Lexical Definition

‎לֵב‎ lêb (labe) heart ^H:N-M
a form of ‎לֵבָב‎

[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.

• the heart
• also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect
• likewise for the centre of anything

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding
1a) inner part, midst
1a1) midst (of things)
1a2) heart (of man)
1a3) soul, heart (of man)
1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
1a6) conscience
1a7) heart (of moral character)
1a8) as seat of appetites
1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

See Greek: διάνοια · καρδία · νοῦς · στῆθος · φρήν · φρόνησις · ψυχή

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Aramaic form: לֵב
‎לֵב‎₅₉₉ noun masculine Prov 23:15 ( feminine Prov 12:25, from influence of ‎נֶפֶשׁ‎ see De Now) inner man, mind will, heart, absolute and construct ‎לֵב‎ Gen 8:21 + 239 t.; ‎לֶבֿ‎ Exod 15:8 + 15 t.; suffix ‎לִבִּי‎ Gen 24:45 + 102 t.; ‎לִבְּךָ‎ Exod 9:14 + 28 t.; ‎לִבֶּ֑ךָ‎ Judg 19:6 + 25 t.; ‎לִבֵּךְ‎ Isa 47:7 + 7 t.; ‎לִבּוֺ‎ Gen 6:5 + 93 t.; ‎לִבָּהּ‎ Judg 19:3 + 7 t.; ‎לִ בֵּנוּ‎ Isa 41:22 + 5 t.; ‎לִבְּכֶם‎ Gen 8:5 + 2 t.; ‎לִבָּם‎ Gen 42:28 + 56 t.; ‎לִבָּן‎ Exod 35:26 ‎לִבְּהֶן‎ Ezek 13:17 plural ‎לִבּוֺת‎ Ps 7:10*; Prov 15:11 + 3 t. Proverbs; suffix ‎לִבֹּתָם‎ Isa 44:18 ‎לִבּוֺתָם‎ Ps 125:4. — inner part midst: I. seldom of things, ‎בְּלֶביָֿם‎ in the midst of the sea Exod 15:8; Prov 23:34; Prov 30:19 ‎בְּלֵב‎ ‎יַמִּים‎ Ps 46:3*; Ezek 27:4; Ezek 27:25; Ezek 27:26; Ezek 27:27; Ezek 28:2; Ezek 28:8 ‎בלב האלה‎ 2Sam 18:14 ‎בְּלֵב אֹיְבֵי‎ in the midst of the enemies of Ps 45:2* (see Br^{MP on the passage}; AV RV and others in the heart of). II. elsewhere of men:

1. the inner man in contrast with outer ‎לבי ובשׂרי ירננו‎ my heart and my flesh cry out Ps 84:3* || ‎מעים‎ Ps 22:15*; Jer 4:19, the inner for outer ‎מעים‎ Jer 49:22 as within the breast ‎על לב‎ Exod 28:3; Exod 28:29; Exod 28:30 (twice in verse) (P); ‎מלב‎ 2Kgs 9:24 ‎בלב‎ Ps 37:15; 2Sam 18:14 ‎סְגוֺד לִבָּם‎ Hos 13:8 antithesis with ‎בָּשָׂר‎ Prov 14:30; Eccl 2:3 head Isa 1:5, face Ezek 14:3; Ezek 14:4; Ezek 14:7 arm Song 8:6 hands Ezek 22:14 bones Ps 102:5* eyes 1Kgs 9:3 (= 2Chr 7:16) Jer 22:17 ear Prov 22:17; Prov 23:12 mouth Ps 55:22* lips Isa 29:13 ‎אֲנִי יְשֵׁינָה וְלִבִּי עֵר‎ I slept but my heart waked Song 5:2.

2. the inner man, indefinite, soul, comprehending mind, affections and will, with occasional emphasis of one or the other by means of certain verbs: ‎בכל לב‎ 1Kgs 8:23 (= 2Chr 6:14) Ps 9:2*; Ps 119:2; Ps 119:10; Ps 119:34; Ps 119:58; Ps 119:69; Ps 119:145; Ps 138:1; Prov 3:5; Jer 3:10; Jer 24:7 ‎עם לב‎ 2Chr 24:4 (see ‎לבב‎ 2); ‎כלב‎ 2Sam 7:21 (= 1Chr 17:19) Jer 3:15 ‎תַּעֲלֻמוֺת לֵב‎ secrets of the heart Ps 44:22* ‎לֵב מְלָכִים אֵין חֵקֶר‎ the heart of kings is unsearchable Prov 25:4 ‎הַיֹּצֵר יַחַד לִבָּם‎ Ps 33:15 etc.

