--- title: לֵב — inner man · The Tanakh dictionary description: לֵב (3820), a word of Biblical Hebrew, used 600 times: inner man. BDB 1906: n.m. With 2 verses in Hebrew, word for word and JPS 1917. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/3820.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [Tanakh](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/) / [ל](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/1500.md)‎ / לֵב‎ # לֵב «לֵב» in the Tanakh dictionary: **inner man** — how often it is used, MACULA's glosses, its meanings in the printed dictionaries and why they were chosen, and 2 verses in layers. **Used:** 600 times · **Key:** 3820 · **BDB:** לֵב² ### Glosses heart (337); of.heart (67); the.heart (62) ### Meaning (OSHB) inner man [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1500/3820/#m1) ### Meaning (BDB 1906) n.m. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1500/3820/#m2) **The whole BDB entry:** לֵב599 n.m. Pr 23:15 (†f. Pr 12:25, from influence of נֶפֶשׁ v. De Now) inner man, mind, will, heart, abs. and cstr. לֵב Gn 8:21 + 239 times; לֶב־ Ex 15:8 + 15 times; sf. לִבִּי Gn 24:45 + 102 times; לִבְּךָ Ex 9:14 + 28 times; לִבֶּ֑ךָ Ju 19:6 + 25 times; לִבֵּךְ Is 47:7 + 7 times; לִבּוֹ Gn 6:5 + 93 times; לִבָּהּ Ju 19:3 + 7 times; לִבֵּנוּ Is 41:22 + 5 times; לִבְּכֶם Gn 18:5 + 2 times; לִבָּם Gn 42:28 + 56 times; לִבָּן Ex 35:26; לִבְּהֶן Ez 13:17; pl. לִבּוֹת ψ 7:10 Pr 15:11 + 3 times Pr.; sf. לִבֹּתָם Is 44:18; לִבּוֹתָם ψ 125:4—inner part, midst: seldom of things, בְּלֶב־יָם in the midst of the sea Ex 15:8 Pr 23:34; 30:19; בְּלֵב יַמִּים ψ 46:3; Ez 27:4, 25, 26, 27; 28:2, 8 בלב האלה 2 S 18:14; בְּלֵב אֹיְבֵי in the midst of the enemies of ψ 45:2 (v. BrMP in loco; AV RV al. in the heart of). elsewhere of men: the inner man in contrast with outer לבי ובשׂרי ירננו my heart and my flesh cry out ψ 84:3; ‖ מעים ψ 22:15 Je 4:19, the inner for outer מעים Je 49:22; as within the breast על לב Ex 28:3, 29, 30(×2) (P); מלב 2 K 9:24; בלב ψ 37:15 2 S 18:14; סְגוֹר לִבָּם Ho 13:8; antithesis with בָּשָׂר Pr 14:30 Ec 2:3; head Is 1:5, face Ez 14:3, 4, 7; arm Ct 8:6; hands Ez 22:14; bones ψ 102:5; eyes 1 K 9:3 (= 2 Ch 7:16) Je 22:17; ear Pr 22:17; 23:12; mouth ψ 55:22; lips Is 29:13; אֲנִי יְשֵׁינָה וְלִבִּי עֵר I slept but my heart waked Ct 5:2. