What is the "HEART"?

G2588καρδίαkardiaThayer Definition:1) the heart1a) that organ in the animal body which is the centre of the circulation of the blood, and hence was regarded as the seat of physical life1b) denotes the centre of all physical and spiritual life2a) the vigour and sense of physical life2b) the centre and seat of spiritual life2b1) the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours2b2) of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence2b3) of the will and character2b4) of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions1c) of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimatePart of Speech: noun feminineA Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: prolonged from a primary kar (Latin, cor, “heart”)Citing in TDNT: 3:605, 415G2588καρδίαkardiakar-dee'-ahProlonged from a primary κάρ kar (Latin cor, “heart”); the heart, that is, (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle: - (+ broken-) heart (-ed).I thought this was a nice commentary on just one verse.Mat 5:8 - Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God--Here, too, we are on Old Testament ground. There the difference between outward and inward purity, and the acceptableness of the latter only in the sight of God, are everywhere taught. Nor is the "vision of God" strange to the Old Testament; and though it was an understood thing that this was not possible in the present life (Exo_33:20; and compare Job_19:26-27; Isa_6:5), yet spiritually it was known and felt to be the privilege of the saints even here (Gen_5:24; Gen_6:9; Gen_17:1; Gen_48:15; Psa_27:4; Psa_36:9; Psa_63:2; Isa_38:3, Isa_38:11, &c.). But oh, with what grand simplicity, brevity, and power is this great fundamental truth here expressed! And in what striking contrast would such teaching appear to that which was then current, in which exclusive attention was paid to ceremonial purification and external morality! This heart purity begins in a "heart sprinkled from an evil conscience," or a "conscience purged from dead works" (Heb_10:22; Heb_9:14; and see Act_15:9); and this also is taught in the Old Testament (Psa_32:1-2; compare Rom_4:5-8; Isa_6:5-8). The conscience thus purged--the heart thus sprinkled--there is light within wherewith to see God. "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with the other"--He with us and we with Him--"and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us"--us who have this fellowship, and who, without such continual cleansing, would soon lose it again--"from all sin" (1Jo_1:6-7). "Whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him" (1Jo_3:6); "He that doeth evil hath not seen God" (3Jo_1:11). The inward vision thus clarified, and the whole inner man in sympathy with God, each looks upon the other with complacency and joy, and we are "changed into the same image from glory to glory." But the full and beatific vision of God is reserved for that time to which the Psalmist stretches his views--"As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness" (Psa_17:15). Then shall His servants serve Him: and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads (Rev_22:3-4). They shall see Him as He is (1Jo_3:2). But, says the apostle, expressing the converse of this beatitude--"Follow holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb_12:14). [J,F,& B]G2588καρδίαkardiaTotal KJV Occurrences: 161heart, 102Mat_5:8, Mat_5:28, Mat_6:21, Mat_11:29, Mat_12:34-35 (2), Mat_12:40, Mat_13:15 (2), Mat_13:19, Mat_15:8, Mat_15:18-19 (2), Mat_22:37, Mat_24:48, Mar_6:52, Mar_7:6, Mar_7:19, Mar_7:21, Mar_8:17, Mar_11:23, Mar_12:30, Mar_12:33, Luk_2:19, Luk_2:51, Luk_6:45 (3), Luk_8:15, Luk_9:47, Luk_10:27, Luk_12:34, Luk_12:45, Luk_24:25, Luk_24:32, Joh_12:40 (2), Joh_13:2, Joh_14:1, Joh_14:27, Joh_16:6, Joh_16:22, Act_2:26, Act_2:37, Act_2:46, Act_4:32, Act_5:3-4 (2), Act_5:33, Act_7:23, Act_7:51, Act_7:54, Act_8:21-22 (2), Act_8:37, Act_11:23, Act_13:22, Act_16:14, Act_21:13, Act_28:27 (2), Rom_1:21, Rom_2:5, Rom_2:29, Rom_6:17, Rom_9:2, Rom_10:6, Rom_10:8-10 (3), 1Co_2:9, 1Co_7:37 (2), 1Co_14:25, 2Co_2:4, 2Co_3:3, 2Co_3:15, 2Co_5:12, 2Co_6:11, 2Co_8:16, 2Co_9:7, Eph_5:18-19 (2), Eph_6:5, Phi_1:7, Col_3:22, 1Th_2:17, 1Ti_1:5, 2Ti_2:22, Heb_3:10, Heb_4:12 (2), Heb_10:22, Heb_13:9, Jam_1:26, 1Pe_1:22, 1Pe_3:4, 2Pe_2:14, 1Jo_3:20-21 (3), Rev_18:7hearts, 57Mat_9:4, Mat_18:35, Mar_2:6, Mar_2:8, Mar_3:5, Mar_4:15, Luk_1:17, Luk_1:51, Luk_1:66, Luk_2:35, Luk_3:15, Luk_5:22, Luk_8:12, Luk_16:15, Luk_21:14, Luk_21:34, Act_7:38-39 (2), Act_14:17, Act_15:9, Rom_1:24, Rom_2:15, Rom_5:5, Rom_8:27, Rom_16:18, 1Co_4:5, 2Co_1:22, 2Co_3:2, 2Co_4:6, 2Co_7:3, Gal_4:6, Eph_3:17, Eph_6:22, Phi_4:7, Col_2:2, Col_3:15-16 (2), Col_4:8, 1Th_2:4, 1Th_3:13, 2Th_2:17, 2Th_3:5, Heb_3:8, Heb_3:15, Heb_4:7, Heb_8:10, Heb_10:16, Heb_10:22, Jam_3:14, Jam_4:8, Jam_5:5, Jam_5:8, 1Pe_3:15, 2Pe_1:19, 1Jo_3:19, Rev_2:23, Rev_17:17brokenhearted, 1Luk_4:17-18 (2)heart’s, 1Rom_10:1

roadsign wrote:I’m inviting discussion about a word that seems to have developed a very nebulous and fuzzy definition simply by the way it is used. THE HEART” What’s this?I believe that we do not use the word the way it is used in Scripture. And that makes doctrinal practices such as “asking Jesus into your heart” confusing and fuzzy. Any thoughts?DianexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxStever's response:I have always conisdered the heart to be the "inner man" within each of us, the part of us that houses our very soul. Is it specifically located in our own hearts, the heart that pushes our blood throughout our entire body and seemingly keeps us alive by it's every beat? I am not sure where it is located, but it is with the heart that we choose who we will serve- Jesus Christ or Satan.Eastons 1897 Bible Dictionary has this to say about heart:Topics: Heart Text: According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. "Heart" and "soul" are often used interchangeably (Deut. 6:5; 26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33), but this is not generally the case. The heart is the "home of the personal life," and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1 Kings 3:12, etc.), pure (Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8, etc.), upright and righteous (Gen. 20:5, 6; Ps. 11:2; 78:72), pious and good (Luke 8:15), etc. In these and such passages the word "soul" could not be substituted for "heart." The heart is also the seat of the conscience (Rom. 2:15). It is naturally wicked (Gen. 8:21), and hence it contaminates the whole life and character (Matt. 12:34; 15: 18; comp. Eccl. 8:11; Ps. 73:7). Hence the heart must be changed, regenerated (Ezek. 36:26; 11:19; Ps. 51:10-14), before a man can willingly obey God. The process of salvation begins in the heart by the believing reception of the testimony of God, while the rejection of that testimony hardens the heart (Ps. 95:8; Prov. 28:14; 2 Chr. 36:13). "Hardness of heart evidences itself by light views of sin; partial acknowledgment and confession of it; pride and conceit; ingratitude; unconcern about the word and ordinances of God; inattention to divine providences; stifling convictions of conscience; shunning reproof; presumption, and general ignorance of divine things." God bless,SteverP.S. "Reins" is a similar word, found in the Old Testament that means:"the kidneys, the supposed seat of the desires and affections; used metaphorically for "heart." The "reins" and the "heart" are often mentioned together, as denoting the whole moral constitution of man (Ps. 7:9; 16:7; 26:2; 139:13; Jer. 17:10, etc.)"