3. specific reference to mind:
a. ‎מִלֵּב‎ of one's own mind Num 16:28; Num 24:13 (JE) 1Kgs 12:33; Neh 6:8; Ezek 13:2; Ezek 13:17 ‎חֲסַר לֵב‎ destitute of mind Prov 6:32; Prov 7:7; Prov 9:4; Prov 9:16; Prov 10:13; Prov 10:21; Prov 11:12; Prov 12:11; Prov 15:21; Prov 17:18; Prov 24:30 ‎לִבּוֺ חָסֵר‎ Eccl 10:3 ‎אֵין לֵב‎ Jer 5:21; Hos 7:11 ‎לב אין‎ Prov 17:16 ‎קנה לב‎ get a mind Prov 15:32; Prov 19:8 ‎כֹּחַ לב‎ power of mind Job 36:5 ‎רֹחַב לב‎ breadth of mind 1Kgs 5:9*, ‎גנב לב‎ 2Sam 15:6; Gen 31:20 (E? see ‎לבב‎ 3 a).
b. knowledge, with ‎ידע‎ Deut 29:3*; Prov 14:10; Prov 22:17; Eccl 1:17; Eccl 7:22; Eccl 7:25; Eccl 8:5; Eccl 8:16; Jer 24:7 ‎ראה‎ Ps 66:18; Eccl 1:16 ‎חָכַם לב‎ mind is wise Prov 23:15 ‎לֵב חָכָם‎ wise mind 1Kgs 3:12; Prov 16:23; Eccl 8:5 ‎חֲכַם לֵב‎ Exod 31:6; Exod 35:10; Exod 36:1; Exod 36:2; Exod 36:8 (P) Prov 10:8; Prov 11:29; Prov 16:21 ‎חַכְמֵי לֵב‎ Exod 28:3 (P) Job 37:24 ‎חכמת לב‎ Exod 35:25; Exod 35:35 (P); ‎לב חכמים‎ Eccl 7:4; Eccl 10:2 ‎לב כסילים‎ Prov 12:23; Prov 15:7; Eccl 7:4; Eccl 10:2 with ‎חכמה‎ Exod 36:2 (P) 1Kgs 10:24 (= 2Chr 9:23) Prov 2:10; Prov 17:16; Eccl 2:3 ‎לֵב נָבוֺן‎ intelligent mind Prov 14:33; Prov 15:14; Prov 18:15 with ‎הבין‎ Prov 8:5 ‎תְּבוּנָה‎ Prov 2:2 ‎שָׂ֑כֶל‎ Job 17:4 etc.
c. thinking, reflection, with ‎חשׁב‎ Ps 140:3*; Prov 16:9 ‎מחשׁבות‎ Gen 6:5 (J) Ps 33:11; Prov 6:18; Prov 19:21 compare Gen 8:21 (J); ‎הגה‎ muse, study Prov 15:28; Prov 24:2; Isa 33:18; Isa 59:13 ‎הגיון‎ Ps 19:15* ‎הָגוּת‎ Ps 49:4* ‎שׂם לב‎ set the mind, consider Isa 41:22; Ezek 44:5, with ‎לְ‎ 1Sam 9:20; 2Sam 13:20; Ezek 40:4; Ezek 44:5 ‎אֶל‎ Exod 9:21 (J) 1Sam 24:25; 2Sam 18:3 (twice in verse); Job 2:3; Job 34:14 ‎עַל‎ Job 1:8 ‎שׁת לב‎ Ps 62:10*; Prov 22:17; Prov 24:32, with ‎לְ‎ Exod 7:23 (JE) 1Sam 4:20; Ps 48:14*; Prov 27:23; Jer 31:21, ‎אֶל‎ Job 7:17.
d. memory ‎השׁיב אל לב‎ call to mind Isa 44:19; Lam 3:21 ‎על לב‎ Isa 46:8 ‎עלה על לב‎ come into mind (occur to one) Isa 65:17; Jer 3:16; Jer 7:31; Jer 19:5; Jer 32:35 (compare Acts 7:23), so ‎בא על לב‎ 2Chr 7:11 ‎שׂם על לב‎ lay to heart Isa 42:25; Isa 47:7; Isa 57:1; Isa 57:11; Jer 12:11; Mal 2:2 (twice in verse); Dan 1:8 ‎אל לב‎ 2Sam 13:33; 2Sam 19:20* ‎כתב על לב‎ Jer 31:33 ‎קשׁר על לב‎ Prov 6:21 ‎לוּחַ לֵב‎ tablet of the memory Prov 3:3; Prov 7:3; Jer 17:1 ‎נִשְׁכַּחְתִּי כְּמֵת מִלֵּב‎ I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind Ps 31:13*.