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will, with occasional emphasis of one or the other by means of certain verbs: † בכל לב 1 K 8:23 (= 2 Ch 6:14) ψ 9:2; 119:2, 10, 34, 58, 69, 145; 138:1 Pr 3:5 Je 3:10; 24:7; †עם לב 2 Ch 24:4 (see לבב 2); † כלב 2 S 7:21 (= 1 Ch 17:19) Je 3:15; תַּעֲלֻמוֹת לֵב secrets of the heart ψ 44:22; לֵב מְלָכִים אֵין חֵקֶר the heart of kings is unsearchable Pr 25:3; הַיֹּצֵר יַחַד לִבָּם ψ 33:15 etc. specific reference to mind: †מִלֵּב of one’s own mind Nu 16:28; 24:13 (JE) 1 K 12:33; Ne 6:8; Ez 13:2, 17; †חֲסַר לֵב destitute of mind Pr 6:32; 7:7; 9:4, 16; 10:13, 21; 11:12; 12:11; 15:21; 17:18; 24:30; לִבּוֹ חָסֵר Ec 10:3; אֵין לֵב Je 5:21 Ho 7:11; לב אין Pr 17:16; קנה לב get a mind Pr 15:32; 19:8; כֹּחַ לב power of mind Jb 36:5; רֹחַב לב breadth of mind 1 K 5:9, גנב לב 2 S 15:6; Gn 31:20 (E? see לבב 3 a). knowledge, c. †ידע Dt 29:3; Pr 14:10; 22:17; Ec 1:17; 7:22, 25; 8:5, 16; Je 24:7; ראה ψ 66:18 Ec 1:16; חָכַם לב mind is wise Pr 23:15; †לֵב חָכָם wise mind 1 K 3:12; Pr 16:23; Ec 8:5; †חֲכַם לֵב Ex 31:6; 35:10; 36:1, 2, 8 (P) Pr 10:8; 11:29; 16:21; †חַכְמֵי לֵב Ex 28:3 (P) Jb 37:24; †חכמת לב Ex 35:25, 35 (P); לב חכמים Ec 7:4; 10:2; לב כסילים Pr 12:23; 15:7 Ec 7:4; 10:2; c. חכמה Ex 36:2 (P) 1 K 10:24 (= 2 Ch 9:23) Pr 2:10; 17:16; Ec 2:3; †לֵב נָבוֹן intelligent mind Pr 14:33; 15:14; 18:15; with הבין Pr 8:5; תְּבוּנָה Pr 2:2; שָׂ֑כֶל Jb 17:4 etc. thinking, reflection, c. חשׁב ψ 140:3 Pr 16:9; מחשׁבות Gn 6:5 (J) ψ 33:11 Pr 6:18; 19:21 cf. Gn 8:21 (J); הגה muse, study Pr 15:28; 24:2; Is 33:18; 59:13; הגיון ψ 19:15; הָגוּת ψ 49:4; †שׂם לב set the mind, consider Is 41:22; Ez 44:5, c. לְ 1 S 9:20; Ez 40:4; 44:5; אֶל Ex 9:21 (J) 1 S 25:25; 2 S 18:3(×2) Jb 2:3; 34:14; עַל Jb 1:8; † שׁת לב ψ 62:10; Pr 22:17; 24:32, c. לְּ Ex 7:23 (JE) 1 S 4:20; 2 S 13:20; ψ 48:14; Pr 27:23; Je 31:21 אֶל Jb 7:17. memory †השׁיב אל לב call to mind Is 44:19; La 3:21; על לב Is 46:8; †עלה על לב come into mind (occur to one) Is 65:17; Je 3:16; 7:31; 19:5; 32:35 (cf. Acts 7:23), so בא על לב 2 Ch 7:11; †שׂם על לב lay to heart Is 42:25; 47:7; 57:1, 11; Je 12:11 Mal 2:2(×2) Dn 1:8; אל לב 2 S 13:33; 19:20 כתב על לב Je 31:33; קשׁר על לב Pr 6:21; † לוּחַ לֵב tablet of the memory Pr 3:3; 7:3 Je 17:1; נִשְׁכַּחְתִּי כְּמֵת מִלֵּב I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind ψ 31:13. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will; †הכין לב set the mind 2 Ch 12:14 ψ 10:17; 78:8; Jb 11:13; †נכון לב ψ 57:8(×2) (= 108:2) 78:37; 112:7; †נתן לב לְ Ec 1:13, 17; 7:21; 8:9, 16; Pr 23:26 Dn 10:12; † נתן אל לב Ec 7:2; 9:1; Ne 2:12; 7:5 differ from Ec 7:2; 9:1 (the ‘heart’ here not being the subject’s). בלב Ex 35:34 (P) Ezr 7:27 Ec 3:11; †אֲשֶׁר־נְשָׂאוֹ לִבּוֹ whose heart stirred him up Ex 35:21; 36:2 cf. 35:26 (all