The term "inward" in the Bible often refers to the inner life of a person, encompassing thoughts, emotions, and spiritual condition. It contrasts with outward appearances or actions, emphasizing the importance of the heart and mind in one's relationship with God.

Biblical Usage and Context

1. Heart and Mind: The inward aspect of a person is frequently associated with the heart and mind. In 1 Samuel 16:7, the LORD tells Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart." This verse highlights God's focus on the inward condition rather than external attributes.

2. Spiritual Transformation: The inward transformation is a key theme in the New Testament. Romans 12:2 instructs believers, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." This transformation is an inward process that aligns a believer's thoughts and attitudes with God's will.

3. Inward Righteousness: Jesus often criticized the Pharisees for their focus on outward religious practices while neglecting inward righteousness. In Matthew 23:27-28, He says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

4. Inner Renewal: The inward renewal of the believer is a work of the Holy Spirit. In 2 Corinthians 4:16, Paul writes, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day." This renewal is a continuous process that strengthens the believer's spiritual life.

5. Inward Peace: The inward peace that comes from a relationship with God is emphasized in Philippians 4:7, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This peace is an inward assurance that transcends external circumstances.

Theological Implications

The focus on the inward life underscores the biblical teaching that true faith and righteousness begin within. It is not enough to perform religious duties or maintain a moral appearance; God desires a heart that is fully devoted to Him. This inward devotion is characterized by love, humility, and obedience, reflecting the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.

Practical Application

Believers are encouraged to cultivate their inward life through prayer, meditation on Scripture, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. This inward focus leads to genuine spiritual growth and manifests in outward actions that glorify God. As Proverbs 4:23 advises, "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life."1. (a.) Being or placed within; inner; interior; -- opposed to outward.

2. (a.) Seated in the mind, heart, spirit, or soul.

3. (a.) Intimate; domestic; private.

4. (n.) That which is inward or within; especially, in the plural, the inner parts or organs of the body; the viscera.

5. (n.) The mental faculties; -- usually pl.

6. (n.) An intimate or familiar friend or acquaintance.

7. (a.) Alt. of Inwards

INWARD MAN

in'-werd: A Pauline term, nearly identical with the "hidden man of the heart" (1 Peter 3:4). The Greek original, 5 ho eso (also esothen) anthropos (Romans 7:22) is lexigraphically defined "the internal man," i.e. "soul," "conscience." It is the immaterial part of man-mind, spirit-in distinction from the "outward man" which "perishes" (2 Corinthians 4:16 the King James Version). As the seat of spiritual influences it is the sphere in which the Holy Spirit does His renewing and saving work (Ephesians 3:16). The term "inward man" cannot be used interchangeably with "the new man," for it may still be "corrupt," and subject to "vanity" and "alienated from the life of God." Briefly stated, it is mind, soul, spirit-God's image in man-man's higher nature, intellectual, moral, and spiritual.

Dwight M. Pratt

INWARD PART

A symbolic expression in the Old Testament represented by three Hebrew words: chedher, "chamber," hence, inmost bowels or breast; tuchoth, "the reins"; qerebh, "midst," "middle," hence, heart. Once in the New Testament (esothen, "from within," Luke 11:39). The viscera (heart, liver, kidneys) were supposed by the ancients to be the seat of the mind, feelings, affections: the highest organs of the psyche, "the soul." The term includes the intellect ("wisdom in the inward parts," Job 38:36); the moral nature ("inward part is very wickedness," Psalm 5:9); the spiritual ("my law in their inward parts," Jeremiah 31:33). Its adverbial equivalent in Biblical use is "inwardly." INWARD MAN (which see) is identical in meaning.