4. specific reference to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will; ‎הכין לב‎ set the mind 2Chr 12:14; Ps 10:17; Ps 78:8; Job 11:13 ‎נכון לב‎ Ps 57:8* (twice in verse) ( = Ps 108:2*) Ps 78:37; Ps 112:7 ‎נתן לב לְ‎ Eccl 1:13; Eccl 1:17; Eccl 7:21; Eccl 8:9; Eccl 8:16; Prov 23:26; Dan 10:12 ‎נתן‎ ‎אל לב‎ Eccl 7:2; Eccl 9:1; Neh 2:12; Neh 7:5 (the 'heart' here not being the subject's), ‎בלב‎ Exod 35:34 (P) Ezra 7:27; Eccl 3:11 ‎אֲשֶׁרנְֿשָׂאוֺ לִבּוֺ‎ whose heart stirred him up Exod 35:21; Exod 36:2 compare Exod 35:26 (all P); ‎נְדִיב לֵב‎ willing of mind Exod 35:5; Exod 35:22 (P) 2Chr 29:31 compare Exod 25:2; Exod 35:29 (P); ‎נטה לב אחריּ‎ inclined to follow Judg 9:3; Ps 119:112 ‎הטה לב‎ 1Kgs 11:3; Ps 119:36; Ps 141:4 compare 2Sam 15:13: — ‎גְּדֹלִים חִקְקֵילֵֿב‎ great resolves of heart Judg 5:15 etc.

5. specific reference to conscience, ‎וַיַּךְ לֵב‎ ‎דָּוִד אֹתוֺ‎ and David's heart (conscience) smote him 1Sam 24:6* ‎מִכְשׁוֺל לֵב‎ offence of conscience 1Sam 25:31.

6. specific reference to moral character, God tries the heart Ps 17:3; Jer 12:3 sees the heart and reins Jer 20:12, tries them Ps 7:10*; Jer 11:20, refines them Ps 26:2 searches the heart and tries the reins Jer 17:10.
a. ‎ישֶׁרלִֿבִּי‎ Job 33:3 ‎יִשְׁרֵי לֵב‎ Ps 7:11*; Ps 11:2; Ps 32:11; Ps 36:11*; Ps 64:11* (all with ‎דָּוִד‎ in title), Ps 94:15; Ps 97:11 ‎לֵב שָׁלֵם‎ 1Chr 28:9; 1Chr 29:9; Isa 38:3 (all originally ‎לבב‎, see ‎לבב‎ 6 a); ‎נִשְׁבְּרֵילֵֿב‎ broken of heart Ps 34:19*; Isa 61:1 ‎לֵבנִֿשְׁבָּר‎ Ps 51:19* ‎שְׁבוּרֵי לֵב‎ Ps 147:3 ‎לֵב‎ ‎נִדְכָּאִים‎ Isa 57:15 ‎לֵב טָהוֺר‎ clean heart Ps 51:12* ‎לֵב חָדָשׁ‎ new heart Ezek 18:21; Ezek 36:26 (probably also Ezek 11:19 for ‎אֶחָד‎ see Co) etc.
b. ‎לֵב רָע‎ evil heart Prov 26:23 ‎חַנְפֵילֵֿב‎ godless in heart Job 36:13 ‎עקּשׁ(י) לב‎ perverse in heart Prov 11:20; Prov 17:20 ‎תַּרְמִת לִבָּם‎ deceit of their heart Jer 14:14; Jer 23:26 ‎בלב ולב‎ with a double heart Ps 12:3* etc.
c. seat of pride Prov 21:4; Jer 48:29; Jer 49:16; Hos 13:6; Obad 1:3 ‎גְּבַהּלֵֿב‎ Prov 16:5 ‎גֹּבַהּ לב‎ 2Chr 32:26 ‎גָּבַהּ לֵב‎ 2Chr 26:16; 2Chr 32:25; Ps 131:1; Prov 18:12; Ezek 28:2; Ezek 28:17.
d. the heart is uncircumcised Jer 9:25*; Ezek 44:7 (twice in verse); Ezek 44:9 and hardened: ‎חזּק לב‎ Exod 4:21; Exod 10:20; Exod 10:27 (E), Exod 9:12; Exod 11:10; Exod 14:4; Exod 14:8; Exod 14:17 (P), Josh 11:20 (D² ?); ‎יֶחֱזַק לֵב‎ Exod 7:13; Exod 7:22; Exod 8:15*; Exod 9:35 (P); ‎חִזְקֵילֵֿב‎ Ezek 2:4 ‎הקשׁה לב‎ Exod 7:3 (P) Prov 28:14 ‎קְשֵׁילֵֿב‎ Ezek 3:7 ‎הכביד לב‎ Exod 8:11*; Exod 8:28*; Exod 9:34; Exod 10:1 (J); ‎כָּבֵד לב‎ Exod 7:14; Exod 9:7 (J); ‎כּכּד לב‎ 1Sam 6:6 ‎הַשְׁמֵן לֵבהָֿעָם הַזֶה‎ make the heart of this people fat Isa 6:10 (?); ‎שְׁרִ(י)רוּת לֵב‎ Deut 29:18*; Ps 81:13* after Jer 3:17; Jer 7:24; Jer 9:13*; Jer 11:8; Jer 13:10; Jer 16:12; Jer 18:12; Jer 23:17 ‎לב האבן‎ the heart of stone Ezek 11:19; Ezek 36:26 etc.

