10/31/26

The other day, I heard someone on a newscast use the word “obstinate.” This isn’t a new word for me; I’m sure I’ve used it once or twice on one of my “angelic” children. But just for the record, I wanted to see what the dictionary had to say. It says: “Obstinate is an adjective that means stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion, behavior, or course of action, even when asked or shown why it is wrong.” This word comes from the Latin word obstinatus, meaning “resolved” or “stubborn”. One thing I learned about obstinacy was when my Mom told me loudly, “Don’t talk back to your mother!”

So, I wanted to see what psychologists had to say about obstinate people. I found that psychologists and neuroscientists view obstinate or stubborn people as individuals driven by a mix of brain prediction patterns, ego protection, and a deep craving for control. They say that the brain relies on past experiences to make fast rules about how the world works, sometimes ignoring new evidence that proves it wrong. For such people, admitting a mistake causes mental discomfort, so the brain uses confirmation bias to find reasons why it is already right. Hardheadedness or rigid thinking often hides deep vulnerability, fear of losing status, or a need to protect self-esteem. There is a good side to stubborn people can be very decisive, hold strong boundaries, and show high resilience when chasing goals or surviving hardships. But there is also a bad side: extreme psychological rigidity often leads to weaker communication, relationship conflict, and trouble accepting helpful feedback at work.

This made me curous to find out what the Bible has to say about such people. The Bible warns that stubborn and obstinate people—frequently described as “stiff-necked”—face severe destruction when they ignore repeated warnings and refuse to accept correction. Proverbs 29:1 states that anyone who is corrected often but still hardens their neck will suddenly be broken beyond healing. The Scriptures also teach that persistent stubbornness eventually leads to a point where no remedy or fix remains. And Proverbs 12:15 explains that a stubborn fool always thinks his own path is correct, while wise people listen to counsel. Proverbs also notes that pride and a haughty spirit go directly before a fall and destruction. [16:18]. The Old Testament frequently describes the nation of Israel and Pharaoh as stubborn for turning away from God’s voice. [Exodus 7:13-14; 9:12; 10:20; 32:9; 33:3; Deuteronomy 9:6; Isaiah 48:4]. In the New Testament, Acts 7:51 calls stiff-necked people uncircumcised in heart because they constantly resist the Holy Spirit. Also see: Hebrews 3:12-13; 4:7; Romans 2:5. Jesus also rebuked religious leaders whose hardened hearts and spiritual blindness kept them from recognizing truth. [Matthew 15:13; 23:1-24; Mark 3:6; John 9:39-41. Believers learn humility, spiritual growth, and how to better hear God’s voice by choosing not to be stubborn.