P); †נְדִיב לֵב willing of mind Ex 35:5, 22 (P) 2 Ch 29:31 cf. Ex 25:2; 35:29 (P): †אחרי נטה לב inclined to follow Ju 9:3 ψ 119:112; Pr 2:2; †הטה לב 1 K 11:3 ψ 119:36; 141:4 cf. 2 S 15:13:—גְּדֹלִים חִקְקֵי־לֵב great resolves of heart Ju 5:15 etc. spec. ref. to conscience, וַיַּךְ לֵב דָּוִד אֹתוֹ and David’s heart (conscience) smote him 1 S 24:6; מִכְשׁוֹל לֵב offence of conscience 1 S 25:31; cf. Ec 7:22. spec. ref. to moral character, God tries the heart ψ 17:3 Je 12:3; sees the heart and reins Je 20:12, tries them ψ 7:10 Je 11:20, refines them ψ 26:2; searches the heart and tries the reins Je 17:10. ישֶׁר־לִבִּי Jb 33:3; †יִשְׁרֵי לֵב ψ 7:11; 11:2; 32:11; 36:11; 64:11 (all c. דָּוִד in title), 94:15; 97:11; †לֵב שָׁלֵם 1 Ch 28:9; 29:9 Is 38:3 (all originally לבב, see לבב 6 a); נִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵב broken of heart ψ 34:19 Is 61:1; לֵב־נִשְׁבָּר ψ 51:19; שְׁבוּרֵי לֵב ψ 147:3; לֵב נִדְכָּאִים Is 57:15; לֵב טָהוֹר clean heart ψ 51:12; †לֵב חָדָשׁ new heart Ez 18:31; 36:26 (prob. also 11:19 for אֶהָד see Co) etc. לֵב רָע evil heart Pr 26:23; חַנְפֵי־לֵב godless in heart Jb 36:13; עקּשׁ(י) לב perverse in heart Pr 11:20; 17:20; †תַּרְמִת לִבָּם deceit of their heart Je 14:14; 23:26; בלב ולב with a double heart ψ 12:3 etc. seat of pride Pr 21:4; Je 48:29; 49:16; Ho 13:6; Ob 3 גְּבַהּ־לֵב Pr 16:5; גֹּבַהּ לב 2 Ch 32:26; †גָּבַהּ לֵב 2 Ch 17:6; 26:16; 32:25 ψ 131:1; Pr 18:12; Ez 28:2, 17. the heart is uncircumcised Je 9:25 Ez 44:7, 9 and hardened: † חזּק לב Ex 4:21; 10:20, 27 (E), 9:12; 11:10; 14:4, 8, 17 (P), Jos 11:20 (D2 ?); †יֶהֱזַק לֵב Ex 7:13, 22; 8:15; 9:35 (P); חִזְּקֵי־לֵב Ez 2:4; † הקשׁה לב Ex 7:3 (P) Pr 28:14; קְשֵׁי־לֵב Ez 3:7; הכביד לב Ex 8:11, 28; 9:34; 10:1 (J); כָּבֵד לב Ex 7:14; 9:7 (J); כּבּד לב 1 S 6:6; הַשְׁמֵן לֵב־הָעָם הַזֶה make the heart of this people fat Is 6:10 (?); † שְׁרִ(י)רוּת לֵב Dt 29:18 ψ 81:13 after Je 3:17; 7:24; 9:13; 11:8; 13:10; 16:12; 18:12; 23:17; †לב האבן the heart of stone Ez 11:19; 36:26 etc. for the man himself, † אמר בלב Gn 17:17 (P), 27:41 (JE), 1 K 12:26 Est 6:6 ψ 10:6, 11, 13; 14:1 (= 53:2) 35:25; 74:8; Ec 2:1, 15; 3:17, 18; Is 47:10; Ob 3; Zc 12:5; אֶל־לב Gn 8:21 (J) 1 S 27:1; † דבּר בלב Ec 2:15; אֶל־לב Gn 24:45 (J); עַל לב 1 S 1:13 (?); עִם לב Ec 1:16; נְאֻם־פֶּשַׁע לָרָשָׁע בְּקֶרֶב לִבִּי ψ 36:2. as seat of appetites, סְעַד לב stay the heart (with bread) Gn 18:5 (J) Ju 19:5 ψ 104:15. as seat of the emotions and passions: of joy and gladness, in various combinations of †טוב, Ju 16:25; 18:20; 19:6, 22; Ru 3:7; 1 S 25:36; 2 S 13:28;1 