prolonged from a primary (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:--(+ broken-)heart(-ed).
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word καρδία (kardía, `{{G2588}}`) literally refers to the physical organ, the heart, but in biblical usage, its primary meaning is profoundly figurative. It denotes the innermost being of a person, the comprehensive center of human existence. This includes the seat of intellect (thoughts, understanding), emotions (feelings, affections, desires), and volition (will, choices, moral character). It is considered the source of all inner life and the wellspring from which one's actions, words, and attitudes flow. The term also carries a secondary, analogous meaning of "the middle" or "innermost part" of anything, signifying its core or essence. Unlike modern Western thought which often separates mind and emotion, the biblical concept of kardia integrates these faculties, presenting a holistic view of the human interior.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term kardia appears extensively throughout the New Testament, reflecting its crucial role in understanding human nature and divine interaction.
* **Seat of Intellect and Understanding:** kardia is often depicted as the place where understanding resides or is hindered. In [[Matthew 13:15]], Jesus speaks of people whose "heart of this people has grown dull," indicating a spiritual insensitivity and inability to comprehend truth. Similarly, [[Romans 1:21]] states that "their foolish hearts were darkened," highlighting the heart as the seat of reasoning and wisdom that can become corrupted. [[Luke 24:25]] describes the disciples as "slow of heart to believe," emphasizing the heart's role in accepting or rejecting divine revelation.
* **Seat of Emotions and Affections:** The heart is the wellspring of feelings, both positive and negative. Jesus tells His disciples, "Let not your heart be troubled" in [[John 14:1]], addressing their anxiety. Paul expresses "great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart" over his kinsmen in [[Romans 9:2]]. Conversely, the Spirit of God can fill the heart with love and peace, as seen in [[Philippians 4:7]], where God's peace guards "your hearts and your minds."
* **Seat of Will and Moral Character:** Most significantly, kardia is the moral and volitional center. It is from the heart that intentions, good or evil, originate. [[Matthew 15:19]] states, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." Conversely, a "pure in heart" person is blessed, for they "shall see God" ([[Matthew 5:8]]), indicating the heart's alignment with divine righteousness. Ananias's heart was "filled by Satan" to deceive ([[Acts 5:3]]), demonstrating the heart as the battleground for moral choices.
* **Place of Spiritual Reception and Transformation:** The heart is the locus where God's Word takes root ([[Luke 8:15]]) and where the Holy Spirit dwells ([[Galatians 4:6]]). The new covenant promises a transformation of the heart, where God's law is written "not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts" ([[2 Corinthians 3:3]], echoing [[Jeremiah 31:33]]). This signifies an internal, spiritual change that goes beyond mere external obedience.
### Related Words & Concepts
The understanding of kardia in the New Testament is deeply rooted in its Old Testament Hebrew counterpart, `{{H3820}}` (lev/levav), which likewise signifies the totality of the inner person. The conceptual continuity between the Hebrew and Greek terms is vital for a full grasp of kardia.
Other related Greek terms that often appear alongside or in connection with kardia include:
* `{{G5590}}` (psychē): Often translated as "soul" or "life," it can sometimes be used interchangeably with kardia to refer to the inner self, though kardia typically emphasizes the moral and volitional center more directly.
* `{{G3563}}` (nous): "Mind" or "understanding." While nous focuses on rational thought, kardia encompasses nous as part of its broader scope, often indicating the source of thoughts and intentions.
* `{{G4151}}` (pneuma): "Spirit." In contexts of human anthropology, pneuma can refer to the highest part of humanity, capable of communion with God. The Holy Spirit (Pneuma Hagion) indwells the believer's kardia.
* `{{G4698}}` (splagchna): "Bowels" or "affections." This term refers to the seat of deep emotions, especially compassion, and can overlap with the emotional aspect of kardia.
The concept of kardia is foundational to understanding the "inner man," conscience, will, understanding, and the core moral identity of a person in biblical thought.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of kardia is profound and multifaceted.
* **The Locus of Sin:** The Bible consistently portrays the kardia as the primary source of sin and corruption ([[Mark 7:21-23]]). It is not merely external actions but the internal disposition of the heart that God scrutinizes and condemns. This highlights humanity's radical need for divine intervention and transformation.
* **The Object of God's Gaze:** God does not look at outward appearance but "looks at the heart" ([[1 Samuel 16:7]]). This principle underscores that true righteousness and worship are matters of the heart's disposition towards God, not mere ritual or external conformity.
* **The Seat of Faith and Repentance:** Saving faith is not merely intellectual assent but a belief that originates in the kardia. [[Romans 10:9-10]] states, "For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Repentance likewise involves a change of heart, a turning away from sin and towards God.
* **The Place of Spiritual Transformation:** A central theme of the New Covenant is the promise of a "new heart" ([[Ezekiel 36:26]]), where God's Spirit indwells and writes His laws directly upon the kardia. This divine work transforms the stony, rebellious heart into a responsive, fleshly heart, enabling true obedience and intimacy with God.
* **The Center of Love for God:** The greatest commandment, to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" ([[Matthew 22:37]]), emphasizes the holistic devotion required. The kardia is the primary faculty through which this all-encompassing love is expressed.
### Summary
The Greek word καρδία (kardía, `{{G2588}}`) is far more than a physical organ in biblical theology; it represents the comprehensive, integrated core of a human being. It is the seat of intellect, emotion, and will, serving as the wellspring from which all thoughts, desires, and actions originate. Contextual analysis reveals its use in describing the capacity for understanding, the depth of human feelings, and crucially, the source of moral character and volitional choices. Deeply connected to the Hebrew `{{H3820}}` (lev/levav), kardia is the central locus of human identity before God. Theologically, it is presented as the primary source of sin, the object of God's discerning gaze, and the essential place where saving faith, repentance, and divine transformation occur. Ultimately, the kardia is the battleground for spiritual truth and the divinely appointed dwelling place for God's Spirit, making its condition paramount for genuine relationship with the Creator.
TRV