Lexical Summary kilyah: Kidney(s) Original Word: כִּלְיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance kidneys, reins Feminine of kliy (only in the plural); a kidney (as an essential organ); figuratively, the mind (as the interior self) -- kidneys, reins. see HEBREW kliy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a kidney NASB Translation feelings (1), finest* (1), heart (1), inmost being (1), inward parts (2), kidneys (18), mind (5), minds (1), within (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [כִּלְיָה noun feminine only plural kidneys (Late Hebrew כִּלְיָה (plural); Aramaic כּוּלְיָא or כּוֺלְיָא (only plural),  ; Ethiopic  ᵐ5 οἱ νεφροί); — absolute plural כְּלָיוֺת Jeremiah 11:20 5t.; כְּלָֹית Exodus 29:13 13t.; construct כִּלְיוֺת Deuteronomy 32:14; Isaiah 34:6; suffix כִּלְיוֺתַי Job 16:3 2t.; כִּלְֹיתַי Job 19:27; כִּלְיוֺתָ֑י Psalm 16:7; Proverbs 23:16; כִּלְֹיתָ֑י Psalm 139:13; Lamentations 3:13; כִּלְיוֺתֵיהֶם Jeremiah 12:2; — kidneys: 1 literally, as physical organ, a. of man, only in poetry, as created by ׳י Psalm 139:13; as the most sensitive and vital part, in metaphor of one wounded by ׳יs arrows Job 16:13; Lamentations 3:13. b. of sacrificial animals, offered as choice part to ׳י Leviticus 3:4,10,15; Leviticus 4:9; Leviticus 7:4; Leviticus 9:10,19; שְׁתֵּי ׳הַכּ Exodus 29:13,22; Leviticus 3:4,10,15; Leviticus 4:9; Leviticus 7:4; Leviticus 8:16,25 (all P); in figure of sacrifice Edomites חֵלֶב כִּלְיוֺת אֵילִים Isaiah 34:6; transferred to wheat,חֵלֶב כִּלְיוֺת חִטָּה Deuteronomy 32:14 kidney-fat (i.e. the choicest, richest) of wheat. 2 figurative, as seat of emotion and affection Job 19:27; Proverbs 23:16; Psalm 16:7; Psalm 73:21; קָרוֺב אַתָּה בְּפִיהֶם ׳וְרָחוֺק מִכּ Jeremiah 12:2 near art thou in their mouth, and far from their affections; hence, as involving character, the object of God's examination, always "" וָלֵב ׃לֵב ׳כֹּחֵן כ Jeremiah 11:20 compare Psalm 7:10, ׳חֹקֵר לֵב כֹּחֵן כ Jeremiah 17:10, וָלֵב ׳בֹּחֵן צַדִּיק רֹאֶה כ Jeremiah 20:12, וְלִבִּי ׳צָרְו֯פָה כ Psalm 26:2. כַּלָּה, כְּלוּלָה see below II. כלל. כלח (√ of I. כֶּלַח, meaning dubious; Arabic Topical Lexicon Anatomical Reality and Levitical Worship In the sacrificial system the kidneys, always accompanied by the encasing fat, were removed from every peace, sin, and burnt offering and placed upon the altar as Yahweh’s exclusive portion (for example, Exodus 29:13; Leviticus 3:4; 4:9; 8:16). Their consistent inclusion among “the fat portions” marked them as part of the choicest inward parts, symbolizing the surrender of the worshiper’s inmost life to God. Priestly obedience in handling them underscored the holiness of the altar and the precision of divine commands. Seat of the Innermost Being Beyond anatomy, the word is used poetically for the hidden depths of personhood—the emotions, affections, conscience, and even one’s plans. Job laments, “His archers surround me; He pierces my kidneys without mercy” (Job 16:13), giving voice to pain felt at the deepest level. When distress shakes the psalmist, he confesses, “When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless… my kidneys were pierced within me” (Psalm 73:21-22). The inner anguish registers in this organ-language, portraying feelings too profound for surface description. Divine Examination and Judgment Because the kidneys signify the hidden self, Scripture repeatedly pairs them with the heart to declare God’s searching omniscience. “The LORD tests the hearts and kidneys” (Jeremiah 17:10; cf. Psalm 7:9; Revelation 2:23 in Greek). Such language reassures the righteous that secret motives are known to God, while warning hypocrites that outward conformity cannot mask inner rebellion. The prophetic cry, “But, O LORD of Hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the kidneys and the heart” (Jeremiah 11:20), grounds appeals for vindication in God’s perfect