Wholehearted
Jump to: ConcordanceThesaurusHebrewLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
The term "wholehearted" in a biblical context refers to a complete and undivided commitment or devotion to God. It signifies a sincerity and fullness of heart in one's relationship with the Lord, characterized by an earnest and enthusiastic pursuit of His will and commandments. This concept is deeply rooted in the Scriptures, where believers are called to love and serve God with all their heart, soul, and strength.

Biblical References:

1. Deuteronomy 6:5 · "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This commandment, known as the Shema, is central to the Jewish faith and underscores the importance of a wholehearted devotion to God. It calls for an all-encompassing love that permeates every aspect of one's being.

2. Joshua 14:8-9 · Caleb, one of the twelve spies sent to explore the Promised Land, is described as having followed the Lord "wholeheartedly." "But my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.'" Caleb's unwavering faith and complete trust in God's promises set him apart and secured his inheritance.

3. 1 Kings 8:61 · In Solomon's prayer of dedication for the temple, he exhorts the people of Israel: "And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by His decrees and obey His commands, as at this time." This call to wholeheartedness emphasizes the need for a steadfast and undivided heart in obedience to God's laws.

4. Psalm 119:10 · "With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments." The psalmist expresses a deep, heartfelt pursuit of God, seeking Him with an undivided heart and a desire to remain faithful to His word.

5. Jeremiah 29:13 · "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." This promise from God highlights the importance of a sincere and earnest search for Him, assuring that those who seek Him wholeheartedly will indeed find Him.

6. Matthew 22:37 · Jesus reiterates the commandment from Deuteronomy, saying, "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’" This greatest commandment calls for a comprehensive love for God that encompasses every aspect of one's life.

Theological Implications:

Wholeheartedness in the biblical sense is not merely an emotional state but a deliberate and conscious choice to prioritize God above all else. It involves aligning one's desires, actions, and thoughts with God's will, demonstrating a commitment that is both internal and external. This concept challenges believers to examine their own lives and to strive for a faith that is not divided by worldly distractions or competing loyalties.

In the life of a believer, wholehearted devotion is reflected in consistent prayer, diligent study of Scripture, and a lifestyle that seeks to honor God in all things. It is a call to integrity, where one's public and private life are in harmony with the teachings of Christ. Wholeheartedness is a mark of true discipleship, where the believer's love for God is evident in their obedience and service to Him.
Strong's Hebrew
3605. kol -- the whole, all
... 20), whoever (45), whoever then any (1), whoever* (6), whoever...any (3), whole
(125), whole and let all (1), whole and all (3), wholehearted* (1), wholly (2 ...
/hebrew/3605.htm - 7k

3824. lebab -- inner man, mind, will, heart
... hearts like his heart (1), intelligence (1), intended (2), mind (8), purpose (1),
thought (1), timid* (1), understanding (2), wholehearted* (1), wholeheartedly ...
/hebrew/3824.htm - 6k

Library

Note F. --Chap. xviii the Whole Heart
... A careful study of them will show how wholehearted love and service is what God
has always asked, because He can, in the very nature of things, ask nothing less ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/murray/the two covenants/note f chap xviii the whole.htm

Entering the Covenant: with all the Heart
... Begin by asking God very humbly to give you by the Spirit, who dwells in you, the
vision of the heavenly life of wholehearted love and obedience, as it has ...
/.../murray/the two covenants/chapter xviii entering the covenant .htm

Foreword
... of Paul. It was this: The key to Paul's efficiency was his wholehearted
persistent loyalty to Christ, his Saviour and Friend. He ...
//christianbookshelf.org/stalker/the life of st paul/foreword.htm

Son, Go Work
... Of the remainder, the majority are doing so little, and that little so ineffectually,
by reason of the lack of wholehearted devotion, that they can hardly be ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/working for god/iii son go work.htm

