Exegetical Meaning

The Greek word *kardia* (heart) refers to the physical heart, but in Scripture it almost always describes the inner spiritual and emotional center of a person—the seat of thoughts, feelings, desires, and moral character. When Jesus talks about what comes out of the heart, or when Paul writes about believing in your heart, they're pointing to the deepest part of who you are, where your real convictions and motivations live. This is why the Bible uses "heart" to describe not just emotions like love or fear, but also the will, conscience, and understanding. You might find *kardia* translated as "heart," "mind," "soul," or sometimes simply as the representation of your inner self. In Matthew 6:21, Jesus says "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"—he's clearly not talking about the physical organ, but about where your deepest affections and commitments are directed. Similarly, Romans 10:9 speaks of believing in your heart unto salvation, meaning a conviction that goes deeper than mere intellectual agreement. Understanding *kardia* this way helps you grasp that Scripture cares about transformation at your deepest level, not just outward behavior.

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Exegetical Meaning

the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything | Etymology: a form of H3824 (לֵבָב); | KJV: [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom.

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• The Heart as Centre of the Person
• The Heart God Changes