Topical Bible: Bowels

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical literature, the term "bowels" is often used metaphorically to describe the innermost parts of a person, encompassing emotions, affections, and deep-seated feelings. The term is derived from the Hebrew word "מֵעֶה" (me'eh) and the Greek word "σπλάγχνα" (splanchna), both of which can refer to the physical intestines or internal organs, but are frequently used in a figurative sense to denote the seat of emotions and compassion.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, "bowels" are frequently associated with deep emotional experiences. For instance, in Genesis 43:30, Joseph's "bowels did yearn upon his brother" , indicating a profound emotional response upon seeing Benjamin. Similarly, in Isaiah 63:15, the prophet appeals to God, asking, "Where are Your zeal and Your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us" , where "tenderness and compassion" are linked to the concept of bowels, emphasizing God's deep emotional connection to His people.

The use of "bowels" in the Old Testament often highlights the intensity of human emotions, such as love, compassion, and sorrow. In Lamentations 1:20, the author laments, "See, O LORD, how distressed I am! I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed" , where the distress is described as being felt in the bowels, underscoring the depth of the emotional turmoil.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the Greek term "σπλάγχνα" is similarly used to convey deep emotions. In Philippians 1:8, Paul writes, "For God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus" , where "affection" is translated from "σπλάγχνα," indicating a profound, Christ-like love and compassion.

The concept of bowels as the seat of emotions is further illustrated in 1 John 3:17, which states, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" . Here, "pity" is derived from the idea of bowels, suggesting that true Christian love and compassion should be deeply felt and lead to action.

Theological Implications

The metaphorical use of "bowels" in Scripture underscores the biblical understanding of human emotions as integral to one's spiritual and moral life. It reflects the belief that emotions are not merely superficial feelings but are deeply rooted in the core of one's being, influencing actions and relationships.

In a theological context, the use of "bowels" to describe God's compassion and mercy highlights the depth of His love for humanity. This is evident in passages like Colossians 3:12, which exhorts believers to "put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience" , where "heart of compassion" is linked to the concept of bowels, encouraging Christians to emulate the deep, compassionate love of God in their interactions with others.

Overall, the biblical use of "bowels" serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of genuine, heartfelt emotions in the life of faith, calling believers to embody the deep compassion and love exemplified by Christ.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Philippians 1:8; 2:1; Colossians 3:12), compassionate feelings; R.V., "tender mercies."

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

BOWELS

bou'-elz (me`ah, plural me`im, rechem, plural rachamim; splagchnion):

(1) Literal: The literal meaning of these words is intestines, then the abdomen, the womb (matrix and uterus). As will be seen there is not much definiteness in the use of these expressions from the standpoint of physiology; but not less so than in modern oriental languages and even in many occidental languages, as popularly used. The remarkable phrases used in 2 Chronicles 21:18, 19, "Yahweh smote him in his bowels" and "His bowels fell out by reason of his sickness," refer to a severe and fatal case of hemorrh oids.

(2) Figurative: In figurative language these words denote deep emotions of various kinds. As in physiology we speak of the "nervus sympathicus," the ancients expressed by these terms "affection," "sympathy" and "mercy," feelings of distress and sorrow, as in Job 30:27 the King James Version; Lamentations 1:20 the King James Version; Lamentations 2:11 the King James Version. In one passage we have to translate me`im by "heart," being the seat of affection and devotion (Psalm 71:6): "Thy law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8). In the New Testament (Revised Version) the word is only given in Acts 1:18.

H. L. E. Luering

Greek

4698. splagchnon -- the inward parts (heart, liver, lungs, etc.) ...
... the emotions. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: splagchnon Phonetic
Spelling: (splangkh'-non) Short Definition: bowels, compassion, pity Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4698.htm - 7k

4697. splagchnizomai -- to be moved in the inward parts, ie to ...
... have compassion. Middle voice from splagchnon; to have the bowels yearn, ie
(figuratively) feel sympathy, to pity -- have (be moved with) compassion. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4697.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

3894. lechum -- intestines, bowels
... 3893, 3894. lechum. 3895 . intestines, bowels. Transliteration: lechum
Phonetic Spelling: (law-khoom') Short Definition: eating. ...
/hebrew/3894.htm - 6k

