Lexical Summary
lebab: heart, hearts, mind
Original Word:לֵבָב
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:lebab
Pronunciation:lay-BAHB
Phonetic Spelling:(lay-bawb')
KJV: + bethink themselves, breast, comfortably, courage, ((faint), (tender-)heart((-ed)), midst, mind, X unawares, understanding
NASB:heart, hearts, mind, intended, understanding, anger, breasts
Word Origin:[fromH3823 (לָבַב - To hearten)]
1. the heart (as the most interior organ)
2. used also like H3820
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
bethink themselves, breast, comfortably, courage, faint, tenderhearted
Fromlabab; the heart (as the most interior organ); used also likeleb -- + bethink themselves, breast, comfortably, courage, ((faint), (tender-)heart((-ed)), midst, mind, X unawares, understanding.
see HEBREWlabab
see HEBREWleb
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitioninner man, mind, will, heart
NASB Translationanger (1), breasts (1), conscientious* (1), consider* (5), courage (1), desire (1), encouragingly* (1), fainthearted* (3), heart (185), heart and the hearts (1), heart's (1), hearts (27), hearts like his heart (1), intelligence (1), intended (2), mind (8), purpose (1), thought (1), timid* (1), understanding (2), wholehearted* (1), wholeheartedly* (1), yourself (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
251Psalm 104:15 ; — absolute
Deuteronomy 28:28 31t.; construct
Deuteronomy 20:8 22t.; suffix
Isaiah 21:4 24t.;
Deuteronomy 4:29 35t.;
Deuteronomy 4:39 21t.;
1 Samuel 1:8 3t.;
Deuteronomy 2:30 37t.;
Zephaniah 2:15 3t.;
Deuteronomy 1:28 3t.;
Deuteronomy 10:16 37t.;
Leviticus 26:41 22t.; plural with suffix
Nahum 2:8 (Sta
§ 353 a reads , but see Kö
ii. 78); plural
1 Chronicles 28:9. —
The inner, middle, or central part:thingsin the Midst of the seasJonah 2:3 (poetry);unto the midst of heavenDeuteronomy 4:11 (so but ).
usuallyof men:
the inner man in contrast with the outer,my flesh and my heart (soul)doth failPsalm 73:26; antithesis with garmentsJoel 2:13; handsPsalm 73:13;Lamentations 3:41?; eyesNumbers 15:39 (H)1 Samuel 16:7; earsEzekiel 3:10; mouthDeuteronomy 30:14; speechPsalm 28:3;Psalm 78:18;tabering upon their breastsNahum 2:7 (inner for outer).
theinner man, indefinite thesoul, comprehending mind, affections and will, or, in connection with certain verbs, having more specific reference to some one of them.with all the heart and with all the soulDeuteronomy 4:29;Deuteronomy 6:5;Deuteronomy 10:12;Deuteronomy 11:13;Deuteronomy 13:4;Deuteronomy 26:16;Deuteronomy 30:2,6,10;Joshua 22:5;Joshua 23:14;1 Kings 2:4;1 Kings 8:48 (= 2 Chronicles 6:38 ?)2 Kings 23:25; 2Chronicles 15:12; 34:31 ( =2 Kings 23:3 ?)Jeremiah 32:41; abbreviated1 Samuel 7:3;1 Samuel 12:20,24;1 Kings 14:8;2 Kings 10:31; 2Chronicles 15:5; 22:9; 31:21;Psalm 86:12;Psalm 111:1;Jeremiah 29:13;Joel 2:12;what is in the heart (mind)Deuteronomy 8:2;1 Samuel 9:19;1 Samuel 14:7;2 Samuel 7:3 ( =1 Chronicles 17:2)2 Kings 10:30; 2Chronicles 32:31; compareJob 10:13;Psalm 84:6 (?);with the heart (mind), withDeuteronomy 8:5,Psalm 77:7, usually with , of a thought or purpose,Deuteronomy 15:9;Joshua 14:7;1 Kings 8:17,18 (twice in verse) ( = 2Chronicles 6:7,8 (twice in verse)) 2Chronicles 10:2 ( = 2 Chronicles 9:1)1 Chronicles 22:7;1 Chronicles 28:2; 2Chronicles 1:11; 29:10 (compare 2 Chronicles 24:4 );according to the heart1 Samuel 13:14;1 Samuel 14:7;Psalm 20:7. We may addDeuteronomy 5:26;Deuteronomy 11:16,18;Deuteronomy 17:17;1 Samuel 2:35;2 Samuel 19:15;1 Kings 8:39 (twice in verse) ( = 2Chronicles 6:30 (twice in verse)) 2Chronicles 11:2,3 ( an error)2 Chronicles 11:4;2 Chronicles 11:9;1 Chronicles 12:17;1 Chronicles 22:19;1 Chronicles 28:9;Psalm 62:9;Psalm 86:11;Psalm 139:23;Isaiah 7:2;Daniel 11:27,28.
