Reference: Hard
Hastings
Besides other meanings which are still in use, 'hard' sometimes means close: Jg 9:52 'And Abimelech
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And Sarai said to Abram, my wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beasts: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the first-born of my children I redeem.
And Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
Then said Jesus to his disciples, Verily I say to you, that a rich man shall with difficulty enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth, and bruising him, hardly departeth from him.
And he departed thence, and entered into the house of a certain man named Justus, one that worshiped God, whose house joined close to the synagogue.
And hardly passing it, came to a place which is called, The fair havens; nigh to which was the city of Lasea.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.