Dictionaries :: Heart

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Heart:

According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. "Heart" and "soul" are often used interchangeably (Deu 6:5; 26:16; Mat 22:37; Mar 12:30,33), but this is not generally the case.

The heart is the "home of the personal life," and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1Ki 3:12, etc.), pure (Psa 24:4; Mat 5:8, etc.), upright and righteous (Gen 20:5,6; Psa 11:2; 78:72), pious and good (Luk 8:15), etc. In these and such passages the word "soul" could not be substituted for "heart."

The heart is also the seat of the conscience (Rom 2:15). It is naturally wicked (Gen 8:21), and hence it contaminates the whole life and character (Mat 12:34; 15:18; Ecc 8:11; Psa 73:7). Hence the heart must be changed, regenerated (Eze 36:26; 11:19; Psa 51:10-14), before a man can willingly obey God.

The process of salvation begins in the heart by the believing reception of the testimony of God, while the rejection of that testimony hardens the heart (Psa 95:8; Pro 28:14; 2Ch 36:13). "Hardness of heart evidences itself by light views of sin; partial acknowledgment and confession of it; pride and conceit; ingratitude; unconcern about the word and ordinances of God; inattention to divine providences; stifling convictions of conscience; shunning reproof; presumption, and general ignorance of divine things."

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Heart:

hart (lebh, lebhabh; kardia): The different senses in which the word occurs in the Old Testament and the New Testament may be grouped under the following heads:

1. Various Meanings:

It represents in the first place the bodily organ, and by easy transition those experiences which affect or are affected by the body. Fear, love, courage, anger, Joy, sorrow, hatred are always ascribed to the heart-especially in the Old Testament; thus courage for which usually ruach is used (Ps 27:14); joy (Ps 4:7); anger (De 19:6, "while his heart is hot," lebhabh); fear (1Sa 25:37); sorrow (Ps 13:2), etc.

Hence, naturally it came to stand for the man himself (De 7:17; "say in thine heart," Isa 14:13).

2. Heart and Personality:

As representing the man himself, it was considered to be the seat of the emotions and passions and appetites (Ge 18:5; Le 19:17; Ps 104:15), and embraced likewise the intellectual and moral faculties-though these are necessarily ascribed to the "soul" as well. This distinction is not always observed.

3. Soul and Heart:

"Soul" in Hebrew can never be rendered by "heart"; nor can "heart" be considered as a synonym for "soul." Cremer has well observed: "The Hebrew nephesh ("soul") is never translated kardia ("heart")..... The range of the Hebrew nephesh, to which the Greek psuche alone corresponds, differs so widely from the ideas connected with psuche, that utter confusion would have ensued had psuche been employed in an unlimited degree for lebh ("heart"). The Biblical lebh never, like psuche, denotes the personal subject, nor could it do so. That which in classical Greek is ascribed to psuche (a good soul, a just soul, etc.) is in the Bible ascribed to the heart alone and cannot be otherwise" (Cremer, Lexicon, article "Kardia," 437 ff, German edition).

4. Center of Vital Action:

In the heart vital action is centered (1Ki 21:7). "Heart," except as a bodily organ, is never ascribed to animals, as is the case sometimes with nephesh and ruach (Le 17:11, nephesh; Ge 2:19; Nu 16:22; Ge 7:22, ruach). "Heart" is thus often used interchangeably with these two (Ge 41:8; Ps 86:4; 119:20); but "it never denotes the personal subject, always the personal organ."

5. Heart and Mind:

As the central organ in the body, forming a focus for its vital action, it has come to stand for the center of its moral, spiritual, intellectual life. "In particular the heart is the place in which the process of self-consciousness is carried out, in which the soul is at home with itself, and is conscious of all its doing and suffering as its own" (Oehler). Hence, it is that men of "courage" are called "men of the heart"; that the Lord is said to speak "in his heart" (Ge 8:21); that men "know in their own heart" (De 8:5); that "no one considereth in his heart' (Isa 44:19 the King James Version). "Heart" in this connection is sometimes rendered "mind," as in Nu 16:28 ("of mine own mind," Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) ex proprio corde, Septuagint ap' emautou); the foolish "is void of understanding," i.e. "heart" (Pr 6:32, where the Septuagint renders phrenon, Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) cordis, Luther "der ist ein Narr"). God is represented as "searching the heart" and "trying the reins" (Jer 17:10 the King James Version). Thus, "heart" comes to stand for "conscience," for which there is no word in Hebrew, as in Job 27:6, "My heart shall not reproach me," or in 1Sa 24:5, "David's heart smote him"; compare 1Sa 25:31. From this it appears, in the words of Owen: "The heart in Scripture is variously used, sometimes for the mind and understanding, sometimes for the will, sometimes for the affections, sometimes for the conscience, sometimes for the whole soul. Generally, it denotes the whole soul of man and all the faculties of it, not absolutely, but as they are all one principle of moral operations, as they all concur in our doing of good and evil."