mind (characteristic of ):
men of mindJob 34:10,34;I also have a mindJob 12:3;madness is in (their) mindEcclesiastes 9:3 (?); ,and thou didst steal my mindGenesis 31:26 (E, the ofGenesis 31:20 should be corrected to compare 'steal me'Genesis 31:27).
knowledge, withDeuteronomy 8:5;Deuteronomy 23:14;1 Kings 2:44;Isaiah 6:10;Isaiah 32:4;wise of mindJob 9:4;mind of wisdomPsalm 90:12.
thinking, reflection, withIsaiah 10:7;Zechariah 7:10;Zechariah 8:17; (Psalm 77:7 above);conception of thoughts of mind1 Chronicles 29:18;imaginations of (their) mindPsalm 73:7;possessions (thoughts) of (my) mindJob 17:11;set the mind, considerHaggai 2:15,18 (twice in verse), withDeuteronomy 32:46,Haggai 1:5,7.
memeorylay up in the mind1 Samuel 21:13;Job 22:22;lay to heart, call to mindDeuteronomy 4:39;Deuteronomy 30:1; 2Chronicles 6:37 ( =1 Kings 8:47 ?);come upon the mindJeremiah 51:50;Ezekiel 38:10 (compare );depart from the mindDeuteronomy 4:9;keep in the midst of (thy) mindProverbs 4:21;upon the mindDeuteronomy 6:6.
inclinations, resolutions determinations of the will (characteristic of ):set the mind, with1 Samuel 7:3;1 Chronicles 29:18, 2Chronicles 20:33 2Chronicles 19:3; 30:19;Ezra 7:10;Joshua 24:23 (E)1 Kings 8:58;1 Chronicles 22:19, compare 2Chronicles 11:16;mind turn away fromDeuteronomy 29:17;Deuteronomy 30:17;Pharaoh's mind was changedExodus 14:5 (E).
specific reference toconsciencemy heart (conscience) shall not reproach meJob 27:6.
specific reference tomoral character (characteristic of ): God tries the1 Chronicles 29:17:
uprightness of heartDeuteronomy 9:5;1 Chronicles 29:17;Psalm 119:7 (?); 2Chronicles 29:34;1 Kings 3:6;2 Kings 10:15 (3 t. in verse);integrity of heartGenesis 20:5,6 (E)1 Kings 9:4;Psalm 78:72;Psalm 101:2;heart perfect (with)1 Kings 8:61;1 Kings 11:4;1 Kings 15:3,14 (= 2 Chronicles 15:17)2 Kings 20:3 (=Isaiah 38:3 ?)1 Chronicles 12:39;1 Chronicles 29:19; 2Chronicles 16:9; 19:9; 25:2;pure in heartPsalm 24:4;Psalm 73:1. We may add2 Kings 22:19 2Chronicles 34:27;Nehemiah 9:8;Jeremiah 32:40.
1 Samuel 17:28 (?), erringPsalm 95:10; is forwardPsalm 101:4.
,Psalm 101:5;Isaiah 9:8;Isaiah 10:12;Isaiah 60:5 (?)Ezekiel 28:5,6 (?)Daniel 8:25;heart is lifted upDeuteronomy 8:14;Deuteronomy 17:20;Ezekiel 31:10;Daniel 11:12.
Deuteronomy 10:16;Deuteronomy 30:6;Jeremiah 4:4, or uncircumcisedLeviticus 26:41 (H); is hardenedDeuteronomy 2:30;Deuteronomy 15:7; 2Chronicles 36:13;1 Samuel 6:6 (?);Psalm 95:8.
=the man himself (meaning characteristic of )say in the heart (to oneself)Deuteronomy 7:17;Deuteronomy 8:17;Deuteronomy 9:4;Deuteronomy 18:21;Psalm 4:5;Isaiah 14:3;Isaiah 47:8;Isaiah 49:21;Jeremiah 5:24;Jeremiah 13:22;Zephaniah 1:12;Zephaniah 2:15;Hosea 7:2 (?);Psalm 15:2;Job 1:5;Deuteronomy 29:18;let your heart (you yourselves)livePsalm 22:27;Psalm 69:33 (comparePsalm 119:175).
specifically as theseat of the appetites (for which usually )stay the heart (with food)Psalm 104:15;Judges 19:8 (?);that thine heart may be merry (with wine)Judges 19:9 (?);wine gladdens the heartPsalm 104:15.
specifically ofseat of the emotions and passions (for which usually ):
Isaiah 30:29;Jeremiah 15:16;Ezekiel 36:5, gladnessDeuteronomy 28:47, desireProverbs 6:25 (?);speak into the heart (comfortably) 2 Chronicles 32:6 (elsewhere ).
