Lexical Summary kardia: Heart Original Word: καρδία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance the heart, thoughts, feelingsProlonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle -- (+ broken-)heart(-ed). HELPS Word-studies 2588 kardía – heart; "the affective center of our being" and the capacity of moral preference (volitional desire, choice; see P. Hughs, 2 Cor, 354); "desire-producer that makes us tick" (G. Archer), i.e our "desire-decisions" that establish who we really are. [Heart (2588 /kardía) is mentioned over 800 times in Scripture, but never referring to the literal physical pump that drives the blood. That is, "heart" is only used figuratively (both in the OT and NT.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition heart NASB Translation heart (102), heart's (1), hearts (49), mind (2), minds (1), quick (1), spirit (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2588: καρδίακαρδία, καρδίας, ἡ, poetic κραδία and καρδιη (in the latter form almost always in Homer (only at the beginning of a line in three places; everywhere else by metathesis κραδιη; Ebeling, Lex. Homer, under the word)) (from a root signifying to quiver or palpitate; cf. Cartius § 39; Vanicek, p. 1097 (Etym. Magn. 491, 56 παρά τό κραδαίνω, τό σείω. ἀεικινητος γάρ ἡ καρδία); allied with Latincor; English heart); the Sept. for לֵב and לֵבָב; the heart; 1. properly, that organ in the animal body which is the center of the circulation of the blood, and hence, was regarded as the seat of physical life: 2 Samuel 18:14; 2 Kings 9:24; Tobit 6:5 (4), 7f (6f), 17 (16). Hence, 2. universally, καρδία denotes the seat and center of all physical and spiritual life; and a. the vigor and sense of physical life (Psalm 101:5 b. the center and seat of spiritual life, "the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors" (so in English heart, inner man, etc.); α. universally: Matthew 5:8; Matthew 6:21; Mark 7:19; Luke 1:51; Luke 2:51; Luke 8:12, 15; Acts 5:3; Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 14:25; 2 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22; 1 Peter 3:4, etc.; plural: Matthew 9:4; Mark 2:6, 8; Mark 4:16 (R L text Tr marginal reading); Luke 1:17; Luke 2:35; Luke 5:22; (Luke 24:38 R G L marginal reading; Acts 7:51 L T Tr WH text); Romans 2:15; Romans 16:18; 2 Corinthians 3:2; Galatians 4:6; Philippians 4:7; Ephesians 5:19 Lachmann; Hebrews 8:10 (T WH marginal reading singular); Hebrews 10:16, etc. ἡ καρδία is distinguished from τό στόμα or from τά χειλεα: Matthew 15:8, 18; Mark 7:6; 2 Corinthians 6:11; Romans 10:8f; from τό πρόσωπον: 2 Corinthians 5:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:17; περιτομή καρδίας, Romans 2:29; ἀπερίτμητοι τῇ καρδία, Acts 7:51 (L T Tr WH text καρδίαις, WH marginal reading genitive καρδίας, cf. Buttmann, 170 (148)). of things done from the heart i. e. cordially or sincerely, truly (without simulation or pretence) the following phrases are used: ἐκ καρδίας (Aristophanes nub. 86), Romans 6:17; and L T Tr WH in 1 Peter 1:22, where R G ἐκ καθαρᾶς καρδίας, as in 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:22; ἀπό τῶν καρδιῶν, Matthew 18:35 (ἀπό καρδίας εὐχάριστος τοῖς θεοῖς, Antoninus 2, 3); ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ καρδία and ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας, Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33; Luke 10:27, and Rec. in Acts 8:37 (Deuteronomy 6:5; Deuteronomy 26:16; Psalm 118:34 3. used of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimate: τῆς γῆς (which some understand of Hades, others of the sepulchre), Matthew 12:40 (τῆς θαλάσσης, Jonah 2:4 for לֵב; and for the same ἐν μέσῳ θαλάσσης, Exodus 15:8, 19; add Baruch 6: (Epistle Jer.) Scope of Meaning and Biblical Range Kardia appears 158 times in the Greek New Testament, spanning every major literary genre—Gospels, Acts, Pauline epistles, General epistles, and Revelation. While the term can describe the physical organ (Matthew 12:40) its dominant usage is figurative, summarizing the inner life of a person: intellect, emotion, conscience, and will. Center of Thought and Understanding In biblical anthropology the mind is frequently located in the heart. Jesus perceives “evil thoughts in your hearts” (Matthew 9:4). The disciples’ dullness is explained by