The Difference Between lev and nephesh
lev (H3820) means "care for" and nephesh (H5315) means "any" — both Hebrew words in the Bible, but they carry distinct meanings. Knowing which word the original author chose, and where each appears, reveals the precise shade of meaning that can get lost in translation.
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לֵב vs נֶפֶשׁ
lev and nephesh
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See how lev (לֵב) and nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ) compare → https://lemmalink.com/compare/H3820/H5315
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.
Origin
Root form
English Glosses
Canon Usage
No data
Context Themes
- The Heart as Centre of the Person
- The Heart God Changes
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.
Origin
Root form
English Glosses
Canon Usage
No data
Context Themes
- The Whole Living Creature
- The Soul That Thirsts