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לֵב

𐤋𐤁

Lev

H3820 noun

SILEX Entry

Root לבב inner part, center, core

Definition

The inner organ ('heart') as the center of physical life, but far more frequently the center of human emotion, intention, thought, and volition. By extension, refers to the mind, understanding, will, and conscience, as well as the seat of moral character. Used metaphorically for the inward person, inner self, or core of being. Occasionally indicates the central part or midst of something.

Semantic Range

physical heart; seat of emotion; seat of intellect and understanding; will; conscience; moral character; inner person; mind; midst or central part (of a group or thing); intention; courage; obstinacy; disposition

Root / Etymology

Derived from Hebrew root לבב (l-b-b), 'to be inside, inner part,' or 'to be full.' לֵב is a shortened form of לֵבָב (lêvāv), both of which can function interchangeably in many contexts, though לֵב is more common in poetry and later prose. Original root idea relates to 'interior' or 'core.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israelite thought, לֵב mapped onto a holistic anthropology, encompassing what later traditions distinguish as 'mind' and 'heart.' Unlike the modern English 'heart,' Hebrew לֵב includes intellectual processes (reasoning, understanding), moral discernment (conscience), will (intention, decision), and emotions. Throughout the Hebrew Bible, לֵב is understood not just as the location of feelings but as the seat of decision-making and moral judgment. Usage can denote the center of being or deepest self (as in Dt 6:5 'with all your heart'), explain motives (Gen 6:5), cognitions (1 Kgs 3:12), moral quality (Ps 51:12), courage or lack thereof (Josh 2:11, 'their hearts melted'), or obstinacy (Exod 7:13, 'Pharaoh's heart was hardened'). Occasionally, לֵב refers to the physical heart (2 Sam 18:14). In post-exilic writings, לֵב is sometimes used metaphorically for inner conscience or understanding, reflecting further conceptual development. The later English translation 'mind' often narrows the semantic range, reducing the holistic Israelite anthropology.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything; [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom.

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Root Family

לבב (l-b-b) — inner part, center, core

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3821 לֵב in my inner core
H3823 לָבַב you have heart-stirred me
H3824 לֵבָב in the inner core
H3825 לְבַב your inner-self
H3826 לִבָּה in their hearts

Word Forms

37 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3820-10 לֵ֧ב lev HNcmsc heart inner core of 202
H3820-18 לִבִּ֗/י libi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my heart my inner core 78
H3820-19 לִבּ֔/וֹ libo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his heart his inner core 69
H3820-14 לִבְּ/ךָ֔ libekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your heart your inner core 45
H3820-12 לִבָּ֗/ם libam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their heart their inner core 44
H3820-01 בְּ/לֶב belev HR/Ncmsc in the heart in the inner core of 22
H3820-05 בְּ/לִבּ֗/וֹ belibo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his heart in his inner-core 19
H3820-32 וְ/לֵ֤ב velev HC/Ncmsc and heart inner-core of 18
H3820-36 וְ/לִבִּ֛/י velibi HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cs and my heart my inner core 16
H3820-15 לִבֵּ֖/ךְ libekhe HNcmsc/Sp2fs your heart your inner core 8

Occurrences in Scripture

596 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3820-19 Genesis 6:5 לִבּ֔/וֹ libo HNcmsc/Sp3ms of his heart his inner core
H3820-19 Genesis 6:6 לִבּֽ/וֹ libo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his heart his inner core
H3820-19 Genesis 8:21 לִבּ֗/וֹ libo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his heart his inner core
H3820-10 Genesis 8:21 לֵ֧ב lev HNcmsc of the heart inner core of
H3820-05 Genesis 17:17 בְּ/לִבּ֗/וֹ belibo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his heart in his inner-core
H3820-16 Genesis 18:5 לִבְּ/כֶם֙ libekhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp your hearts your inner core
H3820-18 Genesis 24:45 לִבִּ֗/י libi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my heart my inner core
H3820-05 Genesis 27:41 בְּ/לִבּ֗/וֹ belibo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his heart in his inner-core
H3820-10 Genesis 31:20 לֵ֥ב lev HNcmsc heart inner core of
H3820-10 Genesis 34:3 לֵ֥ב lev HNcmsc the heart inner core of
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