Sermon Tone Analysis

Heart - Leb, Lebab (Hebrew Word Study)

Updated: Sat, 07/16/2016 - 16:37 By admin Heart (03820) (leb - note that this discussion also includes the closely related noun lebab -03824) sometimes refers to a literal heart (, , ), but most often is used figurative to refer to what I term the "control center" of our being.

Think of an Air Traffic Controller and how dysfunctional, even destructive it is when the controllers fail to function as they should.

See New Testament word study on Heart = kardiaJust as a healthy human heart is at the center of the body and absolutely essential for physical life and health, so too a healthy spiritual heart (intellect, emotion, will) is at the center of one's inner being (soul) and is vital for a healthy soul, serving as the "fountain" of all moral attitudes and actions.

Our spiritual heart thus controls out actions and our actions determine our habits, which in turn determine our character.

When God measures the ''worth'' of a man's life He puts the measuring tape around his heart, not around his head.

Be a man after God's Own heart () We must continually "post a guard" at the doorway of our heart, so that every avenue for sin's entry is blocked.Delight yourself in the LORD;

And He will give you the desires of your heart.

(-Spurgeon's note)

(See study "Delight yourself in the Lord")John MacArthur - The “heart” commonly refers to the mind as the center of thinking and reason (; ;), but also includes the emotions (, ), the will (; ), and thus, the whole inner being ().

The heart is the depository of all wisdom and the source of whatever affects speech (), sight (), and conduct (, ).

(MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word )Thou hast put gladness in my heart,

More than when their grain and new wine abound.

(-Spurgeon's note)John Kitto - All the phrases, more or less metaphorical, in which this word occurs, are rendered intelligible, without detailed examples, when we are told that the heart was, among the Hebrews, regarded poetically not only as the seat of the passions and emotions, as of love, pleasure, and grief, but also of the intellectual faculties—the mind, the understanding.

In the original Scriptures, as well as in the English and other translations, the word 'heart' therefore, constantly occurs where 'mind' is to be understood, and would be used by a modern English writer.

We say modern, because the ancient usage of the English word 'heart' was more conformable than the present to that of the Hebrews.

(Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature)I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart;

 will tell of all Thy wonders.

(-Spurgeon's note)Richard Watson - The Hebrews regarded the heart as the source of wit, understanding, love, courage, grief, and pleasure… The heart is said to be dilated by joy, contracted by sadness, broken by sorrow, to grow fat, and be hardened by prosperity.

The heart melts under discouragement, forsakes one under terror, is desolate in affliction, and fluctuating in doubt.

To speak to any one's heart is to comfort him, to say pleasing and affecting things to him.

The heart expresses also the middle part of any thing: "Tyre is in the heart of the seas," ; in the midst of the seas.

"We will not fear though the mountains be carried into the heart (middle) of the sea,"  .The heart of man is naturally depraved and inclined to evil,  .

A divine power is requisite for its renovation,  .

When thus renewed, the effects will be seen in the temper, conversation, and conduct at large.

Hardness of heart is that state in which a sinner is inclined to, and actually goes on in, rebellion against God.I have trusted in Thy lovingkindness;

My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation.

(-Spurgeon's note)Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Both Old and New Testaments speak repeatedly of the heart as the centre of a person’s inner life.

An examination of the hundreds of references to the heart in the Bible will show that the word is not limited in its meaning to one particular part of a person.

‘Heart’ may refer to a person’s whole inner life – what the person really is (; ; ; ; ); or it may refer to attributes of human personality such as a person’s understanding (; ; ; ), desires (; ;; ), feelings (; ; ; ; ), determination (; ; ; ), or character (; ; ; ; ).

Sometimes ‘heart’ is used as another word for a person’s spirit (; ; ), soul (; ; ) or mind (; ; ; cf. ).

The heart is what is sometimes referred to as ‘the inner being’, and is the source of all the wrong that a person does (; ; ; ; ; ; see SIN).

Therefore, the heart must be cleansed to bring forgiveness; or, to use another picture, it must be re-created to bring new spiritual life.

Only God can bring about this cleansing or re-creation (; ; ; ; ).

Since the heart determines actions, a person must be careful to have right attitudes of heart at all times (; ; ; ).

God sees the inner condition and judges the person accordingly (; ; ;  (Bridgeway Bible Dictionary)The heart is the source of whatever affects life and character (;).He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,

And speaks truth in his heart.

(-Spurgeon's note)Dictionary Discussions of Heart:Heart - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Good Summary

Heart - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

Heart - Holman Bible Dictionary

Heart (includes OT allusions) - Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Heart (primarily discusses "kardia") - Hastings' Dictionary of the New TestamentThe Dictionary of Biblical Imagery writes that "In the Bible heart encompasses more than what we mean by mind (for which there is no word in biblical Hebrew).

The heart is the center of the being, where the will, affections, thoughts, purposes and imagination reside.