The Spirit of The LORD dwells in our spirits.We consist of body, soul and spirit only.1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The heart is command-center of {within}the soul. The mind and it's affections is the heart/soul of the person. The soul is eternal and the heart decides where it will spend eternity. The LORD "transforms" our hearts, if we don't "harden" our hearts against His Spirit that resides within our own spirit.2588. kardiva kardéa; gen. kardéas, fem. noun. Heart. The seat and center of human life. In the NT, used only figuratively.(I) As the seat of the desires, feelings, affections, passions, impulses, i.e., the heart or mind.(A) Generally (Matt. 5:8), “the pure in heart” meaning those whose center of life has been made pure by Jesus Christ. See Matt. 5:28; 6:21; Mark 4:15; Luke 1:17; John 14:1; Acts 11:23; Rom. 2:5; 1 Cor. 4:5 for the counsels or dispositions of the heart or inner man. See also 2 Tim. 2:22; Heb. 3:8, 12; 10:22; Sept.: Ps. 51:12; Prov. 31:11.(B) In phrases as ek (1537), out of, or apoŒ (575), from, kardéas, out of or from the heart, meaning willingly (Matt. 18:35; Rom. 6:17). Ex hoŒleµs teµs kardéas and en holeµ kardéa meaning with the whole heart (Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30; Sept.: Deut. 6:5; Ps. 119:34). Heµ kardéa kaé heµ psucheµ (5590), soul, meaning one’s heart and soul, and referring to entire unanimity (Acts 4:32). With enthumeomai (1760), to ponder, remember (Matt. 9:4); with dialogézomai (1260), to think deliberately, when preceding en taés kardéais, meaning as they deliberately considered in their hearts (Luke 3:15); with sumballoµ (4820), to consider or ponder in mind (Luke 2:19), with anabaénoµ (305), to arise, to come up in or into one’s heart (Luke 24:38; Acts 7:23; Sept.: Is. 65:17; Jer. 3:16); with balloµ (906), to place or put into one’s heart, to suggest (John 13:2); with dédoµmi (1325), to give or place, and epé (1909), upon, meaning to put upon or into the hearts (Heb. 10:16). To have in the heart, meaning to love, cherish (Phil. 1:7). To be in one’s heart meaning to be the object of his love (2 Cor. 7:3). A man after one’s own heart, meaning like–minded and therefore approved and beloved (Acts 13:22). The inner man (1 Pet. 3:4).(C) Used for the person himself in cases where values, affections or passions are attributed to the heart or mind in John 16:22, “your heart shall rejoice [chaéroµ {5463}]”; Acts 2:26 “my heart rejoiced {euphraénoµ {2165}]” (a.t.). See Acts 14:17; Col. 2:2; 2 Thess. 2:17; James 1:26; 5:5. To say in one’s heart means to think (Matt. 24:48; Rom. 10:6; Rev. 18:7).(II) As the seat of the intellect meaning the mind, understanding (Matt. 13:15; Mark 6:52; Luke 24:25; John 12:40; Rom. 1:21; 2 Pet. 1:19). In Eph. 4:18 (TR) dianoéa (1271), with the understanding; Sept.: Job 12:3; 34:10; Is. 6:10. To place (tétheµmi [5087]) and to keep (diateµreoµ [1301]) in the heart means to lay up or keep in one’s mind (Luke 1:66; 2:51). In the sense of conscience (Rom. 2:15; 1 John 3:20, 21).(III) In the NT the heart represents especially the sphere of God’s influence in the human life. It is in the heart that the natural knowledge of God has its seat (Rom. 1:21), and there also in the light of His knowledge, the glory of God shines in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). In the heart faith springs up, dwells, and works (Acts 15:9; Rom. 10:9), and unbelief in the heart draws men away from belief in God (Heb. 3:12). It may become the haunt of unclean lusts that make men blind to the truth of God (Rom. 1:24), but it is into the heart that God sends the Spirit of His Son (Gal. 4:6) and in the heart that Christ Himself takes up His abode (Eph. 3:17). This life of the heart is a hidden life (1 Cor. 4:5; 1 Pet. 3:4), but it lies clearly open to the eyes of God who searches in private (Rom. 8:27; 1 Thess. 