לֵב
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings
Definition
The Hebrew word לֵב (lêb) primarily refers to the physical heart, but its dominant use is figurative, representing the inner person. It encompasses the seat of emotions (e.g., joy in Proverbs 15:13, grief in 1 Samuel 1:8), the will and volition (e.g., Pharaoh's hardened heart in Exodus 7:13), and the intellect or understanding (e.g., Solomon's wise heart in 1 Kings 3:12). It can also denote the center or midst of something, like 'the heart of the sea' (Exodus 15:8). This broad semantic range makes it a key term for describing human nature before God.
Biblical Usage
לֵב is used over 550 times across all genres of the Old Testament, making it a foundational anthropological term. In narrative, it describes characters' motives and feelings, as in Genesis 6:5 where humanity's evil thoughts originate in the heart. In wisdom literature, it is central to discussions of character and understanding (e.g., Proverbs 4:23). Prophetic books frequently address the condition of the heart in relation to covenant loyalty, calling for a 'new heart' (Ezekiel 36:26). Its usage is consistently interior and comprehensive, rarely referring solely to emotion.
Etymology
לֵב (lêb) is a shorter, more common form of the noun לֵבָב (lēbāb, H3824). Both share the same root (L-B-B) and core meaning. The exact derivation is uncertain, but it is a common Semitic root for 'heart'. The shorter form לֵב is used far more frequently, while לֵבָב can sometimes carry a more intensive or plural sense, though they are largely interchangeable in biblical usage.
Semantic Range
לֵב is theologically crucial as the Bible's primary word for the unified center of human personality—where thought, desire, will, and emotion converge. It is the locus of human responsibility before God, the place of moral decision (Deuteronomy 30:6), faith (Proverbs 3:5), and rebellion (Jeremiah 17:9). Understanding its holistic meaning corrects modern, sentimental notions of 'heart' and reveals that biblical repentance and love for God involve the entire person—mind, will, and affection. The promise of a new heart in Ezekiel 36:26 is thus a promise of comprehensive spiritual renewal.
In ancient Hebrew thought, the heart (לֵב) was not merely the seat of emotions as often understood today, but the center of the entire inner life, including thinking, planning, and deciding. This contrasts with a Greek-influenced, dualistic view that separates mind and emotion. For the Israelites, the heart represented the whole person's hidden, inner core from which all actions and words flowed. A 'hard heart' meant stubborn refusal to understand and obey, not just a lack of feeling.
נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — Often 'soul' or 'life'; refers more to the living being or person in its entirety, including physical life and appetite. רוּחַ (rûaḥ, H7307) — Often 'spirit' or 'wind'; can denote the animating breath, a disposition, or a non-corporeal being; sometimes overlaps with לֵב but with a focus on vitality or power. מֹחַ (mōaḥ, H4161) — The physical brain or marrow; used literally, not figuratively for the mind.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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