# G2588 - kardia **Strong's:** [G2588](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2588/) · BLB lookup **Pronunciation:** kar-dee'-ah **Part of speech:** feminine noun **LXX equivalent:** renders Hebrew *lev* / *levav* (heart, H3820, H3824) **NT occurrences:** 156 ## Semantic range In biblical anthropology, *kardia* (heart) is **the integrated center of the inner person**, encompassing: 1. **Intellect / understanding**, the seat of thought ([Romans 1:21](/codex/romans-1-21/), "their foolish *kardia* was darkened") 2. **Volition / will**, the seat of decision ([Acts 11:23](/codex/acts-11-23/), "with purpose of *kardia*") 3. **Emotion / affection**, the seat of feeling ([John 14:1](/codex/john-14-1/), "do not let your *kardia* be troubled") 4. **Moral / spiritual orientation**, the deepest core of the person before God ([Mt 5:8](/codex/matthew-5-8/), "blessed are the pure in *kardia*") 5. **Memory** ([Lk 2:19](/codex/luke-2-19/), Mary "treasured all these things in her *kardia*") 6. **Conscience** in some contexts (overlaps with [G4893 - syneidesis](/codex/g4893-syneidesis/)) Modern Western thought has split these functions across multiple categories (head / heart / will / emotion). Biblical thought integrates them all in the *kardia* / *lev*. ## Theological force ### The heart is the deepest level of the person Scripture consistently presents the *kardia* as where the *real person* resides: - **[1 Samuel 16:7](/codex/1-samuel-16-7/)**, "man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the *kardian*" - **[Proverbs 4:23](/codex/proverbs-4-23/)**, "watch over your *kardian* with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life" - **[Matthew 15:18-19](/codex/matthew-15-18-19/)**, "the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the *kardias*… for out of the *kardias* come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders" - **[Mark 7:21-23](/codex/mark-7-21-23/)**, the moral source of evil is the *kardia* The pattern: outward behavior reflects the inner *kardia*. Hypocrisy is precisely the disconnection of outward action from inner *kardia*. ### Salvation as a heart-transformation NT salvation language consistently focuses on the *kardia*: - **[Romans 10:9-10](/codex/romans-10-9-10/)**, "if you confess… and *believe in your kardia*… for with the *kardia* a person believes, resulting in righteousness" - **[2 Corinthians 1:22](/codex/2-corinthians-1-22/); 4:6; 5:5**, God's Spirit poured into the *kardia* - **[Galatians 4:6](/codex/galatians-4-6/)**, "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our *kardias*" - **[Ephesians 1:18](/codex/ephesians-1-18/); 3:17**, Christ dwells in the *kardia* through faith - **[Hebrews 10:22](/codex/hebrews-10-22/)**, "let us draw near with a sincere *kardia* in full assurance of faith" - **[2 Peter 1:19](/codex/2-peter-1-19/)**, "the day dawns and the morning star arises in your *kardiais*" The NT pattern: regeneration produces a new *kardia*; sanctification deepens / purifies the *kardia*; eschatologically the believer's *kardia* will be perfectly conformed to Christ. ### The OT promise, new heart [Ezekiel 36:26-27](/codex/ezekiel-36-26-27/), "I will give you a new *kardian* and put a new spirit (*pneuma*) within you; and I will remove the *kardian* of stone from your flesh and give you a *kardian* of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you." [Jeremiah 31:33](/codex/jeremiah-31-33/), the [New Covenant](/codex/jeremiah-31-33/) promise: "I will put My law within them and on their *kardian* I will write it." These OT promises are **fulfilled in NT regeneration**. The Christian's heart-transformation is the realization of OT eschatological promise. ## *Kardia* and the head / mind The biblical *kardia* is *not* contrasted with *mind* (as modern Western thought often does, "follow your heart vs your head"). The biblical *kardia* *includes* the mind. [Romans 10:9-10](/codex/romans-10-9-10/) has *kardia* believing, i.e., the heart is the believing-thinking-trusting organ. The modern Western "head vs heart" split is actually a *post-Romantic* conceptual development. The biblical anthropology is more integrated: *kardia* = the whole inner self, including thought. ## Notable verses ### Cardiac purity - **[Matthew 5:8](/codex/matthew-5-8/)**, "blessed are the pure in *kardia*, for they shall see God" - **[1 Timothy 1:5](/codex/1-timothy-1-5/)**, "love from a pure *kardia*" - **[2 Timothy 2:22](/codex/2-timothy-2-22/)**, "those who call on the Lord from a pure *kardia*" ### Cardiac hardening / unbelief - **[Mark 6:52](/codex/mark-6-52/); 8:17**, disciples' *kardia* hardened - **[Romans 1:21](/codex/romans-1-21/)**, Gentile *kardia* darkened - **[Romans 2:5](/codex/romans-2-5/)**, *sklērotēs kardias*, hardness of heart - **[Hebrews 3:8](/codex/hebrews-3-8/), [12](/codex/hebrews-3-12/), [15](/codex/hebrews-3-15/); 4:7**, "do not harden your *kardian*" ### Cardiac transformation - **[Romans 5:5](/codex/romans-5-5/)**, "the love of God has been poured out within our *kardiais* through the Holy Spirit" - **[Romans 10:9-10](/codex/romans-10-9-10/)**, believe in your *kardia* - **[Ephesians 3:17](/codex/ephesians-3-17/)**, "Christ may dwell in your *kardiais* through faith" - **[Hebrews 10:22](/codex/hebrews-10-22/)**, sincere *kardia* - **[2 Peter 1:19](/codex/2-peter-1-19/)**, morning star arises in your *kardiais* ### The heart and discipleship - **[Mark 12:30](/codex/mark-12-30/)** / [Mt 22:37](/codex/matthew-22-37/), love God with all your *kardias* - **[Luke 6:45](/codex/luke-6-45/)**, "the good man out of the good treasure of his *kardias*" - **[John 14:1](/codex/john-14-1/)**, "do not let your *kardia* be troubled" ## Patristic / scholarly note Patristic engagement: - Augustine (*Confessions*, extensive *cor / kardia* engagement; the famous "our *kardia* is restless until it rests in Thee") - The desert tradition (Evagrius, Cassian), heart-centered prayer / monasticism - Eastern Orthodox hesychasm, "prayer of the heart" Modern conservative engagement: - Wayne Grudem (*Systematic Theology*) on biblical anthropology - John Piper (*Desiring God*; emphasis on heart-affections) - Jonathan Edwards (*Religious Affections*, 1746), the foundational Reformed treatment of heart-religion - Tim Keller, heart-idolatry diagnostic in pastoral application ## See also - [H3820 - lev](/codex/h3820-lev/), Hebrew heart - [G3563 - nous](/codex/g3563-nous/), mind - [G5590 - psyche](/codex/g5590-psyche/), soul - [G4151 - pneuma](/codex/g4151-pneuma/), spirit - [G4893 - syneidesis](/codex/g4893-syneidesis/), conscience - [Romans 10.13](/codex/romans-10-13/), cardiac confession passage - [Matthew 5](/codex/matthew-5/), Beatitudes / pure in heart ## Notes _Lexical workspace for kardia._