2:4). The most important thing in anybody’s life is the necessity of having a heart that is “right in the sight of God” (Acts 8:21). Such a heart can be obtained only through faith (Acts 15:9; Rom. 10:10; Eph. 3:17) and as a gift from God Himself (cf. Ezek. 36:26, “A new heart also will I give you”). This is achievable by virtue of a new creation in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), whereby a heart that is hard and impenitent (Rom. 2:5) is transformed into one in which the love of God has been shed through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5).(IV) Figuratively the heart of something, the middle or central part, i.e., the heart of the earth (Matt. 12:40; Sept.: Ezek. 27:4; Jon. 2:4).Deriv.: kardiognoµsteµs (2589), heart–knower, heart–searcher; skleµrokardéa (4641), hardening of the heart, stubbornness.Syn.: psucheµ (5590), soul, the very center; nous (3563), mind; sunesis (4907), understanding, prudence; phroneµsis (5428), prudence.Zodhiates, Spiros, The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament, (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers) 2000, c1992, c1993.

Diane, I thought you may appreciate this chpt from TAS's book - "What is Man".http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/001339.htmlEdit: Everyone's giving good answers btw. :-DAre we anywhere near where you're headed with this ? That "bowels" part though ... :-? ... that's where I have problems with some versions - ha.1Jo 3:17 Whoever has the means of life of the world, and sees his brother having need, and shuts up his "heart" of compassion from him, how does the love of God abide in him? LITV - sounds better. :-D 4698. splavgcnon splagchnon; gen. splagchnou, neut. noun. An intestine, bowel. In the NT only pl. ta splagchna, the bowels, viscera. In Class. Gr. writers, it is chiefly spoken of the upper viscera of animals, as the heart, lungs, and liver which were eaten during or after the sacrifice. In the NT, of persons generally, the intestines, bowels:(I) Used particularly (Acts 1:18).(II) Figuratively, the inward parts indicating the breast or heart as the seat of emotions and passions. In the NT, of the gentler emotions as compassion, tender affection indicating the mind, soul, the inner man:(A) Generally (2 Cor. 6:12, parallel with kardéa (2588), the heart, in 6:11). See Phile. 1:7, 20; 1 John 3:17; Sept.: Prov. 12:10 (cf. Gen. 43:30; 1 Kgs. 3:26).(B) Metonymically, inward affection, compassion, pity, love (2 Cor. 7:15; Phil. 1:8, meaning in my ardent love to Christ; 2:1). Intens. (Luke 1:78; Col. 3:12). In the Sept. it stands for eŒleos (1656), mercy (Deut. 13:18; Is. 47:6).(C) As the object of affection (Phile. 1:12, “mine own bowels,” equal to “my heart” [a.t.], spoken of a person and implying strong affection.Deriv.: eusplagchnos (2155), tender–hearted; splagchnézomai (2697), to have compassion; polusplagchnos (4184), very compassionate.Syn.: pathos (3806), affection of the mind; oiktirmos (3628), the feeling of pity and the external exhibition of it; eleos (1656), the outward manifestation of pity and participation in the sufferings of others; sumpatheµs (4835), one having compassion.Ant.: skleµrokardéa (4641), hardness of heart; skleµroteµs (4643), hardness; poµroµsis (4457), callousness, hardness. Zodhiates, Spiros, The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament, (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers) 2000, c1992, c1993.