insight. Formation in the Womb and the Sanctity of Life David exults, “For You formed my kidneys; You knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). Here the organ functions as a synecdoche for the whole person, emphasizing God’s personal craftsmanship from conception onward. This verse stands as a foundational affirmation of prenatal personhood and establishes the womb as sacred space under divine agency. Source of Counsel and Moral Intuition Proverbs 23:16 says, “My kidneys will rejoice when your lips speak what is right,” conveying the moral pleasure experienced when righteousness prevails. Likewise, Psalm 16:7 notes, “Even at night my kidneys instruct me,” showing that the godly receive internal guidance informed by the Law and illumined by covenant relationship. Obedience is not merely external; it resonates in the core of one’s being. Imagery of Strength, Prosperity, and Judgment In Deuteronomy 32:14 kidneys of wheat symbolize agricultural abundance, a figure amplified in Isaiah 34:6 where the slaughter of Edom is depicted with sacrificial language: “The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood… the kidneys of rams.” Both passages employ sacrificial terminology—one for blessing, the other for wrath—revealing that covenant faithfulness or rebellion determines whether the sacrificial knife yields provision or punishment. Pastoral and Devotional Implications 1. Worship that pleases God still involves surrender of the innermost parts. The physical offering of kidneys points forward to Romans 12:1—presenting our bodies, and thereby our hidden motives, as living sacrifices. Survey of Key References Exodus 29:13, 22; Leviticus 3:4, 10, 15; 4:9; 8:16, 25; 9:10, 19 Job 16:13; 19:27; 38:36 Psalm 7:9; 16:7; 26:2; 73:21; 139:13 Jeremiah 11:20; 12:2; 17:10; 20:12 Taken together, these occurrences demonstrate that the term reaches far beyond its anatomical sense. It anchors doctrines of true worship, divine knowledge, moral integrity, and the value of life from the womb—all themes that converge, ultimately, in the perfect sacrifice and searching gaze of Jesus Christ who “has eyes like a blazing fire, and His feet are like polished bronze” (Revelation 2:18, echoing the One who “searches minds and kidneys”). Forms and Transliterations בְּכִלְיוֹתָ֔י בכליותי הַכְּלָי֖וֹת הַכְּלָיֹ֔ת הַכְּלָיֹ֖ת הַכְּלָיֹ֗ת הַכְּלָיֹ֜ת הכליות הכלית וְ֝כִלְיוֹתַ֗י וְהַכְּלָיֹ֔ת וּכְלָי֗וֹת והכלית וכליות וכליותי כְּלָי֑וֹת כְּלָי֖וֹת כְלָי֖וֹת כִּ֭לְיוֹתַי כִּלְי֣וֹת כִלְיֹתַ֣י כִלְיֹתָ֑י כִלְיוֹתַ֣י כִלְיוֹתָ֑י כִלְיוֹתָֽי׃ כליות כליותי כליותי׃ כליתי מִכִּלְיוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ מכליותיהם׃ bə·ḵil·yō·w·ṯāy bechilyoTai bəḵilyōwṯāy chelaYot chilyoTai hak·kə·lā·yō·wṯ hak·kə·lā·yōṯ hakkelaYot hakkəlāyōṯ hakkəlāyōwṯ kə·lā·yō·wṯ ḵə·lā·yō·wṯ kelaYot kəlāyōwṯ ḵəlāyōwṯ ḵil·yō·ṯay ḵil·yō·ṯāy kil·yō·w·ṯay ḵil·yō·w·ṯay ḵil·yō·w·ṯāy kil·yō·wṯ kilYot Kilyotai ḵilyōṯay ḵilyōṯāy kilyōwṯ kilyōwṯay ḵilyōwṯay ḵilyōwṯāy mik·kil·yō·w·ṯê·hem mikkilyoteiHem mikkilyōwṯêhem ū·ḵə·lā·yō·wṯ uchelaYot ūḵəlāyōwṯ vechilyoTai vehakkelaYot wə·hak·kə·lā·yōṯ wə·ḵil·yō·w·ṯay wəhakkəlāyōṯ wəḵilyōwṯayLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 29:13 HEB: וְאֵת֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י הַכְּלָיֹ֔ת וְאֶת־ הַחֵ֖לֶב NAS: and the two kidneys and the fat KJV: and the two kidneys, and the fat INT: the liver and the two kidneys and the fat that Exodus 29:22 Leviticus 3:4 Leviticus 3:4 Leviticus 3:10 Leviticus 3:10 Leviticus 3:15 Leviticus 3:15 Leviticus 4:9 Leviticus 4:9 Leviticus 7:4 Leviticus 7:4 Leviticus 8:16 Leviticus 8:25 Leviticus 9:10 Leviticus 9:19 Deuteronomy 32:14 Job 16:13 Job 19:27 Psalm 7:9 Psalm 16:7 Psalm 26:2 Psalm 73:21 Psalm 139:13 Proverbs 23:16 31 Occurrences |
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is contract the face, look hard, stern; 
a hard year (though dearth, etc.)).