1 Kings 8:38;Psalm 25:17;Psalm 73:21; weakness, faintnessLeviticus 26:36 (H)Deuteronomy 20:3,18; 2Chronicles 13:7;Isaiah 1:5;Isaiah 7:4;Jeremiah 51:46, griefDeuteronomy 15:10;1 Samuel 1:8 sorrowPsalm 13:3, fearDeuteronomy 28:67, dismayIsaiah 21:4, astonishmentDeuteronomy 28:28, angerDeuteronomy 19:6, hateLeviticus 19:16 (H);the heart meltethDeuteronomy 20:8;Joshua 2:11;Joshua 5:1;Joshua 7:5 (all D)Isaiah 13:7;Isaiah 19:1;Deuteronomy 1:28 (so read probably alsoJoshua 14:8, where error).
seat of courage (for which usually ),stir up his power and his courageDaniel 11:25;let your heart take couragePsalm 31:25.
Dan 4:13 (see Biblical Hebrew; so Egyptian Aramaic S-CB 12+); — constructDaniel 4:13;Daniel 7:4; suffixDaniel 2:30;Daniel 5:22, -Daniel 4:13;Daniel 5:20,21.
Topical Lexicon
Central Role in Hebrew ThoughtThe term denotes the inner core of a person—the seat of thought, will, conscience, and emotion. Unlike modern Western usage that restricts “heart” largely to feelings, the Old Testament uses לֵבָב to describe the totality of the inner life. Scripture consistently treats the heart as the decisive arena where covenant faithfulness or rebellion is settled.
Intellectual and Volitional Functions
• Perception and reasoning: “The intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 8:21).
• Planning: “A man plans the course of his way in his heart, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
• Decision-making: “Joshua made a covenant…so the leaders swore an oath to them” (Joshua 9:15); the narrative explains that they “did not inquire of the LORD,” revealing a heart that chose pragmatism over obedience.
Moral and Spiritual Orientation
• Root of sin: “Every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).
• Root of righteousness: “David…a man after My own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).
• Seat of repentance: “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10).
Here the heart is presented as either the fountain of wickedness or the wellspring of faithful obedience. No external act compensates for a disordered heart (Isaiah 29:13).
Emotional Expression
Joy (Psalm 4:7), sorrow (Nehemiah 2:2), courage (Psalm 27:14), and fear (Deuteronomy 28:65) all proceed from the heart. Emotions in Scripture are not uncontrollable forces; they reflect values housed in the heart and therefore can be commanded and disciplined (Psalm 42:5).
The Heart in Covenant Relationship
Israel was commanded, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Covenant obedience flows from wholehearted devotion, not mere ritual (Deuteronomy 10:12-16). The Shema links heart, soul, and strength to underscore total personal commitment.
Divine Scrutiny of the Heart
The Lord’s omniscient gaze penetrates outward appearances: “The LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). This reality both comforts the faithful and warns pretenders, as illustrated by Solomon’s dedication prayer (1 Kings 8:39).
Promise of Transformation
Human inability to self-reform culminates in prophetic promises. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). The new covenant anticipates inner renewal whereby God inscribes His law “upon their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33).
Worship and Meditation
Biblical worship engages the heart through reflective meditation on God’s acts (Psalm 77:11-12) and word (Psalm 119:11). Genuine praise requires integrity of heart (Psalm 86:12), while hypocrisy incurs divine displeasure (Amos 5:21-24).
Wisdom Literature’s Emphasis
Proverbs repeatedly counsels guarding the heart: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23). Ecclesiastes describes the king who “set his heart to seek and explore by wisdom” (Ecclesiastes 1:13), reinforcing intellectual aspects.
Leadership and the Heart
Effective leaders in Israel were marked by integrity of heart. Hezekiah could pray, “I have walked before You faithfully and with a whole heart” (2 Kings 20:3). Conversely, Rehoboam’s downfall traced to the moment “he hardened his heart” (2 Chronicles 12:14).
