Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 3:8

"Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, Like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness," — Hebrews 3:8 (ASV)

To “harden” (GK 5020) the heart is to disobey the voice of God and act in accordance with one’s own desires. This is what Israel did in the wilderness. The psalmist refers to the incident when there was no water and the Israelites “put the Lord to the test” (Exodus 17:1–7). In the LXX the place names “Massah” and “Meribah” are always translated by words such as “rebellion” and “testing.” Through lack of faith and failure to appreciate God’s purposes of grace, the people of Israel put him to the test.