Human emotions are more frequently associated with the lower organs."In

the context of , watching over one's heart involves guarding what is said (, and the heart affects what is said, ), what is seen (, , ), and what is done (, ).Charles Wood writes that "In Hebrew the heart is the “kernel of the nut;” the internal citadel of the soul."Be

strong, and let your heart take courage,

All you who hope in the LORD.

(-Spurgeon's note)Oswald Chambers has an interesting thought on heart explaining that "The Bible term “heart” is best understood if we simply say “me,” it is the central citadel of a man’s personality.

The heart is the altar of which the physical body is the outer court, and whatever is offered on the altar of the heart will tell ultimately through the extremities of the body.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

(Chambers, O.

The moral foundation of life : A series of talks on the ethical principles of the Christian life.

Hants UK: Marshall, Morgan & Scott)Leb and its synonym lebab (03824) appear 860 times in the OT.

The law, prophets, and Psalms often speak of the heart.

Heart is used first of man in .

In  leb is used of God.

“Heart” may refer to the organ of the body (, ; ).

Leb may also refer to the inner part or middle of a thing (;; ).The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

(-note)Lebab (03824) means heart, mind or the inner man, contrasted to the outer man (See : ;).

Lebab is often compounded with “soul” for emphasis, as in  (cf.

).

Baker writes that lebab primarily "describes the entire disposition of the inner person that God can discern (); be devoted to the Lord (); seek the Lord (); turn against people (); be uncircumcised (); be hardened (); be totally committed to the Lord (; ).

It is also used to describe the place where the rational, thinking process occurs that allows a person to know God’s blessings (); to plan for the future (); to communicate (); and to understand God’s message ().

Like our English usage, it often refers to the seat of emotions, whether it refers to joy (); discouragement (); comfort (); grief (); sorrow ([3]); or gladness ().

(Ibid) Leb can be used of the man himself or his personality: ( ).

Leb is also used of God in this sense ().The seat of desire, inclination, or will can be indicated by heart (); (; , ); ().

Leb is also used of God in this sense "with my whole heart and with my whole soul” ().

Two people are said to be in agreement when their “hearts” are right with each other (2Ki10:15).

In  Joash “had in his heart”.The “heart” is regarded as the seat of emotions: (; ; ).

So there are “merry” hearts (), “fearful” hearts (), and hearts that “trembled” ().The “heart” could be regarded as the seat of knowledge and wisdom and as a synonym of “mind.”

This meaning often occurs when “heart” appears with the verb “to know” (;.

29:4).

Solomon prayed, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart” (;.

4:29).

Memory is the activity of the “heart,” as in .The “heart” may be the seat of conscience and moral character.

How does one respond to the revelation of God and of the world around him? (Job = , David = ).The “heart” is the fountain of man’s deeds ().

David walked “in uprightness of heart” () and Hezekiah “with a perfect heart” () before God.

Only the man with “clean hands, and a pure heart” () can stand in God’s presence.Leb may refer to the seat of rebellion and pride (; Tyre in ).

They all become like Judah, whose “sin… engraved upon the tablet of their heart.”

().God controls the “heart.”

Because of his natural “heart,” man’s only hope is in the promise of God to receive a new heart ( = New Covenant).

So David the sinner prays “Create in me a clean heart (), "unite my heart [give me an undivided heart] to fear thy name” ().God tries the heart ().

Hence God’s people seek His approval: test "my heart” ().The “heart” stands for the inner being of man, the man himself.

As such, it is the fountain of all he does ().

All his thoughts, desires, words, and actions flow from deep within him.

Yet a man cannot understand his own “heart” ().

As a man goes on in his own way, his “heart” becomes harder and harder.

But God will circumcise (cut away the uncleanness of) the “heart” of His people, so that they will love and obey Him with their whole being ().Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones,

And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

(-Spurgeon's note)Adam Clarke writes "Above all keeping," guard thy heart.

He who knows any thing of himself, knows how apt his affections are to go astray.Spurgeon writes that "Some of your hearts are not worth keeping.

The sooner you get rid of them the better.

They are hearts of stone.

Do you feel today that you have a stony heart?

Go home, and I pray the Lord hear my desire that your polluted heart may be removed.

Cry unto God and say, “Take away my heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh;” (-note, -note) for a stony heart is an impure heart, a divided heart, an unpeaceful heart.

It is a heart that is poor and poverty–stricken, a heart that is void of all goodness, and you can neither bless thyself nor others, if your heart be such.

( The Great Reservoir)The Heart of Prayer is the Heart! - The status of one's heart determines the power of one's prayers - Notice that the Lord will not listen to you, if you cherish sin in your heart!

If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear.Comment:

There are a number of reasons why our prayers may seem to go unanswered and the presence of unconfessed and unforsaken sin is often the cause (see also -note).

This possibility must always be considered with all honesty before seeking another reason (Consider frequently praying , !)

Note also that the Hebrew word for "regard" means "to look with favor upon" or even to "plan".