לֵב
Definition
The Hebrew noun לֵב (lêb) primarily refers to the heart as the center of a person's inner life, encompassing intellect, emotions, will, and moral character. In its most common usage, it denotes the seat of thought and understanding (e.g., Proverbs 16:9, 'A man's heart plans his way'), as well as the source of emotions like love (Deuteronomy 6:5) and courage (Joshua 5:1). It can also represent the will or volition, as in Exodus 35:5 where the people give a 'willing heart' for the tabernacle. In some contexts, it simply refers to the physical organ or the center of something, like the 'heart of the sea' (Exodus 15:8).
Biblical Usage
לֵב is used over 850 times throughout the Old Testament, appearing in every genre from narrative to poetry. It is especially prominent in wisdom literature (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) and Deuteronomy, which emphasizes loving God with all one's heart (Deuteronomy 6:5). The word describes a wide range of inner states: a 'hard heart' (Exodus 7:13) signifies stubbornness, a 'broken heart' (Psalm 34:18) indicates contrition, and a 'pure heart' (Psalm 24:4) represents moral integrity. Its usage consistently points to the core of human personality and decision-making.
Etymology
The word לֵב (lêb) derives from a common Semitic root (l-b-b) meaning 'heart.' Its shorter form is likely a contraction of the fuller form לֵבָב (lēḇāḇ, H3824), which carries the same core meaning. The root is ancient, with cognates found in other Semitic languages like Akkadian (libbu) and Arabic (lubb). The basic concept of the 'heart' as an inner organ expanded metaphorically to encompass the mind, will, and emotions in Hebrew thought.
Semantic Range
לֵב is profoundly significant theologically, as it represents the totality of the human person in relationship to God. The biblical call is for wholehearted devotion (Deuteronomy 10:12), and spiritual renewal is described as God giving a 'new heart' (Ezekiel 36:26). The condition of the heart determines one's standing before God (1 Samuel 16:7), and it is the locus of faith (Proverbs 3:5) and the place where God's law is to be written (Jeremiah 31:33). Understanding this Hebrew concept prevents a reduction of 'heart' to mere emotion, revealing it as the integrated center of thought, desire, and commitment.
In ancient Israelite culture, the heart (לֵב) was understood as the central, unifying faculty of a person—the seat of intellect, emotion, and volition. This contrasts with some modern Western views that separate the 'head' (mind) from the 'heart' (emotions). For the biblical writers, thinking, feeling, and choosing were all activities of the heart. It was also seen as the place of moral character and conscience. This holistic view meant that a person's actions were a direct reflection of their heart's condition.
נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — Often 'soul' or 'life,' referring more to the whole living being or its desires. רוּחַ (ruach, H7307) — 'Spirit' or 'wind,' often emphasizing the animating breath, will, or a non-physical aspect. מֹחַ (moach, H4161) — The physical 'brain' or 'marrow,' used rarely and literally, not for the inner person.
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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