לֵבָב

the heart (as the most interior organ);

Definition

The Hebrew word לֵבָב (lêbâb) refers to the 'heart' as the center of a person's inner life, encompassing intellect, emotions, will, and moral character. It is often used synonymously with לֵב (H3820), but לֵבָב can carry a more intensive or comprehensive sense, emphasizing the depth and totality of the inner person. For example, it denotes the seat of understanding and wisdom (1 Kings 3:9), the source of emotions like courage (Joshua 14:8) or fear (Leviticus 26:36), and the faculty of moral decision-making (Exodus 14:5). In some contexts, it specifically highlights the concept of a 'divided' or 'whole' heart, as seen in God's call for Israel to serve Him with all their heart (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Biblical Usage

לֵבָב appears 230 times across the Old Testament, with significant concentration in Deuteronomy, Psalms, and the Prophets, often in contexts of covenant relationship and moral exhortation. It is frequently used in phrases describing the inner disposition of humans toward God, such as a 'hard heart' (Exodus 7:3), a 'circumcised heart' (Deuteronomy 30:6), or a 'heart of flesh' versus a 'heart of stone' (Ezekiel 36:26). It also describes emotional states, as in being 'faint-hearted' (Leviticus 26:36) or having a 'joyful heart' (Proverbs 15:15). The plural form 'hearts' (לְבָבוֹת) sometimes emphasizes the complexity or divided nature of human inwardness.

Etymology

לֵבָב is derived from the root לָבַב (H3823), meaning 'to be heartened' or 'to encourage.' It is an intensive or perhaps dual form of the more common noun לֵב (H3820), also meaning 'heart.' This formation may originally have conveyed the idea of the 'inner parts' or the totality of the inward being, possibly reflecting the ancient understanding of the heart as having multiple chambers or faculties. The relationship between לֵב and לֵבָב is so close that they are often interchangeable in biblical usage, though לֵבָב can carry a fuller, more emphatic nuance.

Semantic Range

לֵבָב is theologically central as it represents the core of human identity before God—the locus of faith, obedience, and relationship. The condition of the heart is a major theme in biblical anthropology and soteriology. God's law is to be upon the heart (Deuteronomy 6:6), salvation involves receiving a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), and God alone searches and knows the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Understanding this Hebrew concept enriches reading by showing that biblical 'heart' is not merely about feelings, but the integrated center of thought, desire, and will that God transforms.

In ancient Hebrew thought, the heart (לֵבָב) was not merely the emotional center as often understood today, but the seat of the mind, will, and character—the control center of the entire person. This holistic view contrasts with modern distinctions between intellect and emotion. The heart was considered the source of reasoning (1 Kings 3:9), conscience (1 Samuel 24:5), and courage (Joshua 14:8). Physical heart imagery (e.g., hardening, melting) powerfully described internal spiritual and psychological states, reflecting a concrete, integrated view of human nature.

לֵב (lēb, H3820) — The more common, slightly less intensive term for heart, often used interchangeably. נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — Often translated 'soul' or 'life,' refers more to the whole living being or person, including desires. רוּחַ (rûaḥ, H7307) — Often translated 'spirit' or 'wind,' can denote the animating breath, will, or a non-corporeal aspect of a person.

Word Details

Scripture References