Lexical Definition

‎לֵבָב‎ lêbâb (lay-bawb') heart ^H:N-M
from ‎לָבַב‎; used also like ‎לֵב‎

[phrase] bethink themselves, breast, comfortably, courage, ((faint), (tender-) heart(-ed), midst, mind, [idiom] unawares, understanding.

• the heart (as the most interior organ)

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, 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 · ἐπιθυμία · καρδία · νοῦς · ψυχή

Extended Information

• Aramaic equivalent: le.vav (‎ל‎ְ‎ב‎ַ‎ב‎ "heart" לְבַב)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Aramaic form: לְבַב
‎לֵבָב‎₂₅₁ noun masculine^{Ps 104:15} inner man, mind, will, heart; — absolute ‎׳‎‎ל‎ Deut 28:28 + 31 t.; construct ‎לִבַב‎ Deut 20:8 + 22 t.; suffix ‎לְבָבִי‎ Isa 21:4 + 24 t.; ‎לְבָֽבְךָ‎ Deut 4:29 + 35 t.; ‎לְבָבֶ֑ךָ‎ Deut 4:39 + 21 t.; ‎לְבָבֵךְ‎ 1Sam 1:8 + 3 t.; ‎לְבָבוֺ‎ Deut 2:30 + 37 t.; ‎לְבָבָהּ‎ Zeph 2:15 + 3 t.; ‎לִבָבֵנוּ‎ Deut 1:28 + 3 t.; ‎לְבַבְכֶם‎ Deut 10:16 + 37 t.; ‎לְבָבָם‎ Lev 26:41 + 22 t.; plural with suffix ‎לִבְבֵהֶן‎ Nah 2:8* (Sta^{§ 353 a} reads ‎לְבַבְהֶן‎, but see Kö^{ii. 78}); plural ‎לְבָבוֺת‎ 1Chr 28:9. — The inner, middle, or central part: I. seldom of things ‎בִּלְבַב יַמִּים‎ in the Midst of the seas Jonah 2:3* (poetry); ‎עד לבב השׁמים‎ unto the midst of heaven Deut 4:11 (so ⅏ but ᵑ0 ‎לב‎). II. usually of men:

1. the inner man in contrast with the outer, ‎כלה שׁארי ולבבי‎ my flesh and my heart (soul) doth fail Ps 73:26 antithesis with garments Joel 2:13 hands Ps 73:13; Lam 3:41 ?; eyes Num 15:39 (H) 1Sam 16:7 ears Ezek 3:10 mouth Deut 30:14 speech Ps 28:3; Ps 78:18 ‎מְתֹפֲפֹת עַללִֿבְבֵהֶן‎ tabering upon their breasts Nah 2:7* (inner for outer).

2. the inner man, indefinite the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will, or, in connection with certain verbs, having more specific reference to some one of them. ‎בכללֿבב ובכלנֿפשׁ‎ with all the heart and with all the soul Deut 4:29; Deut 6:5; Deut 10:12; Deut 11:13; Deut 13:4*; Deut 26:16; Deut 30:2; Deut 30:6; Deut 30:10; Deut 23:14*; Deut 1:4; Deut 8:48 (= 2Chr 6:38 ‎לב‎ ?) 2Kgs 23:25; 2Chr 15:12; 2Chr 34:31 ( = 2Kgs 23:3 ‎לב‎ ?) Jer 32:41 abbreviated ‎בכללֿבב‎ 1Sam 7:3; 1Sam 12:20; 1Sam 12:24; 1Kgs 14:8; 2Kgs 10:31; 2Chr 15:5; 2Chr 22:9; 2Chr 31:21; Ps 86:12; Ps 111:1; Jer 29:13; Joel 2:12 ‎אשׁר בלבב‎ what is in the heart (mind) Deut 8:2; 1Sam 9:19; 1Sam 14:7; 2Sam 7:3 ( = 1Chr 17:2) 2Kgs 10:30; 2Chr 32:31 compare Job 10:13; Ps 84:6* (?); ‎עם לבב‎ with the heart (mind), with ‎ידע‎ Deut 8:5, ‎שִׂיחַ‎ Ps 77:7*, usually with ‎היה‎, of a thought or purpose, Deut 15:9; Josh 14:7; 1Kgs 8:17; 1Kgs 8:18 (twice in verse) ( = 2Chr 6:7; 2Chr 6:8 (twice in verse)) 2Chr 10:2 ( = 2Chr 9:1) 1Chr 22:7; 1Chr 28:2; 2Chr 1:11; 2Chr 29:10 (compare 2Chr 24:4 ‎לב‎); ‎כלבב‎ according to the heart 1Sam 13:14; 1Sam 14:7; Ps 20:7*. We may add Deut 5:26; Deut 11:16; Deut 11:18; Deut 17:17; 1Sam 2:35; 2Sam 19:15*; 1Kgs 8:39 (twice in verse) ( = 2Chr 6:30 (twice in verse)) 2Chr 11:2; 2Chr 11:3 (‎לב‎ an error) v2Chr 11:4 v2Chr 11:9; 1Chr 12:17*; 1Chr 22:19; 1Chr 28:9; Ps 62:9*; Ps 86:11; Ps 139:23; Isa 7:2; Dan 11:27; Dan 11:28.

