# G2588 ## Gary’s Lexicon ### Definition - heart - but, generally NOT the beating muscle in our chest - soul ### Part of Speech - Noun ### Word Studies - --- ## Strong's Lexicon ### Root Transliteration (Phonetic Spelling) - kardia (kar-dee'-ah) ### Part of Speech - Noun ### Definition - Heart ### Meaning - lit: the heart; mind, character, inner self, will, intention, center ### Usage - In the New Testament, "kardia" is used metaphorically to refer to the inner self, encompassing the mind, will, emotions, and moral center of a person. It is not limited to the physical organ but represents the core of human identity and spiritual life. The heart is seen as the seat of thought, emotion, and decision-making, reflecting one's true character and intentions. ### Cultural and Historical Background - In ancient Greek culture, the heart was considered the center of physical and spiritual life. This understanding was carried into the Jewish and early Christian contexts, where the heart was seen as the locus of moral and spiritual activity. The heart was believed to be the place where God communicates with humans, and where faith and understanding reside. ### Word Origin - Derived from a primary root word ### Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Words - [[H3820]] (לֵב, leb): Heart, inner man, mind, will - [[H3824]] (לֵבָב, lebab): Heart, understanding, inner part --- ## NASB Concordance ### Definition - heart ### Word Origin - a prim. word ### NASB Translation - heart (102), hearts (49), heart's (1) - mind (2), minds (1) - quick (1), spirit (1) --- ## Helps Word Studies - [[G2588]] kardía – heart; "the affective center of our being" and the capacity of moral preference (volitional desire, choice; see P. Hughs, 2 Cor, 354); "desire-producer that makes us tick" (G. Archer), i.e our "desire-decisions" that establish who we really are. - Heart ([[G2588]] /kardía) is mentioned over 800 times in Scripture, but never referring to the literal physical pump that drives the blood. That is, "heart" is only used figuratively (both in the OT and NT.] --- ## Links, Etc ### Occurrences - 158 ### Occurrences Link - https://biblehub.com/greek/strongs_2588.htm ### BibleHub Link - https://biblehub.com/greek/2588.htm --- ## Blue Letter Bible ### Outline - 1. the heart - 1. 1. that organ in the animal body which is the center of the circulation of the blood, and hence was regarded as the seat of physical life - 1. 2. denotes the center of all physical and spiritual life - 1.2.1. the vigor and sense of physical life - 1.2.2. the center and seat of spiritual life - 1.2.2.1. the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors - 1.2.2.2. of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence - 1.2.2.2.3. of the will and character - 1.2.2.2.4. of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions - 1.3. of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimate ### Blue Letter Bible - Strong's Definition - καρδία kardía, kar-dee'-ah; prolonged from a primary κάρ kár (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:—(+ broken-)heart(-ed).### Vines ### Blue Letter Bible - Vines - 1. Heart, Heartily: "the heart" (Eng., "cardiac," etc.), the chief organ of physical life ("for the life of the flesh is in the blood," Lev 17:11), occupies the most important place in the human system. By an easy transition the word came to stand for man's entire mental and moral activity, both the rational and the emotional elements. In other words, the heart is used figuratively for the hidden springs of the personal life. "The Bible describes human depravity as in the 'heart', because sin is a principle which has its seat in the center of man's inward life, and then 'defiles' the whole circuit of his action, Mat 15:19, 20. On the other hand, Scripture regards the heart as the sphere of Divine influence, Rom 2:15; Act 15:9.... The heart, as lying deep within, contains 'the hidden man,' 1Pe 3:4, the real man. It represents the true character but conceals it" (J. Laidlaw, in Hastings' Bible Dic.). - 2. As to its usage in the NT it denotes - 2.1. (a) the seat of physical life, Act 14:17; Jam 5:5; - 2.2. (b) the seat of moral nature and spiritual life, the seat of grief, Jhn 14:1; Rom 9:2; 2Cr 2:4; joy, Jhn 16:22; Eph 5:19; the desires, Mat 5:28; 2Pe 2:14; the affections, Luk 24:32; Act 21:13; the perceptions, Jhn 12:40; Eph 4:18; the thoughts, Mat 9:4; Hbr 4:12; the understanding, Mat 13:15; Rom 1:21; the reasoning powers, Mar 2:6; Luk 24:38; the imagination, Luk 1:51; conscience, Act 2:37; 1Jo 3:20; the intentions, Hbr 4:12, cp. 1Pe 4:1; purpose, Act 11:23; 2Cr 9:7; the will, Rom 6:17; Col 3:15; faith, Mar 11:23; Rom 10:10; Hbr 3:12. - 3. The heart, in its moral significance in the OT, includes the emotions, the reason and the will. --- ## Revision Dates ### Initial - 2019.08.23 ### Revised - 2022.06.07.0406 - 2023.11.24