6. Figurative Senses:

The radical corruption of human nature is clearly taught in Scripture and brought into connection with the heart. It is "uncircumcised" (Jer 9:26; Eze 44:7; compare Ac 7:51); and "hardened" (Ex 4:21); "wicked" (Pr 26:23); "perverse" (Pr 11:20); "godless" (Job 36:13); "deceitful and desperately wicked" (Jer 17:9 the King James Version). It defiles the whole man (Mt 15:19,20); resists, as in the case of Pharaoh, the repeated call of God (Ex 7:13). There, however, the law of God is written (Ro 2:15); there the work of grace is wrought (Ac 15:9), for the "heart" may be "renewed" by grace (Eze 36:26), because the "heart" is the seat of sin (Ge 6:5; 8:21).

7. Process of Heart Renewal:

This process of heart-renewal is indicated in various ways. It is the removal of a "stony heart" (Eze 11:19). The heart becomes "clean" (Ps 51:10); "fixed" (Ps 112:7) through "the fear" of the Lord (verse 1); "With the heart man believeth" (Ro 10:10); on the "heart" the power of God is exercised for renewal (Jer 31:33). To God the bereaved apostles pray as a knower of the heart (Ac 1:24-a word not known to classical writers, found only here in the New Testament and in Ac 15:8, kardiognostes). In the "heart" God's Spirit dwells with might (Eph 3:16, eis ton eso anthropon); in the "heart" God's love is poured forth (Ro 5:5). The Spirit of His son has been "sent forth into the heart" (Ga 4:6); the "earnest of the Spirit" has been given "in the heart" (2Co 1:22). In the work of grace, therefore, the heart occupies a position almost unique.

8. The Heart First:

We might also refer here to the command, on which both the Old Testament and New Testament revelation of love is based: "Thou shalt love Yahweh thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might" (De 6:5); where "heart" always takes the first place, and is the term which in the New Testament rendering remains unchanged (compare Mt 22:37; Mr 12:30,33; Lu 10:27, where "heart" always takes precedence).

9. A Term for "Deepest":

A bare reference may be made to the employment of the term for that which is innermost, hidden, deepest in anything (Ex 15:8; Jon 2:3), the very center of things. This we find in all languages. Compare Eph 3:16,17, "in the inward man," as above.

Written by J. I. Marais

Nave's Topical Bible

Heart: Definition Of

Seat of the affections

Heart: Renewed:

Deu 30:6; Psa 51:10; Eze 11:19; 18:31; 36:26; Rom 2:29; Eph 4:23; Col 3:10

Regenerated,

Jhn 3:3, 7.

Graciously affected of God,

1Sa 10:26; 1Ch 29:18; Ezr 6:22; 7:27; Pro 16:1; 21:1; Jer 20:9; Act 16:14.

Strengthened,

Psa 27:14; 112:8; 1Th 3:13.

Enlightened,

2Cr 4:6.

Tested,

1Ch 29:17; Psa 7:9; 26:2; Pro 17:3; Jer 11:20; 12:3; 20:12; 1Th 2:4; Hbr 11:17; Rev 2:2, 10.

Heart: Renewed: It Should Render to God

Obedience,

Deu 10:12; 11:13; 26:16; 1Ki 2:4; Psa 119:112; Eph 6:6;

faith,

Psa 27:3; 112:7; Act 8:37; Rom 6:17; 10:10;

trust,

Pro 3:5;

love,

Mat 22:37;

fear,

Psa 119:161; Jer 32:40;

fidelity,

Neh 9:8;

zeal,

2Ch 17:16; Jer 20:9.