K 8:66 (= 2 Ch 7:10) 21:7; Est 1:10; 5:9; Pr 15:15 Ec 7:3; 9:7; 11:9; Is 65:14; various combinations of † שׂמח, Ex 4:14 (J) 1 Ch 16:10 (= ψ 105:3) ψ 4:8; 16:9; 19:9; 33:21; Pr 15:13, 30; 17:22; 27:9, 11 Ec 2:10(×2); 5:19; Ct 3:11; Is 24:7; Zc 10:7; שׂושׂ ψ 119:111; Is 66:14; La 5:15; עלץ 1 S 2:1; עלז ψ 28:7 Zp 3:14; רנן Jb 29:13; גיל ψ 13:6 Pr 24:17 Zc 10:7; of desire, ψ 21:3; 37:4; † דבּר עַל לֵב speak unto the heart (kindly) Gn 34:3; 50:21 (JE) Ju 19:3; 2 S 19:8; 2 Ch 30:22; Is 40:2; Ho 2:16; Ru 2:13. of trouble 2 K 6:11; Is 65:14, sorrow Ne 2:2; Pr 14:13, pain ψ 55:5, vexation Ec 11:10, trembling Dt 28:65 (?) 1 S 28:5, faintness La 5:17; it is wounded ψ 109:22, dies within one out of fear 1 S 25:37 etc.; † לב נמס the heart melteth (in fear) 2 S 17:10 ψ 22:15 Ez 21:12; Na 2:11. seat of courage: יַאֲמֵץ לִבֶּ֑ךָ let thine heart take courage ψ 27:14; אַמִּיץ לִבּוֹ Am 2:16; אַבִּירֵי לֵב stout-hearted ψ 76:6; Is 46:12; לִבּוֹ יָצוּק כְּמוֹ־אֶבֶן his heart as firm as a stone Jb 41:16; לִבּוֹ כְּלֵב הָאַרְיֵה his heart as the heart of the lion 2 S 17:10; cf. אֶת־לִבּוֹ מָצָא 2 S 7:27, מְלָאוֹ לִבּוֹ לְ׳ Est 7:5 (cf. Ec 8:11). Why these entries: BDB: headword, part of speech agrees, 399 of its verses cited, 0 words shared with the glosses, lists its Strong's number (6 candidates); OSHB: headword, part of speech agrees, 2 words shared with the BDB entry, 0 with the glosses (4 candidates) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every English meaning of «לֵב» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1500/3820/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames. ### In the verses [Psalms 7:11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PSA.7.11/) מָֽגִנִּ֥י עַל־אֱלֹהִ֑ים מ֝וֹשִׁ֗יעַ יִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃ *Word for word:* shield my \[is\].on God a.deliverer of.\[people\].upright of.heart *JPS 1917:* My shield is with God, who saveth the upright in heart. [Proverbs 8:5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.8.5/) הָבִ֣ינוּ פְתָאיִ֣ם עָרְמָ֑ה וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים הָבִ֥ינוּ לֵֽב׃ *Word for word:* understand O.naive.people prudence and O.fools understand heart *JPS 1917:* O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. - ← previous: [לְאֻמִּים](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/3817.md) - next →: [לָבָא](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/lemma_3a_5dc_5b8_5d1_5b8_5d0.md) - ↑ back to [ל](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/1500.md)