"Heart" idioms in the Hebrew Bible

Extracted text from Heartlist.ppt:

Reference

Idiom in Hebrew

Used to convey clear conscience deceive change mind hold a grudge fear, loss of hope rebellious humility lust, desire, attention fear/discouragement stubborn forget remember, come to mind to feel (a certain way) fully, completely memorize pride, self-confidence selfish/stubborn a thought / thoughts, plans sadness change loyalty anger fearful, afraid, timid confusion make/become loyal/obedient

Gen 20.5,6 have a full heart *Gen 31.26 steal heart *Exo 14.5 change heart *Lev 19.17 hate in heart *Lev 26.36, Job 37.1 faint heart/h. tremble Lam 1.22 *Lev 26.41 uncircumcised heart *Lev 26.41 humble heart *Num 15.39, 2Ch 7.16(after your) heart (and eyes) *Deu 1.28, Ezk 21.12 melt heart *Deu 2.30 obstinate heart *Deu 4.9 depart from heart *Deu 4.39, Isa 65.17 bring back to/come up on h. *Deu 5.29 heart to be (this way) *Deu 6.5, Psa 86.12 all (your) heart *Deu 6.6, 11.18 be/ put upon heart *Deu 8.14, 2Ch 25.19 heart (be) lifted up *Deu 15.7 hard heart *Deu 15.9, 1Kng 10.2 (a word) with (your) heart *Deu 15.10 sad heart *Deu 17.17 heart turns aside *Deu 19.6 heart is hot *Deu 20.3/8 timid / weak heart *Deu 28.28 bewilderment of heart *Deu 30.6, Jer 4.4 circumcise hearts

*Jos 14.7 a word just as with my heart *Jdg 19.8, Psa 104.15 sustain heart *Jdg 19.9 glad of heart 1Sa 25.37 heart dies 2Sa 13.28; 25.36 good h. / h. glad (with wine) 2Sa 15.13, Ezk 20.16 heart go/walk after *1Kg 8.17, 18 with the heart *1Kg 8.38 plague of heart *1Kg 8.58 incline heart *2Kg 10.15 my h. with your h. *2Kg 22.19 soft heart *Job 12.3 I have a heart like you Job 12.24 remove heart *Job 27.6 h. does not reproach *Psa 4.5 speak in your heart Psa 12.3 with a heart and a heart *Psa 15.2 speak truth in heart *Psa 25.17 troubles of heart *Psa 31.25 heart be strong Psa 34.19; 107.2 broken-hearted, h. stumbles Psa 37.15; 45.6 sword/arrows enter heart Psa 46.3 in heart of sea *Psa 73.26 rock of my heart *Psa 84.6 highways in their heart *Psa 86.11 unite my heart *Psa 90.12 bring a heart of wisdom *Psa 95.10 go astray of heart *Psa 101.5; 9.8 greatness / wide of h.

and honest report physical (spiritual?) nourishment happiness discouraged (or possibly a stroke?) intoxicated follow (a leader, idol) plan, desire, want to do something sorrow make obedient loyal, true to someone repentant I am as smart/know as much as you make foolish / senseless my conscience is clear think deeply insincere sincere worries courage discouraged, sad literal - physical in midst of sea my strength desire to make pilgrimage keep me faithful become wise disloyal, unfaithful proud, arrogant

Psa 102.5 Psa 108.2 Psa 112.8 Psa 199.32 Psa 119.36 Psa 119.70, Isa 6.10 *Pro 6.25 Pro 9.16, Hos 7.11 Pro 22.11, *Psa 24.4 Pro 24.12 Pro 27.23, Job 1.8 Ecc 8.11, Isa 35.4 Ecc 9.1, Jer 12.11 Sng 4.9 Sng 5.2 *Isa 21.4 Isa 29.13 Isa 38.3, *1Kg 8.61 Isa 57.15, *Psa 69.33 Jer 3.15, Isa 3.15 Jer 4.9 Jer 4.19 Jer 24.7 Jer 30.21 Lam 2.19, *Psa 62.9 *Ezk 3.10 Ezk 11.19 Ezk 11.19 Ezk 14.4 Ezk 22.14

stricken/withered heart steadfast heart supported heart enlarge heart turn heart h. gross like fat / make fat desire beauty in heart lacking in heart / no h. pure heart weigh heart set heart / on/to/from (NP) heart (is full of) haste give to/set on heart steal/ravish heart (?) h. awake (while sleeping) heart has wandered h. sent far away complete (shalom) h. revive heart according to my own h. heart will perish walls of h. groan give (someone else) h. pledge h. to do something pour out h. like water take in (your) heart heart of stone heart of flesh bring up x to heart heart endure

physically (spiritually?) weak confidence dependable teach, increase understanding commit to, convince people dull-witted / make minds dull lust stupid, lacking understanding, sense single-minded/sincere? read mind pay attention, observe, consider eager / anxious think about, ponder, take seriously infatuation dreaming mind reels, head spins do not think of (God) loyalty, faithfulness restore confidence, encourage obedient, in agreement with lose courage heart pounds (physical) give desire for something dare to do something give vent to feelings consider carefully stubbornness obedience give loyalty to courage last

Dan 1.8;10.12 *Dan 11.25 *Dan 11.28 Amo 2.16 Hos 4.11 Hos 10.2 *Nah 2.8 1Ch 29.9 2Ch 11.16; 12.14 2Ch 30.22, Hos 2.16

set heart to (verb phrase) stir up strength and h. heart is upon heart among the mighty take away heart slippery heart beat on hearts complete heart give/establish heart speak to heart

decide, resolve to do something boldness, courage determined, resolved brave take away understanding deceitful beat breasts (physical-symbol of sorrow) willingness decide encourage, try to win affection

Asterisk means the term is LEBAB, not LEB LEBAB 252 times in the OT

LEB 601 times in the OT

When in English one would understand the context to imply a physical situation (e.g. Psa 102.5, Jdg 19.8), the ancient context may well be understood as a spiritual one. There are a number of inherent problems in such a chart. The list should really be exhaustive of course. The Hebrew column should be in Hebrew (but that makes it much less accessible). Also, the column giving the English meaning (used to convey) is fairly interpretive, obviously, but that is unavoidable. Finally, the chart has all kinds of network connections (LEB/LEBAB differences/similarities, uses in different books, similar ideas expressed by different idioms, etc.), and it would be nice to show these somehow.