Pastoral and Homiletical Implications
1. Evangelism: Aim at heart transformation, not behavior modification.
2. Discipleship: Encourage Scripture memorization and prayer that reshape desires.
3. Counseling: Address heart idols behind sinful patterns (Ezekiel 14:3).
4. Corporate worship: Foster sincerity; evaluate songs and liturgy for their capacity to engage the heart biblically.
Representative Passages for Study
Deuteronomy 30:6;Joshua 14:8-9;1 Samuel 24:5;2 Samuel 7:27;1 Kings 11:4;Psalm 19:14;Psalm 73:26;Proverbs 23:26;Isaiah 57:15;Hosea 10:2.
Intertestamental and New Testament Continuity
Greek καρδία retains the comprehensive sense. Jesus reaffirms Mosaic teaching: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart” (Matthew 22:37). He locates defilement in the heart (Mark 7:21-23), while Paul teaches that belief “with the heart” results in righteousness (Romans 10:10), fulfilling the promise of inner renewal.
Summary
The 252 occurrences of לֵבָב weave a consistent biblical theology: the heart is the nexus of cognition, volition, and affection; it requires divine regeneration; and God’s redemptive mission culminates in a people who love Him “with their whole heart for ever” (Jeremiah 32:39-40).
Forms and Transliterations
בְּלֵבָ֥ב בִ֭לְבַבְכֶם בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֖ בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֛ בִּלְבַ֣ב בִּלְבַבְכֶ֔ם בִּלְבַבְכֶֽם׃ בִּלְבָ֔בָהּ בִּלְבָ֣בְךָ֔ בִּלְבָב֑וֹ בִּלְבָב֔וֹ בִּלְבָב֤וֹ בִּלְבָבְךָ֗ בִּלְבָבִ֔י בִּלְבָבִ֣י בִּלְבָבִ֥י בִּלְבָבֵ֔ךְ בִּלְבָבֵ֗ךְ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ בִּלְבָבֶֽךָ׃ בִּלְבָבָ֑ם בִּלְבָבָ֔הּ בִּלְבָבָ֔ם בִּלְבָבָֽם׃ בִּלְבָבָם֙ בִּלְבָבֽוֹ׃ בִֽלְבָבְךָ֙ בִלְבָבֶ֑ךָ בִלְבָבָ֗ם בלבב בלבבה בלבבו בלבבו׃ בלבבי בלבבך בלבבך׃ בלבבכם בלבבכם׃ בלבבם בלבבם׃ הַלֵּבָ֔ב הלבב וּבְלֵבָ֣ב וּבְלֵבָ֥ב וּבִֽלְבָבְךָ֖ וּבִלְבָב֣וֹ וּלְבַ֣ב וּלְבַ֥ב וּלְבָ֫בִ֥י וּלְבָב֖וֹ וּלְבָב֜וֹ וּלְבָב֥וֹ וּלְבָבְךָ֙ ובלבב ובלבבו ובלבבך ולבב ולבבו ולבבי ולבבך כִּלְבַ֖ב כִּלְבָב֗וֹ כִּלְבָבֶֽךָ׃ כִּלְבָבֽוֹ׃ כִלְבָבֶ֑ךָ כלבב כלבבו כלבבו׃ כלבבך כלבבך׃ לְ֝בָבִ֗י לְ֭בַבְכֶם