Dwight M. Pratt

4698. splagchnon -- the inward parts (heart, liver, lungs, etc.) ...
... the inward parts (heart, liver, lungs, etc.), fig. ... Word Origin of uncertain origin
Definition the inward parts (heart, liver, lungs, etc.), fig. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4698.htm - 7k

4697. splagchnizomai -- to be moved in the inward parts, ie to ...
... to be moved in the inward parts, ie to feel compassion. Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: splagchnizomai Phonetic Spelling: (splangkh-nid'-zom-ahee) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4697.htm - 7k

1533. eisphero -- lit. or fig. to carry inward
... to carry inward. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eisphero Phonetic Spelling:
(ice-fer'-o) Short Definition: I lead into, bring in Definition: I lead into ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1533.htm - 7k

2927. kruptos -- hidden
... Spelling: (kroop-tos') Short Definition: hidden, secret Definition: hidden, secret;
as subst: the hidden (secret) things (parts), the inward nature (character ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2927.htm - 6k

1761. enthumesis -- deliberation, pondering, pl. thoughts
... thoughts. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: enthumesis Phonetic Spelling:
(en-thoo'-may-sis) Short Definition: inward thought, reflection ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1761.htm - 7k

3708. horao -- to see, perceive, attend to
... 3708 -- properly,, often with meaning: "to see with the mind" (ie spiritually
see), ie perceive (with inward spiritual perception). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3708.htm - 9k

1532. eistrecho -- to run in
... Word Origin from eis and trecho Definition to run in NASB Word Usage ran (1). run
in. From eis and trecho; to hasten inward -- run in. see GREEK eis. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1532.htm - 6k

2570. kalos -- beautiful, good
... kalos Phonetic Spelling: (kal-os') Short Definition: beautiful, good, worthy Definition:
beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble, honorable ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2570.htm - 7k

2153. eusebos -- piously
... Cognate: 2153 (from 2152 , "inward piety") -- venerably, inwardly pious (devout).
Word Origin adverb from eusebes Definition piously NASB Word Usage godly (2). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2153.htm - 6k

2080. eso -- within
... Word Origin adverb from eis Definition within NASB Word Usage inner (2),
inner man (1), inside (2), within (1). within, inward. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2080.htm - 6k

7130. qereb -- inward part, midst
... 7129, 7130. qereb. 7131 . inward part, midst. Transliteration: qereb
Phonetic Spelling: (keh'-reb) Short Definition: midst. Word ...
/hebrew/7130.htm - 6k

2910. tuchah -- inward parts
... 2909, 2910. tuchah. 2911 . inward parts. Transliteration: tuchah Phonetic
Spelling: (too-khaw') Short Definition: being. ... inward parts. ...
/hebrew/2910.htm - 6k

4578. meeh -- internal organs, inward parts, belly
... 4577, 4578. meeh. 4579 . internal organs, inward parts, belly. Transliteration:
meeh Phonetic Spelling: (may-aw') Short Definition: body. ...
/hebrew/4578.htm - 6k

1004. bayith -- a house
... armory* (1), beneath (1), Beth-ashbea* (1), Beth-togarmah* (2), between* (2), boxes
(1), buildings (2), daughter (1), dungeon* (2), faced inward (1), family (2 ...
/hebrew/1004.htm - 7k

6356. pechetheth -- a boring or eating out
... fret inward. From the same as pachath; a hole (by mildew in a garment) -- fret inward.
see HEBREW pachath. 6355, 6356. pechetheth. 6357 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6356.htm - 6k

5475. sod -- council, counsel
... secrets (2). assembly, counsel, inward, secret counsel. From yacad; a session,
ie Company of persons (in close deliberation); by ...
/hebrew/5475.htm - 6k

3629. kilyah -- a kidney
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition a kidney NASB Word Usage feelings
(1), finest* (1), heart (1), inmost being (1), inward parts (2), kidneys (18 ...
/hebrew/3629.htm - 6k

990. beten -- belly, body, womb
... belly, body, womb NASB Word Usage abdomen (3), being (1), belly (8), birth (4),
body (11), brothers* (1), depth (1), himself (1), infancy* (1), inward parts (1 ...
/hebrew/990.htm - 6k

4480. min -- from
... facing (2), far* (2), forever* (3), forsaking* (2), gone (2), Hamites* (1), help*
(1), high* (1), hovered* (2), including (1), inside* (16), inward* (1), later ...
/hebrew/4480.htm - 8k

Of the Inward Life
... THE SECOND BOOK. ADMONITIONS CONCERNING THE INNER LIFE CHAPTER I Of the inward
life. The kingdom of God is within you,(1) saith the Lord. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kempis/imitation of christ/chapter i of the inward.htm

The Inward Laws
... XVIII The Inward Laws. 'I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their
minds will I write them. Their sins and iniquities will ...
/.../howard/standards of life and service/xviii the inward laws.htm

