Topical Encyclopedia
The term "hearted" in the Bible often refers to the condition or disposition of one's heart, which is central to one's spiritual and moral life. The heart, in biblical terms, is not merely the seat of emotions but encompasses the mind, will, and inner being of a person. It is the core of one's identity and the source of actions and thoughts.
Biblical Usage and Context1.
Wholeheartedness: The Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of serving God with a whole heart. In
Deuteronomy 6:5, the Israelites are commanded, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This call to wholehearted devotion is reiterated throughout Scripture, underscoring the necessity of undivided loyalty to God.
2.
Hardheartedness: A hard heart is often depicted as resistant to God's will and truth. Pharaoh's heart is famously hardened in the book of Exodus, leading to his refusal to release the Israelites (
Exodus 7:13). This condition is a warning against the dangers of pride and disobedience.
3.
Pure Heart: Purity of heart is a key theme in the Bible. Jesus teaches in the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (
Matthew 5:8). A pure heart is one that is free from deceit and sin, aligned with God's righteousness.
4.
Contrite Heart: A contrite heart is one that is repentant and humble before God.
Psalm 51:17 states, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." This reflects the biblical principle that God values genuine repentance over ritualistic offerings.
5.
Joyful Heart: Joy is a fruit of the Spirit and a characteristic of a heart aligned with God.
Proverbs 17:22 notes, "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." Joy in the heart is both a gift from God and a source of strength and healing.
6.
Courageous Heart: The Bible often encourages believers to be strong-hearted in the face of trials.
Joshua 1:9 exhorts, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." A courageous heart trusts in God's presence and promises.
Theological SignificanceThe heart is central to the biblical understanding of human nature and spirituality. It is the place where faith is nurtured and where one's relationship with God is cultivated.
Proverbs 4:23 advises, "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life." This highlights the heart's role as the wellspring of life and the importance of guarding it against sin and corruption.
Transformation of the HeartThe Bible speaks of the need for a transformed heart, a work that only God can accomplish.
Ezekiel 36:26 promises, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." This transformation is fulfilled in the New Covenant through the work of the Holy Spirit, who renews and sanctifies the believer's heart.
In summary, the concept of being "hearted" in the Bible encompasses a wide range of spiritual and moral conditions, each reflecting one's relationship with God. The heart is the center of one's being, and its condition is of utmost importance in the biblical narrative.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Having a heart; having (such) a heart (regarded as the seat of the affections, disposition, or character).
2. (a.) Shaped like a heart; cordate.
3. (a.) Seated or laid up in the heart.
Greek
2155. eusplagchnos -- tenderhearted, compassionate ... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: eusplagchnos Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo'-splangkh-nos) Short Definition: tender-
hearted, merciful Definition: tender
... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2155.htm - 7k3642. oligopsuchos -- fainthearted
... fainthearted. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: oligopsuchos Phonetic Spelling:
(ol-ig-op'-soo-khos) Short Definition: faint-hearted Definition: faint ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3642.htm - 7k
5593. psuchros -- cold
... cold. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: psuchros Phonetic Spelling:
(psoo-chros') Short Definition: cold, cold-hearted Definition: cool, cold; fig: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5593.htm - 6k
4937. suntribo -- to break in pieces, crush
... From sun and the base of tribos; to crush completely, ie To shatter (literally or
figuratively) -- break (in pieces), broken to shivers (+ -hearted), bruise. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4937.htm - 7k
2293. tharseo -- to be of good courage
... derived from 2294 , " from within") -- properly, bolstered which supports unflinching
courage -- literally, to (exude "social boldness") because -hearted. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2293.htm - 7k
87. adiakritos -- indistinguishable, without uncertainty
... adiakritos Phonetic Spelling: (ad-ee-ak'-ree-tos) Short Definition: unambiguous
Definition: without uncertainty, unambiguous, undivided, whole-hearted. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/87.htm - 6k
794. astorgos -- without natural affection
... From a (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of stergo (to cherish
affectionately); hard-hearted towards kindred -- without natural affection. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/794.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
8056. sameach -- glad, joyful, merry... Word Origin from samach Definition glad, joyful, merry NASB Word Usage glad (2),
joyful (5), joyfully (1), merry-
hearted* (1), pleased (1), rejoice (3
... /hebrew/8056.htm - 6k 7390. rak -- tender, delicate, soft
... weak (2). fainthearted, soft, tender hearted, one, weak. From rakak; tender
(literally or figuratively); by implication, weak -- faint ...
/hebrew/7390.htm - 6k
2389. chazaq -- strong, stout, mighty
... harder, hottest, impudent, loud, mighty, sore, stiff-hearted, stronger. From
chazaq; strong (usu. In a bad sense, hard, bold, violent ...
/hebrew/2389.htm - 6k
5081. nadib -- inclined, generous, noble
... 1). free, liberal things, noble, prince, willing hearted. From nadab; properly,
voluntary, ie Generous; hence, magnanimous; as noun ...
/hebrew/5081.htm - 6k
3820. leb -- inner man, mind, will, heart
... 396), heart's (2), hearts (40), Himself (1), himself (6), imagination (1), inspiration
(2), intelligence (1), kindly (5), life (1), merry-hearted* (1), middle ...
/hebrew/3820.htm - 7k
1271. Barzillay -- "man of iron," three Israelites
... NASB Word Usage Barzillai (12). Barzillai. From barzel; iron-hearted; Barzillai,
the name of three Israelites -- Barzillai. see HEBREW barzel. 1270, 1271. ...
/hebrew/1271.htm - 6k
47. abbir -- mighty, valiant
... angel, bull, chiefest, mighty one, stouthearted, strong one, valiant. For 'abiyr;
--angel, bull, chiefest, mighty (one), stout(-hearted), strong (one), valiant. ...