the fact that “their hearts were hardened” (Mark 6:52). Paul speaks of Gentiles whose “senseless hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21). Thus reasoning, remembering, and perceiving are heart–functions. Seat of Emotions and Affections Joy (John 16:22), sorrow (Romans 9:2), and courage or fear (John 14:1, 27) all arise in the heart. After the resurrection the two on the road to Emmaus confess, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking with us on the road?” (Luke 24:32). Christian fellowship is marked by “one heart and mind” (Acts 4:32). Center of Volition and Moral Choice Decisions originate in the heart. Ananias and Sapphira “kept back some of the proceeds” because Satan filled Ananias’ heart (Acts 5:3). Lydia’s conversion begins when “the Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message” (Acts 16:14). Belief itself is portrayed as a heart–act: “For with your heart you believe and are justified” (Romans 10:10). Moral and Spiritual Condition of the Heart 1. Purity: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). Heart and Saving Faith Saving confession is heart–centered: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Faith is more than intellectual assent; it is a wholehearted trust that results in righteousness (Romans 10:10). The New Heart Promise Fulfilled Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36 promise an internal transformation. The writer to the Hebrews views this as realized in Christ: “I will put My laws in their hearts” (Hebrews 10:16). Believers draw near to God “with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22). Heart and the Holy Spirit The Spirit’s indwelling is experienced in the heart: “God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5). The Spirit writes a living letter “on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:3) and strengthens believers “in your inner being” (Ephesians 3:17). Heart in Worship and Prayer True worship is heart–directed: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; sing and make music in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). Peace guards “your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). Prayer is to be made from an undivided heart (1 Peter 3:15). Pastoral and Discipleship Implications • Preaching targets the heart, trusting the Spirit to convict and regenerate (Acts 2:37). Historical Reception in Church Tradition Patristic writers equated kardia with the core of the imago Dei. Monastic and later Puritan spirituality stressed “keeping the heart” (Proverbs 4:23) as the essence of holiness. Reformed confessions emphasize regeneration as the Spirit’s work upon the heart, aligning with Pauline theology. Representative New Testament Passages Matthew 22:37; Mark 11:23; Luke 12:34; John 14:1; Acts 7:54; Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 14:25; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 4:18; Philippians 4:7; Hebrews 4:12; James 4:8; 1 John 3:20; Revelation 2:23. Connection to the Old Testament “lev/levav” The New Testament inherits the Hebrew concept of the heart as the totality of inner life (Deuteronomy 6:5). By employing kardia to translate and develop this idea, the apostles present continuity between covenants while highlighting the climactic gift of a new heart in Christ. Summary Kardia gathers the whole interior life—thinking, feeling, choosing—into a single term that Scripture repeatedly declares must be transformed by grace. God searches it, the gospel renews it, the Spirit indwells it, and the believer is called to guard it until Christ is fully formed within. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 5:8 N-DFSGRK: καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ ὅτι αὐτοὶ NAS: are the pure in heart, for they shall see KJV: [are] the pure in heart: for INT: pure in heart for they Matthew 5:28 N-DFS Matthew 6:21 N-NFS Matthew 9:4 N-DFP Matthew 11:29 N-DFS Matthew 12:34 N-GFS Matthew 12:40 N-DFS Matthew 13:15 N-NFS Matthew 13:15 N-DFS Matthew 13:19 N-DFS Matthew 15:8 N-NFS Matthew 15:18 N-GFS Matthew 15:19 N-GFS Matthew 18:35 N-GFP Matthew 22:37 N-DFS Matthew 24:48 N-DFS Mark 2:6 N-DFP Mark 2:8 N-DFP Mark 3:5 N-GFS Mark 6:52 N-NFS Mark 7:6 N-NFS Mark 7:19 N-AFS Mark 7:21 N-GFS Mark 8:17 N-AFS Mark 11:23 N-DFS Strong's Greek 2588 |
    |