Of Inward Silence
... CHAPTER XIV Of Inward Silence. Of Inward Silence "The Lord is in His Holy Temple,
let all the earth keep silence before him" (Habakkuk 2:20). ...
/.../guyon/a short and easy method of prayer/chapter xiv of inward silence.htm

Of the Inward Voice of Christ to the Faithful Soul I Will Hearken ...
... ON INWARD CONSOLATION CHAPTER I Of the inward voice of Christ to the faithful soul
I will hearken what the Lord God shall say within me.(1) Blessed is the soul ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kempis/imitation of christ/chapter i of the inward 2.htm

Penitence in Great Inward Distress.
... Penitence In great inward Distress. III. In great inward Distress.
8,4,7,8,4,7. Jesu mein Erbarmer h??re. [272]Tersteegen.1731. ...
/.../penitence in great inward distress.htm

[Supplement] the Inward Witness to Christianity, 1 John 5 10
... Hymns. Book 1. Hymn 1:4. [Supplement] The inward witness to Christianity,
1 John 5. 10. 1 Questions and doubts be heard no more; Let ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 1 4 supplement the inward.htm

For Inward Truth.
... DEVOUT EXERCISES. 502. " For Inward Truth. 502. CM Beddome. For Inward Truth.
1 Am I an Israelite indeed. Without a false disguise? ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/502 for inward truth.htm

Whether, in the Absence of Inward Consent, a Marriage is Made by ...
... Whether, in the absence of inward consent, a marriage is made by consent
given in words of the present? Objection 1: It would seem ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether in the absence of.htm

Songs of the Cross in Outward and Inward Distress
... Songs of the Cross In Outward and Inward Distress. II. In Outward and Inward Distress
From the Dark Times of the Thirty Years' War. 8,6,8,6,6. ...
/.../lyra germanica second series the christian life/songs of the cross in.htm

Outward and Inward Morality
... ECKHART'S SERMONS VII OUTWARD AND INWARD MORALITY. OUTWARD AND INWARD MORALITY
1 Corinthians 15:10.""The Grace of God.". Grace is ...
/.../eckhart/meister eckharts sermons/vii outward and inward morality.htm

Inward (43 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) That which is inward or within; especially, in the plural, the inner parts
or organs of the body; the viscera. ... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. INWARD MAN. ...
/i/inward.htm - 21k

Writing (194 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) Handwriting; chirography. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. WRITING.
rit'-ing: I. GENERAL 1. Definition 2. Inward Writing 3. Outward Writing II. ...
/w/writing.htm - 70k

Part (2071 Occurrences)
... from. 20. (vi) To have a part or share; to partake. 21. (adv.) Partly; in
a measure. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. INWARD PART. A ...
/p/part.htm - 12k

Natural (49 Occurrences)
... old man and the new man (Romans 6:6 Ephesians 4:22 Colossians 3:9 Ephesians 2:15;
Ephesians 4:24 Colossians 3:10); (2) the outward man and the inward man (2 ...
/n/natural.htm - 42k

Inwards (24 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Toward the inside; toward the center or interior;
as, to bend a thing inward. ... 3. (adv.) See Inward. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/i/inwards.htm - 14k

Inwardly (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (adv.) In the inner parts; internally. 2.
(adv.) Toward the center; inward; as, to curve inwardly. ...
/i/inwardly.htm - 10k

Reins (15 Occurrences)
... 2. (n. pl.) The inward impulses; the affections and passions; -- so called because
formerly supposed to have their seat in the part of the body where the ...
/r/reins.htm - 13k

Man (26072 Occurrences)
... 13. (vt) To tame, as a hawk. 14. (vt) To furnish with a servants. 15. (vt) To wait
on as a manservant. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. INWARD MAN. ...
/m/man.htm - 56k

Ministry (44 Occurrences)
... In this article the word has to do with the guidance and government of a united
community, fellowship, or brotherhood of men and women whose inward bond of ...
/m/ministry.htm - 51k

Outward (17 Occurrences)
... 1. (adv.) Alt. of Outwards. 2. (a.) Forming the superficial part; external; exterior;
-- opposed to inward; as, an outward garment or layer. ...
/o/outward.htm - 13k

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