4578. meeh -- internal organs, inward parts, belly
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition internal organs, inward parts, belly
NASB Word Usage abdomen (1), body (4), bowels (4), children* (1), feelings ...
/hebrew/4578.htm - 6k

7130. qereb -- inward part, midst
... land (2). among, before, bowels, unto charge, eat up, heart, him, in,. From
qarab; properly, the nearest part, ie The center, whether ...
/hebrew/7130.htm - 6k

2716. chere -- dung
... excrement, dung. From an unused (and vulgar) root probably meaning to evacuate the
bowels: excrement; -dung. Also chariy {khar-ee'}. 2715, 2716. chere. 2717 ...
/hebrew/2716.htm - 5k

4577. meah -- belly
... belly. (Aramaic) or m(ae (Aramaic) {meh-aw'}; corresponding to me'ah; only in plural
the bowels -- belly. see HEBREW me'ah. 4576, 4577. meah or mea. 4578 . ...
/hebrew/4577.htm - 6k

7356. racham -- compassion
... From racham; compassion (in the plural); by extension, the womb (as cherishing the
fetus); by implication, a maiden -- bowels, compassion, damsel, tender love ...
/hebrew/7356.htm - 6k

Library

My Beloved Put in his Hand through the Opening, and My Bowels ...
... CHAPTER V. 4. My beloved put in his hand through the opening, and my bowels
thrilled at his touch. The Well-beloved, notwithstanding ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/4 my beloved put in.htm

Can the Duelist, who had Rather Sheathe his Sword in the Bowels of ...
... Address 187: Can the duelist, who had rather sheathe his sword in the bowels
of his brother? Can the duelist, who had rather sheathe ...
/.../address 187 0 0 can the duelist.htm

John Chapter iii. 21-Jun
... But be he fresh from the womb, or now in years, he cannot possibly return
again into the mother's bowels and be born. But just as ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xii john chapter iii.htm

Philippians i. 11-Aug
... of Christ," as though he had said, "having become as a father to you through the
relationship which is in Christ." For this imparts to us bowels [541] warm and ...
/.../homily ii philippians i 11-aug.htm

Spiritual Hunger Shall be Satisfied
... dies. God has more bowels than to suffer an hungry soul to be famished. ... gospel.
Oh the melting of God's bowels to an hungry sinner! ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/14 spiritual hunger shall be.htm

The Testament of Zebulun Concerning Compassion and Mercy.
... And Joseph fell upon his face, and said unto them, Pity me, my brethren, have
compassion upon the bowels of Jacob our father: lay not upon me your hands to ...
/.../vi the testament of zebulun concerning.htm

Psalm LVIII.
... as yet, conceived thou hast been: from that very time when thou hast received the
name of Christ, by a sort of sacrament thou hast been born in the bowels of a ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lviii.htm

Concerning the Wickedness of Jehoram King O Jerusalem; his Defeat ...
... the destruction of his people, with the corruption of the king's own wives and children;
and that he should himself die of a distemper in his bowels, with long ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 concerning the wickedness.htm

Arius is Charged with the First of the Above-Mentioned Errors...
... John, who lay on Christ's bosom, or Arius, wallowing amid the outgush of his very
bowels?"so wallowing that we might understand how Arius in his teaching ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xix arius is charged.htm

St. Ambrose Teaches Out of the Prophet Isaiah what they must do ...
... learn how they ought to carry it out, with what zeal, with what affection, with
what intention of mind, with what shaking of the inmost bowels, with what ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vi st ambrose teaches.htm

Thesaurus

Bowels (40 Occurrences)
... mercies.". Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BOWELS. bou'-elz ... 18. HLE Luering.
Multi-Version Concordance Bowels (40 Occurrences). Luke 1 ...
/b/bowels.htm - 20k

Body (562 Occurrences)
... Various terms were employed, each of which denotes only one part or element of the
physical nature, such as "trunk," "bones," "belly," "bowels," "reins," "flesh ...
/b/body.htm - 59k

Sound (1245 Occurrences)
... sound: In Isaiah 63:15 the King James Version has "the sounding of thy bowels,"
a painfully literal translation of hamon me'eykha, with the similar phrase, "my ...
/s/sound.htm - 12k

