"to petrify; to harden; in NT to harden the feelings, Jn. 12:40; pass. to become callous, unimpressible, Mk. 6:52; 8:17; Rom. 11:7; 2 Cor. 3:14*"
Definition and meaning
to petrify; to harden; in NT to harden the feelings, Jn. 12:40; pass. to become callous, unimpressible, Mk. 6:52; 8:17; Rom. 11:7; 2 Cor. 3:14*
In the original Greek the word is written: πωρόω
Historical context
The Gospel of Mark moves urgently — the word "immediately" appears over 40 times. It was written for a Roman audience familiar with power and action. Jesus is portrayed as a man who acts, heals, and commands authority that the Roman world had never seen from a Jewish teacher.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of poroo (G4456) across the King James Bible.
For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
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Common questions
Strong's G4456 (poroo) is a Greek word that means: to petrify; to harden; in NT to harden the feelings, Jn. 12:40; pass. to become callous, unimpressible, Mk. 6:52; 8:17; Rom. 11:7; 2 Cor. 3:14* It appears 5 times in the King James Bible.
The word poroo (G4456) appears 5 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4456 is poroo, a Greek word defined as: to petrify; to harden; in NT to harden the feelings, Jn. 12:40; pass. to become callous, unimpressible, Mk. 6:52; 8:17; Rom. 11:7; 2 Cor. 3:14*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
poroo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.