Psalms 119:34 — Word Study
WLCהֲ֭בִינֵנִי וְאֶצְּרָ֥ה תֽוֹרָתֶ֗ךָ וְאֶשְׁמְרֶ֥נָּה בְכָל־ לֵֽב׃
BSAGive me understandingbîyn [cause me to have, help me to understand, insight, discernment] that I may obeynâtsar [keep, watch over] Your lawtôwrâh [instruction, Torah] and follow itshâmar▸ [observe, keep with diligence] with allkôl [everything, my whole being] my heartlêb [inner self, feelings, will, and intellect]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הֲ֭בִינֵנִי | give understanding me | Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| וְאֶצְּרָ֥ה | so let me observe | Conjunction, verb qal infinitive construct first person common singular |
| תֽוֹרָתֶ֗ךָ | law your | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וְאֶשְׁמְרֶ֥נָּה | so I may keep it | Conjunction, verb qal first person common singular, suffix |
| בְכָל־ | with all | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| לֵֽב׃ | [the] heart | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart. |
| KJV | Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. |
| ASV | Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. |
| YLT | Cause me to understand, and I keep Thy law, And observe it with the whole heart. |
| WEB | Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart. |
| BBE | Give me wisdom, so that I may keep your law; going after it with all my heart. |
The translations agree on the request for understanding and the emphasis on obedience.
The verse contains a main request followed by two purpose clauses, illustrating the connection between understanding and obedience.






7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 119:34
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Prayer for Understanding and Obediencegenerated
Psalm 119:34 is part of a larger meditation on the importance of God's law and the psalmist's desire to understand it fully. The verses surrounding this request emphasize the need for divine guidance in following God's commandments, highlighting the relationship between understanding and obedience. This prayer reflects a deep yearning for insight that leads to a life aligned with God's will.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:73 | Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding to learn Your commandments. |
| 2 | Psalm 111:10 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever! |
| 3 | Job 28:28 | And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” |
| 4 | Proverbs 2:5–6 | then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. |
| 5 | John 7:17 | If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הֲ֭בִינֵנִי, Ha.vi.ne.nigenerated
The word הֲ֭בִינֵנִי (Ha.vi.ne.ni) is a hiphil imperative form of the verb בִּין (biyn), meaning to understand or discern. It conveys a request for help in gaining insight, indicating that true understanding is a gift from God.
This verb emphasizes the necessity of divine assistance in comprehending God's laws. The psalmist recognizes that understanding is not merely intellectual but requires spiritual insight, which is essential for obedience.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations generally agree on the request for understanding.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of a main clause and two subordinate clauses. The finite verb הֲ֭בִינֵנִי (give me understanding) governs the entire request, with the subsequent clauses detailing the purpose of the understanding sought.
The structure emphasizes the psalmist's plea for understanding as a prerequisite for obedience, illustrating the connection between knowledge and action.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates הֲ֭בִינֵנִי as με (me), indicating a direct appeal for personal understanding. This choice highlights the individual nature of the psalmist's request.
The translation reflects a consistent understanding of the need for divine insight to follow God's law.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:34 is a prayer where the psalmist asks God to give him understanding so that he can obey God's law with his whole heart. This reflects a desire for deeper insight into God's instructions and a commitment to follow them diligently.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
He is seeking divine insight to comprehend and apply God's law in his life.
Understanding enables the psalmist to follow God's instructions thoughtfully and wholeheartedly.
It emphasizes the importance of God's law and the need for divine help in understanding and obeying it.
We can learn the value of seeking God's guidance in our pursuit of understanding and obedience.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need God's understanding to obey His commands?
- How can I cultivate a heart that seeks to understand God's law more deeply?
- What steps can I take to ensure that I follow God's guidance with my whole heart?
- How does understanding God's law impact my daily decisions and actions?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Augustine of Hippo comments on this verse, emphasizing the connection between understanding and keeping God's law with one's whole heart.
"Give me understanding, and I shall search Your law, yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart" [Psalms 119:34].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:34 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleGive me understanding, and I shall keep thy law,.... A spiritual understanding; an understanding of the law, the perfection, purity, holiness, and spirituality of it; an understanding of the Gospel,
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryGive me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Give me understanding - a frequent prayer of the godly (Psalms 119:73). The Lord alone giveth it (Proverbs 2:6; James 1:5.).
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with [my] whole heart.Ver. 34. Give me understanding] We can neither know nor do God’ s will without divine light and aid, as appears clearly by this fifth octonary, which, therefore, Austin made so great use of against the Pelagians.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 34. With my whole heart.] I will not trifle with my God, I will not divide my affections with the world; God shall have all.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges33–40. Hç. A series of prayers for instruction guidance and strength.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleGive me understanding, and I shall keep thy law - Give me right views of it, of its nature and obligation.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleä, He.33-40. Teach me… thy statutes—The trouble has passed, and entrance upon active and responsible life is contemplated. The writer sees the form of knowledge and of truth in the law.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 119 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.
Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.
Give me understanding so that I might observe your law, and keep it with all my heart.
Tyndale line
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yes, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Giue mee vnderstanding, and I will keepe thy Law: yea, I wil keepe it with my whole heart.
Strictly literal
Give me understanding, and I will observe thy law; and I will keep it with [my] whole heart.
Cause me to understand, and I keep Thy law, And observe it with the whole heart.
Cause me to understand, and I keep Your law, || And observe it with the whole heart.
Give me understanding, that I may keep thy law, and I will observe it with all [my] heart.
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law; I will observe it with all my heart.
Simplified
Help me to understand so I can be totally committed to doing what you want.
Give me wisdom, so that I may keep your law; going after it with all my heart.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint align closely, with all six words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration, indicating some textual preservation, but the core message remains consistent across witnesses.
הֲ֭בִינֵנִי וְאֶצְּרָ֥ה תֽוֹרָתֶ֗ךָ וְאֶשְׁמְרֶ֥נָּה בְכָל־ לֵֽב׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[הבינ׳ני] [ואצרה] תורת׳ך ואשמר׳נה [בכל] [לב]
1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 119:34
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בִּין (biyn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to discern or understand. It encompasses a range of meanings including perceiving, considering, and teaching, with various forms indicating different nuances, such as being intelligent or discreet. The entries highlight its use in contexts requiring mental separation or insight, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
בִּין vb. discern
Qal
perceive
understand, know (with mind)
observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)
have discernment, insight, understanding
Niph. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding
Po. he attentively considereth him
Hiph.
understand
give heed to, attend to, observe, discern
give understanding, make understand, teach
Hithp.
shew oneself attentive, consider diligently
get understanding, understand
shew oneself to have understanding
base
H995 בִּין discern .. perceive
. understand, know (with mind)
. observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)
. have discernment, insight, understanding
. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding
. he attentively considereth him
. . understand
. give heed to, attend to, observe, discern
. give understanding, make understand, teach
. . shew oneself attentive, consider diligently
. get understanding, understand
. shew oneself to have understanding
995 biyn bene
a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish),
i.e.(generally) understand:--attend, consider, be cunning,
diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct,
have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be
prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause,
make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal)
wise(-ly, man).
בִּין (bin) — to understand.
1) to discern, understand, consider
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to perceive, discern
1a2) to understand, know (with the mind)
1a3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider
1a4) to have discernment, insight, understanding
1b) (Niphal) to be discerning, intelligent, discreet, have understanding
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to understand
1c2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach
1d) (Hithpolel) to show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently
1e) (Polel) to teach, instruct
2) (TWOT) prudent, regard
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVhv2ms/Sp1bs
נָצַר (natsar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to watch, guard, or keep. It encompasses a range of actions including protecting, preserving, and observing, as well as concealing or keeping secret. The entries suggest both positive and negative connotations, such as guarding from danger or hiding something. The term can also refer to a watchman.
[נָצַר] vb. watch, guard, keep;—Qal
Watch, guard, keep
Guard from dangers, preserve
Guard with fidelity, keep, observe
Guard, keep secret
Keep close, blockaded
base
H5341 נָצַר watch, guard, keep . Watch, guard, keep
. Guard from dangers, preserve
. Guard with fidelity, keep, observe
. Guard, keep secret
. Keep close, blockaded
5341 natsar naw-tsar'
a primitive root; to guard, in a good sense (to protect,
maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.):--
besieged, hidden thing, keep(-er, -ing), monument, observe,
preserve(-r), subtil, watcher(-man).
נָצַר (na.tsar) — to watch.
1) to guard, watch, watch over, keep
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to watch, guard, keep
1a2) to preserve, guard from dangers
1a3) to keep, observe, guard with fidelity
1a4) to guard, keep secret
1a5) to be kept close, be blockaded
1a6) watchman (participle)
Conj | V-Qal-1cs — Conjunction · verb qal infinitive construct first person common singularHC/Vqc1cs
ob-zurv' (representing various words, but chiefly shamar, "to keep," "to watch" etc.): Properly means "to take heed to," as in Isa 42:20, "Thou seest many things, but thou observest not" and from this sense all the usages of the word in English Versions of the Bible can be understood. Most of them, indeed are quite good modern usage (as "observe a feast," Ex 12:17, etc.; "observe a law" Le 19:37, etc.), but a few are archaic. So Ge 37:11, the King James Version "His father observed the saying" (the Revised Version (British and American) "kept the saying in mind"); Ho 13:7, "As a leopard .... will I observe them" (the…
תּוֹרָה (towrah) encompasses concepts of direction, instruction, and law, particularly relating to divine or human guidance. It refers to legal directives, customs, and teachings, including the Decalogue and the Pentateuch. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, such as prophetic and priestly instruction, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.
