being stubborn isn’t just about holding our ground; it can lead us away from God’s will. These verses remind me of how vital it is to soften our hearts. Just like the stubborn Israelites, we can become stuck in our ways. Instead, we should seek humility and openness to change. Listening to God’s voice is crucial, especially when He calls us to do something difficult. We need to be aware that stubbornness can lead to consequences we might not foresee. Each scripture above offers a different perspective on this issue, showing us how God wants us to respond with willingness and faith.
Let’s keep exploring more topics in the Bible together! For instance, you might find these [Bible verses about gossip](https://explainingthebible.com/bible-verses-about-gossip/) insightful. It’s also valuable to look at [prayers for healing](https://explainingthebible.com/prayers-for-healing/) when we face challenges. As we grow in our faith, let’s be open to guidance, moving away from stubbornness toward embracing God’s plan in our lives.