The Difference Between lêb and nephesh
Within the Hebrew of the Bible, lêb (לֵב, H3820) and nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ, H5315) are related but distinct concepts. lêb is most often rendered "care for", while nephesh emphasizes "any". Understanding the difference between these words illuminates the precise shade of meaning the original author intended.
Change Words
לֵב vs נֶפֶשׁ
lêb and nephesh
לֵב
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
H3820
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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נֶפֶשׁ
properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
H5315
Exegetical Meaning
properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental) | Etymology: from H5314 (נָפַשׁ); | KJV: any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.
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No clusters available