/hebrew/47.htm - 6k
7401. rakak -- to be tender, weak or soft
... A primitive root; to soften (intransitively or transitively), used figuratively --
(be) faint((-hearted)), mollify, (be, make) soft(-er), be tender. ...
/hebrew/7401.htm - 6k
2450. chakam -- wise
... cunning man, subtil, wisehearted,. From chakam; wise, (ie Intelligent, skilful or
artful) -- cunning (man), subtil, ((un-)), wise((hearted), man). ...
/hebrew/2450.htm - 6k
7186. qasheh -- hard, severe
... From qashah; severe (in various applications) -- churlish, cruel, grievous,
hard((-hearted), thing), heavy, + impudent, obstinate, prevailed, rough(-ly), sore ...
/hebrew/7186.htm - 6k
Library
A Broken-Hearted Father
... THE OLD TESTAMENT A BROKEN-HEARTED FATHER. After Absalom and all the men
of Israel crossed the Jordan, David counted the troops who ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a broken-hearted father.htm
A Royal-Hearted Exile
... Chapter 6 A ROYAL-HEARTED EXILE. ATHANASIUS had prevailed once more over
his enemies, but Eusebius was always at the Emperor's side ...
/.../forbes/saint athanasius/chapter 6 a royal-hearted exile.htm
How the Forward and the Faint-Hearted are to be Admonished.
... How the forward and the faint-hearted are to be admonished. (Admonition 9.)
Differently to be admonished are the forward and the faint-hearted. ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter viii how the forward.htm
Zeal.
... Half-hearted soldiers are not good soldiers. ... We are servants of God, and given a
work in this world to do. Are we likely to do it if half-hearted? ...
/.../baring-gould/the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/l zeal.htm
A Righteousness Near and a Swift Salvation
... A RIGHTEOUSNESS NEAR AND A SWIFT SALVATION. 'Hearken unto Me, ye stout-hearted,
that are ... It shall not be far off,' though the stout-hearted maybe 'far from' it. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/a righteousness near and a.htm
Prayer Takes in the Whole Man
... He must have whole-hearted men through whom to work out His purposes and
plans concerning men. God must have men in their entirety. ...
/.../bounds/the essentials of prayer/i prayer takes in the.htm
Beauty for Ashes
... It comes from him who said, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me," "he hath sent
me to bind up the broken-hearted." Now, in a very inferior and subordinate ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/beauty for ashes.htm
Irresistible Logic.
... I said courage is a heart quality. These ten thousand were not chicken-hearted nor
downhearted. They were lion-hearted, stout-hearted. They had hearts of oak. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/irresistible logic.htm
God Still Sifting.
... A third of that number are courageous volunteers. About a thirty-third of these,
less than a hundredth of the original, are hot-hearted, courageous volunteers. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/god still sifting.htm
Quotations from the Old Testament in the New.
... of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings
to the meek: he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxix quotations from the.htm
Thesaurus
Wise-hearted (10 Occurrences)Wise-
hearted. Wisehearted, Wise-
hearted. Wisely . Noah Webster's Dictionary
... Multi-Version Concordance Wise-
hearted (10 Occurrences).
.../w/wise-hearted.htm - 9kFaint-hearted (7 Occurrences)
Faint-hearted. Fainthearted, Faint-hearted. Fainting . Multi-Version
Concordance Faint-hearted (7 Occurrences). Galatians ...
/f/faint-hearted.htm - 8k
False-hearted (6 Occurrences)
False-hearted. False. False-hearted. Falsehood . Noah Webster's Dictionary
(a.) Hollow or unsound at the core; treacherous; deceitful; perfidious. ...
/f/false-hearted.htm - 8k
Kind-hearted (3 Occurrences)
Kind-hearted. Kindhearted, Kind-hearted. Kindle . Noah Webster's Dictionary ...
Multi-Version Concordance Kind-hearted (3 Occurrences). ...
/k/kind-hearted.htm - 7k
Broken-hearted (5 Occurrences)
Broken-hearted. Brokenhearted, Broken-hearted. Brokenness . Noah Webster's
Dictionary ... Multi-Version Concordance Broken-hearted (5 Occurrences). ...
/b/broken-hearted.htm - 8k
Free-hearted (3 Occurrences)
Free-hearted. Freedom, Free-hearted. Freeing . Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.)
Open; frank; unreserved; liberal; generous; as, free-hearted mirth. ...
/f/free-hearted.htm - 7k
Willing-hearted (3 Occurrences)
Willing-hearted. Willing, Willing-hearted. Willingly . Multi-Version
Concordance Willing-hearted (3 Occurrences). Exodus ...
/w/willing-hearted.htm - 7k
Feeble-hearted (2 Occurrences)
Feeble-hearted. Feeble-handed, Feeble-hearted. Feebleminded .
Multi-Version Concordance Feeble-hearted (2 Occurrences). ...
/f/feeble-hearted.htm - 7k
Tender-hearted (2 Occurrences)
Tender-hearted. Tenderhearted, Tender-hearted. Tender-heartedness . Noah Webster's
Dictionary ... Multi-Version Concordance Tender-hearted (2 Occurrences). ...
/t/tender-hearted.htm - 7k
True-hearted (2 Occurrences)
True-hearted. True, True-hearted. Truer . Noah Webster's Dictionary
(a ... Multi-Version Concordance True-hearted (2 Occurrences). 2 ...
/t/true-hearted.htm - 7k
Resources
What is fervent prayer (James 5:16)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to rob God (Malachi 3:8)? | GotQuestions.orgHow is an eternity in hell a just punishment for only a human lifetime of sin? | GotQuestions.orgHearted: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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