3. specific reference to mind (characteristic of ‎לבב‎):
a. ‎אַנְשֵׁי לֵבָב‎ men of mind Job 34:10; Job 34:34 ‎גם לי לבב‎ I also have a mind Job 12:3 ‎׳‎‎הוֺלֵלוֺת בִּל‎ madness is in (their) mind Eccl 9:3 (?); ,‎וַתִּגְנֹב לְבָבִי‎ and thou didst steal my mind Gen 31:26 (E, the ‎לֵב‎ of vGen 31:20 should be corrected to ‎לבב‎ compare 'steal me' vGen 31:27).
b. knowledge, with ‎ידע‎ Deut 8:5; Deut 23:14*; 1Kgs 2:44 ‎הבין‎ Isa 6:10; Isa 32:4 ‎חֲכַם לֵבָב‎ wise of mind Job 9:4 ‎לְבַב חָכְמָה‎ mind of wisdom Ps 90:12.
c. thinking, reflection, with ‎חשׁב‎ Isa 10:7; Zech 7:10; Zech 8:17 (‎שׂיּח‎ Ps 77:7* above); ‎׳‎‎יצר מחשׁבות ל‎ conception of thoughts of mind 1Chr 29:18 ‎׳‎‎מַשְׂכִּיּוֺת ל‎ imaginations of (their) mind Ps 73:7 ‎׳‎‎מוֺרָשֵׁי ל‎ possessions (thoughts) of (my) mind Job 17:11 ‎שׂם לבב‎ set the mind, consider Hag 2:15; Hag 2:18 (twice in verse), with ‎לְ‎ Deut 32:46, ‎על‎ Hag 1:5; Hag 1:7.
d. of memeory ‎שׂם בלבב‎ lay up in the mind 1Sam 21:13*; Job 22:22 ‎׳‎‎השׁיב אל ל‎ lay to heart, call to mind Deut 4:39; Deut 30:1; 2Chr 6:37 ( = 1Kgs 8:47 ‎לב‎ ?); ‎׳‎‎עלה על ל‎ come upon the mind Jer 51:50; Ezek 38:10 (compare ‎לֵב‎ 3 d); ‎׳‎‎סוּר מל‎ depart from the mind Deut 4:9 ‎׳‎‎שׁמר בתוך ל‎ keep in the midst of (thy) mind Prov 4:21 ‎׳‎‎על ל‎ upon the mind Deut 6:6.

4. specific reference to inclinations, resolutions determinations of the will (characteristic of ‎׳‎‎ל‎): ‎׳‎‎הכין ל‎ set the mind, with ‎אֶל‎ 1Sam 7:3; 1Chr 29:18, ‎לְ‎ 2Chr 20:33 ‎לדרשׁ‎ 2Chr 19:3; 2Chr 30:19; Ezra 7:10 ‎אֶל‎‎׳‎‎הטה ל‎ Josh 24:23 (E) 1Kgs 8:58 ‎לדרשׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎נתן ל‎ 1Chr 22:19, compare 2Chr 11:16 ‎פנה מעם‎ ‎׳‎‎ל‎ mind turn away from Deut 29:17*; Deut 30:17 ‎׳‎‎פ‎ ‎׳‎‎יֵהָפֵךְ ל‎ Pharaoh's mind was changed Exod 14:5 (E).

5. specific reference to conscience ‎לא יחרף לבבי‎ my heart (conscience) shall not reproach me Job 27:6.