Heart: Renewed: It Should Seek God

2Ch 19:3; 30:19; Ezr 7:10; Psa 10:17; 84:2;

Be joyful,

1Sa 2:1; Psa 4:7; 97:11; Isa 65:14; Zec 10:7;

upright,

Psa 97:11; 125:4;

clean,

Psa 51:10; 73:1;

pure,

Psa 24:4; Pro 22:11; Mat 5:8; 1Ti 1:5; 2Ti 2:22; Jam 4:8; 1Pe 1:22;

sincere,

Luk 8:15; Act 2:46; Eph 6:5; Col 3:22; Hbr 10:22;

repentant,

Deu 30:2; Psa 34:18; 51:17;

devout,

1Sa 1:13; Psa 4:4; 9:1; 27:8; 77:6; 119:10, 69, 145;

wise,

1Ki 3:9, 12; 4:29; Job 9:4; Pro 8:10; 10:8; 11:29; 14:33; 23:15;

tender,

1Sa 24:5; 2Ki 22:19; Job 23:16; Psa 22:14; Eph 4:32;

holy,

Psa 66:18; 1Pe 3:15;

compassionate,

Jer 4:19; Lam 3:51;

lowly,

Mat 11:29.

Heart: The Unregenerate:

Is full of iniquity,

Gen 6:5; 8:21; 1Sa 17:28; Pro 6:14, 18; 11:20; Ecc 8:11; 9:3; Jer 4:14, 18; 17:9; Rom 1:21.

Loves evil,

Deu 29:18; Psa 95:10; Jer 17:5.

Is a fountain of evil,

Mat 12:34.

See DEPRAVITY

Is wayward,

2Ch 12:14; Psa 101:4; Pro 6:14; 11:20; 12:8; 17:20; Jer 5:23; Hbr 3:10;

blind,

Rom 1:21; Eph 4:18.

See BLINDNESS, SPIRITUAL

Is double (duplicity),

1Ch 12:33; Psa 12:2; Hsa 10:2; Jam 1:6, 8; Pro 28:14; Isa 9:9; 10:12; 46:12.

See INSTABILITY

Is hard,

Psa 76:5; Eze 2:4; 3:7; 11:19; 36:26; Mar 6:52; 10:5; 16:14; Jhn 12:40; Rom 1:21; 2:5.

See IMPENITENCE; OBDURACY

Is deceitful,

Jer 17:9.

Is proud,

2Ki 14:10; 2Ch 25:19; Psa 101:5; Pro 18:12; 28:25; Jer 48:29; 49:16.

See PRIDE

Is subtle,

Pro 7:10.

See HYPOCRISY

Is sensual,

Eze 6:9; Hsa 13:6; Rom 8:7.

See LASCIVIOUSNESS

Is worldly,

2Ch 26:16; Dan 5:20; Act 8:21, 22.

Is judicially hardened,

Exd 4:21; Jos 11:20; Isa 6:10; Act 28:26, 27.

Is malicious,

Psa 28:3; 140:2; Pro 24:2; Ecc 7:26; Eze 25:15.

See MALICE

Is impenitent,

Rom 2:5.

See IMPENITENCE

Is diabolical,

Jhn 13:2; Act 5:3.

Is covetous,

Jer 22:17; 2Pe 2:14.

See COVETOUSNESS

Is foolish,

Pro 12:23; 22:15; Ecc 9:3.

Heart: Unclassified Scriptures Descriptive of the Seat of the Affections:

Deu 5:29; 6:5, 6; 1Sa 16:7; 1Ch 28:9; 2Ch 12:14; Psa 22:26; 34:18; 51:10, 17; 57:7; 112:7; Pro 4:23; 14:30; 15:13-15; 16:1; 20:9; Jer 17:1, 9, 10; Mat 5:8; 9:4; 12:33; 15:18-20; 23:26; Mar 7:21; Act 8:22; Rom 2:5, 14-16; Hbr 3:8, 15

Heart: Instances of Hardened Hearts:

Pharoah,

Exd 4:21; 7:3, 13, 22; 8:15, 32; 9:12.

Sihon,

Deu 2:30.

King of Canaan,

Jos 11:20.

Others,

1Sa 6:6.

Heart: Known to God

Deu 31:21; 1Sa 16:7; 2Sa 7:20; 1Ki 8:39; 1Ch 28:9; Job 11:11; 16:19; 31:4; Psa 1:6; 44:21; 51:10; 94:11; 139:1-12; Pro 5:21; 16:2; 21:2; Isa 66:18; Jer 12:3; 17:10; Eze 11:5, 19-21; 36:25, 26; Luk 16:15; Act 1:24; 15:8; Rom 8:27; 1Cr 3:20; Hbr 4:12; Rev 2:23

Heart: Change Of

INSTANCES OF:

Saul,

1Sa 10:9.

Solomon,

1Ki 3:11, 12.

Saul of Tarsus,

Act 9:1-18.

