feminine of כְּלִי (only in the plural); a kidney (as an essential organ); figuratively, the mind (as the interior self); kidneys, reins.
Transliteration:kilyâh
Pronunciation:kil-yaw'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word כִּלְיָה (kilyâh, `{{H3629}}`) is a feminine noun derived from the root כָּלָה (kālâ, "to complete, finish, consume"), though its direct etymological link to "kidney" is debated. It appears exclusively in the plural form in the Hebrew Bible, even when referring to a singular conceptual entity. Its primary, literal meaning is "kidney," referring to the vital organ within the human or animal body. As an essential organ, often associated with fat (a sign of health and vitality in ancient thought), it held particular significance in sacrificial contexts.
Figuratively, כִּלְיָה extends its semantic range to denote the deepest, innermost parts of a person – the seat of emotions, conscience, thoughts, and the very core of one's being. This figurative usage is often translated as "reins" in older English versions, a term that similarly refers to the inner self or the seat of affections and feelings. Thus, כִּלְיָה encompasses both the physical kidney and the profound, hidden depths of human interiority.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of כִּלְיָה in the Hebrew Bible fall into two main categories:
1. **Literal Usage (Sacrificial Contexts):** In the Pentateuch, particularly the books of Exodus and Leviticus, כִּלְיָה refers to the physical kidneys of sacrificial animals. The fat covering the kidneys was considered among the choicest parts and was explicitly commanded to be offered to Yahweh as a burnt offering, a peace offering, or a sin offering. This emphasized the giving of the best and most vital parts to God.
* [[Exodus 29:13]]: "You shall take all the fat that covers the entrails, and the appendage of the liver, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar."
* [[Leviticus 3:4]]: "and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the appendage of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys."
* [[Leviticus 4:9]], [[Leviticus 7:4]], [[Leviticus 8:16]], [[Leviticus 9:10]], [[Leviticus 9:19]] similarly describe the offering of the kidneys and their fat, underscoring their value and purity in ritual worship.
* [[Deuteronomy 32:14]] uses the "fat of kidneys of wheat" metaphorically to describe the richness and finest quality of God's provision.
2. **Figurative Usage (Seat of Inner Being):** More profoundly, כִּלְיָה is frequently used alongside the "heart" (לֵב, `{{H3820}}`) to represent the complete inner person, especially in passages dealing with God's discernment and judgment. In these contexts, the "kidneys" are understood as the seat of deep emotions, conscience, pain, and secret thoughts that are hidden from human perception but fully known to God.
* [[Psalm 7:9]]: "Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; for the righteous God tests the hearts and kidneys." Here, God's scrutiny extends to the deepest, most hidden parts of human motivation.
* [[Psalm 16:7]]: "I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; indeed, my kidneys instruct me in the night seasons." This verse suggests the kidneys as a source of deep, intuitive wisdom or conscience, perhaps even in dreams.
* [[Psalm 73:21]]: "When my heart was embittered, and I was pierced in my kidneys." This vividly portrays the kidneys as the seat of intense emotional pain or distress.
* [[Proverbs 23:16]]: "My kidneys will exult when your lips speak what is right." This illustrates the kidneys as the seat of deep joy and affirmation based on moral rectitude.
* [[Jeremiah 11:20]]: "But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the kidneys and the heart, let me see Your vengeance on them, for to You I have committed my cause."
* [[Jeremiah 17:10]]: "I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the kidneys, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." This passage is a cornerstone for understanding God's omniscience and justice, revealing His profound knowledge of human motives and intentions.
* [[Jeremiah 20:12]]: "But, O Lord of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the kidneys and the heart, let me see Your vengeance on them; for to You I have committed my cause."
### Related Words & Concepts
The figurative use of כִּלְיָה is often found in parallel or conjunction with other Hebrew terms for the inner being, creating a fuller picture of human interiority:
* **לֵב (lēḇ, `{{H3820}}`) / לֵבָב (lēḇāḇ, `{{H3824}}`), Heart:** This is the most common pairing with כִּלְיָה. While the heart often represents the intellect, will, and general seat of life, the kidneys (כִּלְיָה) tend to signify the deeper, more hidden springs of emotion, conscience, and the innermost affections. Together, they encompass the entirety of a person's thoughts, feelings, and intentions.
* **מֵעִים (mēʿîm, `{{H4578}}`), Bowels/Intestines:** Similar to כִּלְיָה, this term can refer to the physical intestines but also figuratively to the seat of deep emotions, particularly compassion or yearning.
* **רוּחַ (rûaḥ, `{{H7307}}`), Spirit:** While distinct, the concept of the human spirit or inner animating principle can sometimes overlap with the profound inner self represented by כִּלְיָה.
* **בָּחַן (bāḥan, `{{H974}}`), To test/prove:** This verb is frequently used with כִּלְיָה, highlighting God's role as the one who scrutinizes and discerns the true nature and motives of individuals.
* **חָקַר (ḥāqar, `{{H2713}}`), To search/examine:** Another verb often paired with כִּלְיָה and לֵב, emphasizing the depth of God's investigative knowledge.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of כִּלְיָה is profound, primarily revolving around the attributes of God and the nature of humanity:
1. **Divine Omniscience and Judgment:** The most prominent theological implication is God's absolute knowledge of the human heart and mind. The repeated assertion that God "tests" or "searches" the kidneys underscores His ability to penetrate the deepest, most hidden recesses of human motivation, intention, and character. This means that no thought, no secret desire, no hidden sin or virtue, is concealed from Him. This forms the basis for His righteous judgment, as He judges not merely by outward appearance but by the true inner state of a person ([[Jeremiah 17:10]]).
2. **Seat of Conscience and Emotion:** As the figurative seat of the inner self, כִּלְיָה highlights the biblical understanding of humanity as possessing a deep, intuitive moral sense and the capacity for profound emotional experience, including pain, joy, and conviction. It is the place where one's innermost being responds to divine truth or human circumstances.
3. **Holiness and Dedication:** In sacrificial contexts, the offering of the kidneys and their fat symbolizes giving the most valuable and essential part of the offering to God. This speaks to the principle of offering one's best and purest to the Lord, signifying complete dedication and consecration in worship. It implies that true worship involves the offering of one's innermost being.
4. **Intimacy with God:** The concept of God searching the kidneys, while implying judgment, also suggests an incredibly intimate knowledge of His creation. For the righteous, this intimate knowledge can be a source of comfort and assurance, knowing that God truly understands their struggles and intentions, even when others do not.
### Summary
The Hebrew word כִּלְיָה (kilyâh, `{{H3629}}`) carries a dual significance in the biblical text. Literally, it refers to the physical kidneys, particularly in the context of animal sacrifices where they represent a vital and valuable offering to God. Figuratively and more frequently, כִּלְיָה denotes the deepest, most hidden parts of the human being – the innermost self, the seat of emotions, conscience, and secret thoughts. This figurative usage is almost invariably paired with the "heart" (לֵב) to emphasize the totality of one's interiority. Theologically, כִּלְיָה powerfully underscores God's omniscience, His ability to discern the true motives and character of humanity, and His righteous judgment based on this profound knowledge. It also highlights the biblical understanding of the human inner being as a complex realm of emotion, conscience, and the core of one's identity, fully known and scrutinized by the divine.
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