6. specific reference to moral character (characteristic of ‎׳‎‎ל‎): God tries the ‎׳‎‎ל‎ 1Chr 29:17:
a. ‎׳‎‎ישֶׁר ל‎ uprightness of heart Deut 9:5; 1Chr 29:17; Ps 119:7 (?); ‎׳‎‎יִשְׁרֵי ל‎ 2Chr 29:34 ‎׳‎‎יִשְׁרַת ל‎ 1Kgs 3:6 ‎יָשָׁר‎ ‎׳‎‎ל‎ 2Kgs 10:15 (3 t. in verse); ‎׳‎‎תָּסלֿ‎ integrity of heart Gen 20:5; Gen 20:6 (E) 1Kgs 9:4; Ps 78:72; Ps 101:2 ‎שָׁלֵם (עִםׅ‎ ‎׳‎‎ל‎ heart perfect (with) 1Kgs 8:61; 1Kgs 11:4; 1Kgs 15:3; 1Kgs 15:14 (= 2Chr 15:17) 2Kgs 20:3 (= Isa 38:3 ‎לֵב‎ ?) 1Chr 12:39*; 1Chr 29:19; 1Chr 2:9; 1Chr 19:9; 1Chr 25:2 ‎׳‎‎בַּרלֿ‎ pure in heart Ps 24:4 ‎׳‎‎בָּרֵי ל‎ Ps 73:1. We may add 2Kgs 22:19 = 2Chr 34:27; Neh 9:8; Jer 32:40.
b. it is the seat of naughtiness 1Sam 17:28 (?), erring Ps 95:10 is forward Ps 101:4.
c. seat of pride, Ps 101:5; Isa 9:8*; Isa 10:12; Isa 60:5 (?) Ezek 28:5; Ezek 28:6 (?) Dan 8:25 ‎׳‎‎רָם ל‎ heart is lifted up Deut 8:14; Deut 17:20; Ezek 31:10; Dan 11:12.
d. is circumcised Deut 10:16; Deut 30:6; Jer 4:4, or uncircumcised Lev 26:41 (H); is hardened ‎׳‎‎אמּץ ל‎ Deut 2:30; Deut 15:7; 2Chr 36:13 ‎׳‎‎כבּד ל‎ 1Sam 6:6 (?); ‎׳‎‎הקשׁה ל‎ Ps 95:8.

7. = the man himself (meaning characteristic of ‎נֶפֶשׁ‎) ‎׳‎‎אמר בל‎ say in the heart (to oneself) Deut 7:17; Deut 8:17; Deut 9:4; Deut 18:21; Ps 4:5*; Isa 14:3; Isa 47:8; Isa 49:21; Jer 5:24; Jer 13:22; Zeph 1:12; Zeph 2:15 ‎ללבב‎ Hos 7:2 (?); ‎׳‎‎דבר בל‎ Ps 15:2 ‎׳‎‎ברכו בל‎ Job 1:5 ‎׳‎‎התברך בל‎ Deut 29:18* ‎יְחִי לְבַבְכֶם‎ let your heart (you yourselves) live Ps 22:27*; Ps 69:33* (compare Ps 119:175).

8. specifically as the seat of the appetites (for which usually ‎נֶפֶשׁ‎) ‎׳‎‎סעד ל‎ stay the heart (with food) Ps 104:15; Judg 19:8 (?); ‎יִיטַב לְבָבֶ֑ךָ‎ that thine heart may be merry (with wine) Judg 19:9 (?); ‎יַיִן‎ ‎׳‎‎יְשַׂמַּח ל‎ wine gladdens the heart Ps 104:15.

9. specifically of seat of the emotions and passions (for which usually ‎נפשׁ‎):
a. of joy Isa 30:29; Jer 15:16; Ezek 36:5, gladness Deut 28:47, desire Prov 6:25 (?); ‎דבּר‎ ‎׳‎‎על ל‎ speak into the heart (comfortably) 2Chr 32:6 (elsewhere ‎לֵב‎).
b. of trouble 1Kgs 8:38; Ps 25:17; Ps 73:21 weakness, faintness Lev 26:36 (H) Deut 20:3; Deut 20:18; 2Chr 13:7; Isa 1:5; Isa 7:4; Jer 51:46, grief Deut 15:10; 1Sam 1:8 sorrow Ps 13:3*, fear Deut 28:67, dismay Isa 21:4, astonishment Deut 28:28, anger Deut 19:6, hate Lev 19:16 (H); ‎׳‎‎ימּס ל‎ the heart melteth Deut 20:8; Josh 2:11; Josh 5:1; Josh 7:5 (all D) Isa 13:7; Isa 19:1 ‎׳‎‎המס ל‎ Deut 1:28 (so read probably also Josh 14:8, where ‎לֵב‎ error).

10. seat of courage (for which usually ‎רוּחַ‎), ‎יָעֵר כֹּחוֺ‎ ‎וּלְבָבוֺ‎ stir up his power and his courage Dan 11:25 ‎יַאֲמֵץ לְבַבְכֶם‎ let your heart take courage Ps 31:25*.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References