Reference: Hard
Hastings
Besides other meanings which are still in use, 'hard' sometimes means close: Jg 9:52 'And Abimelech
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then said Sarai unto Abram: My wrong, is, on thee! I, gave my handmaid into thy broom, and when she seeth that she hath conceived, then am lightly esteemed in her eyes Yahweh judge betwixt me and her.
And it came to pass when Pharaoh had shown himself too hardened to let us go, then did Yahweh slay every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of men even unto the firstborn of beasts. For this cause, am, I, sacrificing to Yahweh whatsoever is born first, of the males, and every firstborn of my sons, must I redeem.
And Abimelech came in as far as the tower, and fought against it, - and so came near, as far as the entrance of the tower, to burn it with fire.
My spirit, is broken, My days, are extinguished, Graves, are left me.
My soul hath run clinging to thee, On me, hath thy right hand laid hold.
And, Jesus, said unto his disciples - Verily, I say unto you, A rich man, with difficulty, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
And lo! a spirit, taketh him, and, suddenly, he crieth out, - and it convulseth him - with foaming, and with difficulty departeth from him, sorely bruising him.
And, removing from thence, he came into the house of a certain man by name Titius Justus, who worshipped God, whose house was adjoining unto the synagogue.
and, with difficulty coasting it, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near to which was the city of Lasea.
Take thy part in suffering hardship, as a brave soldier of Christ Jesus: -
Through which, his precious, and very great, promises, have, unto us, been given, in order that, through these, ye might become sharers in a divine nature - escaping the corruption that is in the world by coveting.