Compassion (145 Occurrences)
... 15; Psalm 111:4; 112:04:00; 145:8), is rendered by the American Standard Revised
Version "merciful." We have splagchnizomai, "to have the bowels yearning," in ...
/c/compassion.htm - 42k

Boil (29 Occurrences)
... 6:29 Ezekiel 46:20, 24 bis); of rathach, "to be hot," "to boil," "to be made to
boil," "to be greatly moved" under strong emotion (the bowels), Hiphil "to ...
/b/boil.htm - 23k

Tender (66 Occurrences)
... tender love" in Daniel 1:9, the Revised Version (British and American) "compassion"),
English Versions of the Bible translate rachamim, "bowels," by "tender ...
/t/tender.htm - 33k

Belly (62 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) That part of the human body which extends downward from the breast to
the thighs, and contains the bowels, or intestines; the abdomen. ...
/b/belly.htm - 28k

Pitiful (5 Occurrences)
... pit'-i-fool: As found in Scripture, means "full of pity"; it is expressed by rachamani,
from rachamim (plural of racham), "bowels," "compassion" (Lamentations 4 ...
/p/pitiful.htm - 9k

Clamour (5 Occurrences)
... all malice: (KJV DBY YLT). Jeremiah 4:19 My bowels! my bowels! I am in travail!
Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart maketh a noise ...
/c/clamour.htm - 7k

Abdomen (4 Occurrences)
... pelvis. Also, the cavity of the belly, which is lined by the peritoneum,
and contains the stomach, bowels, and other viscera. In ...
/a/abdomen.htm - 8k

Resources

How did Elijah send a letter to King Jehoram, if Elijah had already been taken to heaven? | GotQuestions.org

What is the story of Elijah and Elisha? | GotQuestions.org

How does the translation process impact the inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility of the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bowels: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Bowels (40 Occurrences)

Luke 1:78
on account of the bowels of mercy of our God; wherein the dayspring from on high has visited us,
(DBY)

Acts 1:18
Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

2 Corinthians 6:12
Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Philippians 1:8
For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Philippians 2:1
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Philemon 1:7
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Philemon 1:12
Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Philemon 1:20
Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

1 John 3:17
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Genesis 15:4
And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Genesis 25:23
And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Genesis 43:30
And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Numbers 5:22
and this water that brings a curse will go into your bowels, and make your body swell, and your thigh fall away." The woman shall say, "Amen, Amen."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Ruth 1:11
And Naomi saith, 'Turn back, my daughters; why do ye go with me? are there yet to me sons in my bowels that they have been to you for husbands?
(YLT)

2 Samuel 7:12
When your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Samuel 16:11
David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, "Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life. How much more this Benjamite, now? Leave him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has invited him.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Samuel 20:10
But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand. So he struck him with it in the body, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn't strike him again; and he died. Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

1 Kings 3:26
Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 21:15
and you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 21:18
After all this Yahweh struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 21:19
It happened, in process of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died of sore diseases. His people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 32:21
Yahweh sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. When he was come into the house of his god, those who came forth from his own bowels killed him there with the sword.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezra 8:27
and twenty bowls of gold, of a thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright brass, precious as gold.
(See JPS)

Job 20:14
yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Job 30:27
My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 22:14
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 71:6
By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
(KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Psalms 109:18
As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Song of Songs 5:4
My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Isaiah 16:11
Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Isaiah 48:19
Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Isaiah 49:1
Listen, islands, to me; and listen, you peoples, from far: Yahweh has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my name:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Isaiah 63:15
Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 4:19
My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
(KJV JPS DBY WBS YLT)

Lamentations 2:11
Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 3:3
He said to me, Son of man, cause your belly to eat, and fill your bowels with this scroll that I give you. Then I ate it; and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 7:19
They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be as an unclean thing; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of Yahweh: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels; because it has been the stumbling block of their iniquity.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Jonah 1:17
And Jehovah appointeth a great fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah is in the bowels of the fish three days and three nights.
(YLT)

Jonah 2:1
And Jonah prayeth unto Jehovah his God from the bowels of the fish.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Bowels

Bowels of the Sensibilities

Bowels: Diseased

Bowels: Judas', Gushed Out

Related Terms

Body (562 Occurrences)

Sound (1245 Occurrences)

Compassion (145 Occurrences)

Boil (29 Occurrences)