σκληροτράχηλος

From the study of Acts 7:51

Range of meaning

Literally 'hard-necked'. Used of a beast of burden that stiffens its neck and refuses to be steered by yoke or reins. Applied to people, it means obstinate and unwilling to be led, especially refusing to be led by God.

Against the English

'Stiff-necked' is a calque, a word-for-word copy of the image, and it is accurate. In modern English, though, 'stiff-necked' often means stuffy, formal or haughty. 'Stubborn' (NLT) keeps the sense but loses the yoke picture and the clear echo of Exodus.

How it drifted

In current English the phrase has slid toward 'rigid, prim, aloof', a matter of manners rather than refusing to be guided.

Used elsewhere in the period

The word is almost entirely biblical and Jewish Greek. It renders the Hebrew qesheh-ʿoref ('hard of neck') in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), at Exodus 33:3, 5; 34:9 and Deuteronomy 9:6, 13, all tied to the golden calf. It also appears at Baruch 2:30 and Sirach 16:11. Before Luke, it is hardly found outside this Jewish usage.