תּוֹרָה n.f. direction, instruction, law
instruction
law (prop. direction)
custom, manner
base
H8451 תּוֹרָה direction, instruction, law . instruction
. law (prop. direction)
. custom, manner
8451 towrah to-raw'
or torah {to-raw'}; from 3384; a precept or statute,
especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch:--law.
see HEBREW for 03384
תּוֹרָה (to.rah) — instruction.
1) law, direction, instruction
1a) instruction, direction (human or divine)
1a1) body of prophetic teaching
1a2) instruction in Messianic age
1a3) body of priestly direction or instruction
1a4) body of legal directives
1b) law
1b1) law of the burnt offering
1b2) of special law, codes of law
1c) custom, manner
1d) the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp2ms
The Hebrew word שָׁמַר (*shamar*) is a primitive root meaning to keep, guard, or observe. It encompasses a wide range of actions including protecting, waiting for, and celebrating obligations like the Sabbath. The verb appears in various forms, indicating nuances such as being on guard or refraining from certain actions. It is used extensively in the Old Testament, reflecting both physical and moral vigilance.
שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve
Qal 425
keep, have charge of
keep, guard, captives
hence, watch for, wait for
watch, observe
keep, retain, of storing up (food)
keep within bounds, restrain
observe, celebrate
keep sabbath
of other obligations
observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
sts. י׳ subj.
keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
Niph.
36be on one's guard
keep oneself, refrain, abstain
be kept, guarded
Pi. those paying regard to false vanities
Hithp. I kept myself from
base
H8104 שָׁמַר keep, watch, preserve .. . keep, have charge of
. keep, guard, captives
. hence, watch for, wait for
. watch, observe
. . keep, retain, of storing up (food)
. keep within bounds, restrain
. . observe, celebrate
. keep sabbath
. of other obligations
. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
. sts. י׳ subj.
. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
. . be on one's guard
. keep oneself, refrain, abstain
. be kept, guarded
. those paying regard to false vanities
. I kept myself from
8104 shamar shaw-mar'
a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns),
i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward,
be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark,
look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save
(self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: obey.
: obey/observe
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
1a3) to watch for, wait for
1a4) to watch, observe
1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain
1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
1a8) to keep, preserve, protect
1a9) to keep, reserve
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware
1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain
1b3) to be kept, be guarded
1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed
1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: guard.
: guard
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-1cs | Suff — Conjunction · verb qal first person common singular · suffixHC/Vqu1cs/Sp3fs
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.
לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart
seldom of things in the midst of the sea
elsewhere of men
the inner man in contrast with the outer
the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
specific reference to mind
spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
spec. ref. to conscience
[various]
for the man himself
as seat of appetites
as seat of emotions and passions
seat of courage
base
לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.
ref
H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea
. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer
. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
. specific reference to mind
. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
. spec. ref. to conscience
. [various]
. for the man himself
. as seat of appetites
. as seat of emotions and passions
. seat of courage
H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash
3820 leb labe
a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very
widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;
likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,
consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),
(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X
heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X
themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,
wisdom.
see HEBREW for 03824
לֵב (lev) — heart.
1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding
1a) inner part, midst
1a1) midst (of things)
1a2) heart (of man)
1a3) soul, heart (of man)
1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
1a6) conscience
1a7) heart (of moral character)
1a8) as seat of appetites
1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
לֵב (lev) — Leb.
§ Leb- = "heart of"
(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
hart (lebh, lebhabh; kardia): The different senses in which the word occurs in the Old Testament and the New Testament may be grouped under the following heads:
1. Various Meanings:
It represents in the first place the bodily organ, and by easy transition those experiences which affect or are affected by the body. Fear, love, courage, anger, Joy, sorrow, hatred are always ascribed to the heart--especially in the Old Testament; thus courage for which usually ruach is used (Ps 27:14); joy (Ps 4:7); anger (De 19:6, "while his heart is hot," lebhabh); fear (1Sa 25:37); sorrow (Ps 13:2), etc.
Heart
According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. “Heart” and “soul” are often used interchangeably (Deut. 6:5; 26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33), but this is not generally the case.
The heart is the “home of the personal life,” and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1 Kings 3:12, etc.), pure (Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8, etc.), upright and righteous (Gen. 20:5, 6;