See REGENERATION; SANCTIFICATION

Thematic Subject Guide

Heart:

Gen 6:5; Gen 8:21Exd 4:21; Exd 7:3; Exd 7:13; Exd 7:22; Exd 8:15; Exd 8:32; Exd 9:12; Exd 9:34-35; Exd 10:1; Exd 10:20; Exd 10:27; Exd 11:9-10; Exd 14:4; Exd14:8; Exd 14:17Deu 2:30; Deu 5:29; Deu 6:5-6; Deu 10:12; Deu 11:13; Deu 26:16; Deu 29:18; Deu 30:2; Deu 30:6; Deu 31:21Jos 11:201Sa 1:13; 1Sa 2:1; 1Sa 6:6; 1Sa 10:9; 1Sa 10:26; 1Sa 16:7; 1Sa 17:28; 1Sa 24:52Sa 7:201Ki 2:4; 1Ki 3:9; 1Ki 3:11-12; 1Ki 4:29; 1Ki 8:39; 1Ki 8:612Ki 14:10; 2Ki 22:191Ch 12:33; 1Ch 28:9; 1Ch 29:17-182Ch 12:14; 2Ch 17:16; 2Ch 19:3; 2Ch 25:19; 2Ch 26:16; 2Ch 30:19Ezr 6:22; Ezr 7:10; Ezr 7:27Neh 9:8Job 9:4; Job 11:11; Job 16:19; Job 23:16; Job 31:4Psa 1:6; Psa 4:4; Psa 4:7; Psa 7:9; Psa 9:1; Psa 10:17; Psa 12:2; Psa 22:14; Psa 22:26; Psa 24:4; Psa 26:2; Psa 27:3; Psa 27:8; Psa 27:14; Psa 28:3; Psa 34:18; Psa 44:21; Psa 51:10; Psa 51:17; Psa 57:7; Psa 66:18; Psa 73:1; Psa 76:5; Psa 77:6; Psa 84:2; Psa 94:11; Psa 95:10; Psa 97:11; Psa 101:2; Psa 101:4-5; Psa 112:7-8; Psa 119:1; Psa 119:10; Psa 119:12; Psa 119:69; Psa 119:145; Psa 119:161; Psa 125:4; Psa 139:1-12; Psa 140:2Pro 3:5; Pro 4:23; Pro 5:21; Pro 6:14; Pro 6:18; Pro 7:10; Pro 8:10; Pro 10:8; Pro 11:20; Pro 11:29; Pro 12:8; Pro 12:23; Pro 14:30; Pro 14:33; Pro 15:13-15; Pro 16:1-2; Pro 17:3; Pro 17:20; Pro 18:12; Pro 20:9; Pro21:1-2; Pro 22:11; Pro 22:15; Pro 23:15; Pro 24:2; Pro 28:14; Pro 28:25Ecc 7:26; Ecc 8:11; Ecc 9:3Isa 6:10; Isa 9:9; Isa 10:12; Isa 46:12; Isa 65:14; Isa 66:18Jer 4:14; Jer 4:18-19; Jer 5:23; Jer 11:20; Jer 12:3; Jer 17:1; Jer 17:5; Jer 17:9-10; Jer 20:9; Jer 20:12; Jer 22:17; Jer 32:40; Jer 48:29; Jer 49:16Lam 3:51Eze 2:4;Eze 3:7; Eze 6:9; Eze 11:5; Eze 11:19-21; Eze 18:31; Eze 25:15; Eze 36:26Dan 5:20Hsa 10:2; Hsa 13:6Zec 10:7Mat 5:8; Mat 9:4; Mat 11:29; Mat 12:33-35; Mat 15:18-20; Mat 22:37; Mat 23:26Mar 6:52; Mar 7:21; Mar 10:5; Mar 16:14Luk 8:15; Luk 16:15Jhn 3:3; Jhn 3:7; Jhn 12:40; Jhn 13:2Act 1:24; Act 2:46; Act 5:3; Act 8:21-22; Act 9:1-18; Act 15:8; Act 16:14; Act 28:26-27Rom 1:21; Rom 2:5; Rom 2:14-16; Rom 2:29; Rom 6:17; Rom 8:7; Rom 8:27; Rom 10:101Cr 3:202Cr 4:6Eph4:18; Eph 4:23; Eph 4:32; Eph 6:5-6Col 3:10; Col 3:221Th 2:4; 1Th 3:131Ti 1:52Ti 2:22Hbr 3:8; Hbr 3:10; Hbr 4:12; Hbr 10:22; Hbr 11:17Jam 1:6; Jam 1:8;Jam 4:81Pe 1:22; 1Pe 3:152Pe 2:14Rev 2:2; Rev 2:10; Rev 2:23