True Disciples
... The world is perishing, the church is failing, Christ's cause is suffering, Christ
is grieving on account of the lack of wholehearted Christians, bearing much ...
/.../murray/the true vine meditations for a month on john 151-16/true disciples.htm

Except Ye Abide
... There is unspeakable danger of our giving ourselves to work for God, and to bear
fruit, with but little of the true abiding, the wholehearted losing of ...
/.../murray/the true vine meditations for a month on john 151-16/except ye abide.htm

Obey and Abide
... It is the wholehearted surrender in everything to do His will, that gives access
to a life in the abiding enjoyment of His love. Obey and abide. ...
/.../murray/the true vine meditations for a month on john 151-16/obey and abide.htm

Crucifixion of Self.
... "I will be found of them when they seek me with their whole heart." Wholehearted
devotion to God is a rare quality, and only the fewest of the few ever attain ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/crucifixion of self.htm

Exalting the Cross
... 2 Corinthians 7:1. Constantly he tried to help them to become self-reliant, growing
Christians, strong in faith, ardent in zeal, and wholehearted in their ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 20 exalting the cross.htm

The Portrait of the Bride
... I suppose it points to the foreign birth of the queen, who is called upon to abandon
all old ties, and to give herself with wholehearted consecration to her ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the portrait of the bride.htm

Thesaurus
Wholehearted (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Wholehearted (8 Occurrences). Genesis 6:9 These
are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, and ...
/w/wholehearted.htm - 8k

Whole-hearted (6 Occurrences)
Whole-hearted. Wholehearted, Whole-hearted. Wholeheartedly . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (See JPS). Wholehearted, Whole-hearted. Wholeheartedly . ...
/w/whole-hearted.htm - 8k

Whole-armour (1 Occurrence)
Whole-armour. Whole, Whole-armour. Wholehearted . Multi-Version Concordance
Whole-armour (1 Occurrence). ... Whole, Whole-armour. Wholehearted . Reference
/w/whole-armour.htm - 6k

Epistles (2 Occurrences)
... the incarnation that the "antichrists" are specially identified (1 John 2:22, 23;
1 John 4:2, 3), and against it that John directs with wholehearted fervor his ...
/e/epistles.htm - 80k

John (154 Occurrences)

/j/john.htm - 101k

Resources
What is fervent prayer (James 5:16)? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to rob God (Malachi 3:8)? | GotQuestions.org

Faith vs. belief'what is the difference? | GotQuestions.org

Wholehearted: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Wholehearted (8 Occurrences)

Genesis 6:9
These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, and perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God.
(See JPS)

Genesis 17:1
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
(See JPS)

2 Kings 20:3
Remember now, O LORD, I beseech Thee, how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a whole heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight.' And Hezekiah wept sore.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 28:9
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts; if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 29:19
and give unto Solomon my son a whole heart, to keep Thy commandments, Thy testimonies, and Thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made, provision.'
(See NIV)

Psalms 37:18
Jehovah knoweth the days of the perfect; And their inheritance shall be for ever.
(See JPS)

Isaiah 38:3
and said: 'Remember now, O LORD, I beseech Thee, how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a whole heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight.' And Hezekiah wept sore.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 42:19
Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I send? who is blind as he that is at peace with me , and blind as Jehovah's servant?
(See JPS)

Subtopics

Wholehearted

Related Terms

Whole-hearted (6 Occurrences)

Shuns (5 Occurrences)

Wholeheartedly (15 Occurrences)

Whole-armour (1 Occurrence)

Chief (696 Occurrences)

Salvation (386 Occurrences)

Goodly (46 Occurrences)

Holds (67 Occurrences)

Good (8348 Occurrences)

Mary (50 Occurrences)

Hole (88 Occurrences)

Philippians (2 Occurrences)

Epistles (2 Occurrences)

Husband (154 Occurrences)

Joseph (248 Occurrences)

Discomfiture (6 Occurrences)

John (154 Occurrences)

Whole-Body Worship
Top of Page
Top of Page