7. for the man himself, ‎אמר בלב‎ Gen 17:17 (P), Gen 27:41 (JE), 1Kgs 12:26; Esth 6:6; Ps 10:6; Ps 10:11; Ps 10:13; Ps 14:1 ( = Ps 53:2*) Ps 35:25; Ps 74:8; Eccl 2:1; Eccl 2:15; Eccl 3:17; Eccl 3:18; Isa 47:10; Obad 1:3; Zech 12:5 ‎אֶללֿב‎ Gen 8:21 (J) 1Sam 27:1 ‎דבּר בלב‎ Eccl 2:15 ‎אֶללֿב‎ Gen 24:45 (J); ‎עַל לב‎ 1Sam 1:13 (?); ‎עִם לב‎ Eccl 1:16 ‎נְאֻםפֶּֿשַׁע לָרָשָׁע בְּקֶרֶב לִבִּי‎ Ps 36:2*.

8. as seat of appetites, ‎סְעַד לב‎ stay the heart (with bread) Gen 18:5 (J) Judg 19:5.

9. as seat of the emotions and passions:
a. of joy and gladness, in various combinations of ‎טוב‎, Judg 16:25; Judg 18:20; Judg 19:6; Judg 19:22; Ruth 3:7; 1Sam 25:36; 2Sam 13:28; 1Kgs 8:66 ( = 2Chr 7:10) 2Chr 21:7; Esth 1:10; Esth 5:9; Prov 15:15; Eccl 7:3; Eccl 9:7; Eccl 11:9; Isa 65:14 various combinations of ‎שׂמח‎, Exod 4:14 (J) 1Chr 16:10 ( = Ps 105:3) Ps 4:8*; Ps 16:9; Ps 19:9*; Ps 33:21; Prov 15:13; Prov 15:30; Prov 17:22; Prov 27:9; Prov 27:11; Eccl 2:10 (twice in verse); Eccl 5:19*; Song 3:11; Isa 24:7; Zech 10:7 ‎שׂישׂ‎ Ps 119:111; Isa 66:14; Lam 5:15 ‎עלץ‎ 1Sam 2:1 ‎עלז‎ Ps 28:7; Zeph 3:14 ‎רנן‎ Job 29:13 ‎גיל‎ Ps 13:6*; Ps 24:17; Zech 10:7 of desire, Ps 21:3*; Ps 37:4 ‎דבּר עַל לֵב‎ speak unto the heart (kindly) Gen 34:3; Gen 50:21 (JE) Judg 19:3; 2Sam 19:8*; 2Chr 30:22; Isa 40:2; Hos 2:16*; Ruth 2:13.
b. of trouble 2Kgs 6:11; Isa 65:14, sorrow Neh 2:2; Prov 14:3, pain Ps 55:5*. vexation Eccl 11:10, trembling Deut 28:65 (?) 1Sam 28:3, faintness Lam 5:17 it is wounded Ps 109:22 dies within one out of fear 1Sam 25:37 etc.; ‎לב נמס‎ the heart melteth (in fear) 2Sam 17:10; Ps 22:15*; Ezek 21:12*; Nah 2:11*.

10. seat of courage: ‎יַאֲמֵץ לִבֶּ֑ךָ‎ let thine heart take courage Ps 27:14 ‎אַמִּיץ לִבּוֺ‎ Amos 2:16 ‎אַבִּירֵי לֵב‎ stout-hearted Ps 76:6*; Isa 46:12 ‎לִבּוֺ יָצוּק כְּמוֺאֶֿבֶן‎ his heart as firm as a stone Job 41:16* ‎לִבוֺ כְּלֵב הָאַרְיֵה‎ his heart as the heart of the lion 2Sam 17:10.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References