Stubbornness is one of those traits that can either serve us or hurt us, depending on where it is rooted. When it reflects unwavering faith in God, it can be a strength. But when it becomes resistance to God’s truth or rebellion against His guidance, it quickly becomes a spiritual hindrance. The Bible speaks clearly about the dangers of being stiff-necked, hard-hearted, and unteachable. A stubborn heart often closes itself off from God’s voice, refuses correction, and chooses pride over humility.
God, in His mercy, consistently calls His people to repentance and surrender. Yet many times in Scripture, His people responded with stubbornness, choosing their way rather than His. The consequences of such defiance are always severe—broken relationships, wandering hearts, and missed blessings. Still, God’s grace remains available for those who turn back.
These verses are here to reveal how seriously God views a stubborn heart, but also to extend the invitation to yield and walk in soft-hearted obedience to Him. If you’ve struggled with stubbornness or encountered it in others, may these Scriptures guide you into the freedom that comes through surrender.
Bible Verses About Stubbornness
1. Proverbs 29:1
Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
2. 1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
3. Isaiah 30:1
Woe to the obstinate children, declares the Lord, to those who carry out plans that are not mine.
4. Acts 7:51
You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors.
5. Jeremiah 7:24
But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.
6. Psalm 81:11–12
But my people would not listen to me… so I gave them over to their stubborn hearts.
7. Zechariah 7:11–12
But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears.
8. Deuteronomy 9:6
Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land… for you are a stiff-necked people.
9. Romans 2:5
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself.
10. Exodus 32:9
I have seen these people, the Lord said to Moses, and they are a stiff-necked people.
11. Proverbs 28:14
Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
12. Isaiah 48:4
For I knew how stubborn you were; your neck muscles were iron, your forehead was bronze.
13. Deuteronomy 10:16
Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.
14. Hosea 4:16
The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the Lord pasture them like lambs in a meadow?
15. Nehemiah 9:29
They became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances… they became stiff-necked and would not listen.
16. 2 Kings 17:14
But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord.
17. Job 9:4
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
18. Matthew 23:37
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children… but you were not willing.
19. Leviticus 26:41
When their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin…
20. Ezekiel 3:7
But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me…
21. Psalm 78:8
They would not be like their ancestors—a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God.
22. 2 Chronicles 36:13
He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar… and became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord.
23. Deuteronomy 31:27
For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive…
24. Proverbs 12:15
The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
25. Ecclesiastes 7:9
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
26. 2 Timothy 4:3–4
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine… they will turn their ears away from the truth.
27. Matthew 13:15
For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
28. Jeremiah 5:3
You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction.
29. Isaiah 65:2
All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations.
30. Hebrews 3:15
Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.
31. Proverbs 1:24–25
But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand…
32. Zechariah 1:4
Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says—Turn from your evil ways!
33. Psalm 32:9
Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle.
34. Jeremiah 18:12
But they will reply, ‘It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.’
35. Revelation 2:5
Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.
Our Thoughts On what the Bible Says about Stubbornness
Stubbornness can become a major spiritual roadblock when it causes us to resist God’s correction or ignore His instructions. The Bible never praises a heart that clings to pride or insists on its own way. Instead, Scripture repeatedly calls us to be humble, teachable, and willing to change.
While determination can be good, stubbornness becomes dangerous when it shuts out the voice of God. The truth is, a soft heart is the soil where God’s Word grows best. When we let go of our resistance and open up to His leading, we find peace, clarity, and direction. If you’ve been holding tightly to your own way, now may be the time to ask God to soften your heart.
Say This Prayer
Lord, I confess that I have sometimes been stubborn and slow to listen. Forgive me for the times I chose my own path instead of Yours. I ask You to soften my heart and make me teachable. Help me to trust Your wisdom, even when it’s hard. Lead me in Your truth, and break down any pride that keeps me from growing. I want to follow You fully and obey You completely. Thank You for Your patience with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Evang. Anabelle Thompson is the founder of Believers Refuge, a Scripture-based resource that helps Christians to find biblical guidance for life’s challenges.
With over 15 years of ministry experience and a decade of dedicated Bible study, she creates content that connects believers with relevant Scripture for their daily struggles.
Her work has reached over 76,000 monthly readers (which is projected to reach 100,000 readers by the end of 2025) seeking practical faith applications, biblical encouragement, and spiritual guidance rooted in God’s Word.
She writes from personal experience, having walked through seasons of waiting, breakthrough, and spiritual growth that inform her teaching.
Evang. Thompson brings 12 years of active ministry and evangelism experience, along with over 10 years of systematic Bible study and theological research.
As a former small group leader and Sunday school teacher, she has published over 200 biblical resources and devotional studies.
She specializes in applying Scripture to everyday life challenges and regularly studies the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper biblical understanding.