לְֽבַב־ לְבַ֖ב לְבַ֣ב לְבַ֥ב לְבַ֨ב לְבַבְכֶ֑ם לְבַבְכֶ֔ם לְבַבְכֶ֖ם לְבַבְכֶ֗ם לְבַבְכֶ֣ם לְבַבְכֶ֤ם לְבַבְכֶֽם׃ לְבַבְכֶם֙ לְבַב־ לְבָ֣בְךָ֔ לְבָ֨בְךָ֜ לְבָֽבְךָ֙ לְבָב֑וֹ לְבָב֔וֹ לְבָב֖וֹ לְבָב֗וֹ לְבָב֣וֹ לְבָב֤וֹ לְבָב֥וֹ לְבָב֨וֹ לְבָבְךָ֖ לְבָבְךָ֗ לְבָבְךָ֙ לְבָבְךָ֣ לְבָבְךָ֥ לְבָבְךָ֨ לְבָבִ֑י לְבָבִ֔י לְבָבִ֛י לְבָבִ֡י לְבָבִ֣י לְבָבִ֥י לְבָבִֽי׃ לְבָבִי֙ לְבָבֵ֑ךְ לְבָבֵ֔נוּ לְבָבֵ֖נוּ לְבָבֵ֙נוּ֙ לְבָבֵ֜נוּ לְבָבֶ֑ךָ לְבָבֶ֔ךָ לְבָבֶ֗ךָ לְבָבֶֽךָ׃ לְבָבֶךָ֒ לְבָבָ֔ם לְבָבָ֖ם לְבָבָ֗ם לְבָבָ֣ם לְבָבָ֥ם לְבָבָ֨ם לְבָבָֽהּ׃ לְבָבָם֙ לְבָבוֹ֒ לְבָבוֹ֙ לְבָבוֹ֮ לְבָבוֹת֙ לִבְבֵהֶֽן׃ לִלְבָבָ֔ם לֵ֫בָ֥ב לֵ֭בָב לֵבָ֑ב לֵבָ֔ב לֵבָ֖ב לֵבָ֗ב לֵבָ֣ב לֵבָ֨ב ׀ לֵבָ֬ב לֵבָֽב׃ לֵבָב֙ לַלֵּבָֽב׃ לבב לבב־ לבב׃ לבבה׃ לבבהן׃ לבבו לבבות לבבי לבבי׃ לבבך לבבך׃ לבבכם לבבכם׃ לבבם לבבנו ללבב׃ ללבבם מִלְּבָ֣בְךָ֔ מלבבך שָׁלֵם֙ שלם bə·lê·ḇāḇ bəlêḇāḇ beleVav bil·ḇā·ḇāh bil·ḇā·ḇām ḇil·ḇā·ḇām bil·ḇā·ḇe·ḵā bil·ḇā·ḇə·ḵā ḇil·ḇā·ḇe·ḵā ḇil·ḇā·ḇə·ḵā bil·ḇā·ḇêḵ bil·ḇā·ḇî bil·ḇā·ḇōw bil·ḇaḇ bil·ḇaḇ·ḵem ḇil·ḇaḇ·ḵem bilḇaḇ bilḇāḇāh bilḇāḇām ḇilḇāḇām bilḇāḇêḵ bilḇāḇeḵā bilḇāḇəḵā ḇilḇāḇeḵā ḇilḇāḇəḵā bilḇāḇî bilḇaḇḵem ḇilḇaḇḵem bilḇāḇōw bilVav bilVavah bilvaVam bilvavChem bilvaVech bilvaVecha bilvaVi bilvaVo chilvaVecha hal·lê·ḇāḇ hallêḇāḇ halleVav kil·ḇā·ḇe·ḵā ḵil·ḇā·ḇe·ḵā kil·ḇā·ḇōw kil·ḇaḇ kilḇaḇ kilḇāḇeḵā ḵilḇāḇeḵā kilḇāḇōw kilVav kilvaVecha kilvaVo lal·lê·ḇāḇ lallêḇāḇ lalleVav lə·ḇā·ḇāh lə·ḇā·ḇām lə·ḇā·ḇe·ḵā lə·ḇā·ḇə·ḵā lə·ḇā·ḇê·nū lə·ḇā·ḇêḵ lə·ḇā·ḇî lə·ḇā·ḇō·wṯ lə·ḇā·ḇōw lê·ḇāḇ lə·ḇaḇ lə·ḇaḇ- lə·ḇaḇ·ḵem lêḇāḇ ləḇaḇ ləḇaḇ- ləḇāḇāh ləḇāḇām ləḇāḇêḵ ləḇāḇeḵā ləḇāḇəḵā ləḇāḇênū ləḇāḇî ləḇaḇḵem ləḇāḇōw ləḇāḇōwṯ leVav levaVah levaVam levavChem levaVech levaveCha levaVenu levaVi levaVo levaVot levo liḇ·ḇê·hen liḇḇêhen lil·ḇā·ḇām lilḇāḇām lilvaVam livveHen mil·lə·ḇā·ḇə·ḵā milləḇāḇəḵā milleVavecha šā·lêm šālêm shaLem ū·ḇə·lê·ḇāḇ ū·ḇil·ḇā·ḇə·ḵā ū·ḇil·ḇā·ḇōw ū·lə·ḇā·ḇə·ḵā ū·lə·ḇā·ḇî ū·lə·ḇā·ḇōw ū·lə·ḇaḇ ūḇəlêḇāḇ ūḇilḇāḇəḵā ūḇilḇāḇōw ūləḇaḇ ūləḇāḇəḵā ūləḇāḇî ūləḇāḇōw uleVav ulevaveCha uleVaVi ulevaVo uveleVav uvilvaveCha uvilvaVo vilvaVam Vilvavchem vilvaVecha
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