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Big_Dummy
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What does the word heart in the bible mean? I could not find any scriptures that refers to Christ’s heart? Do you know of any? If no scriptures use the word heart concerning him, what would that mean?
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NHInsider
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The ancients had different metaphors to describe the location of feelings, emotions and intentions than we do. The fascination with the heart and the assocation of love with the heart began in the late middle ages.
There are some references to the “heart” in a metaphoric sense in Scripture - Ezekiel talks about God giving men “an undivided heart” and in Luke 6 Jesus says the good man brings forth good from the good that is stored in his heart. Ecclesiastes talks about a joyful heart and Obadiah warns against a prideful one. And of course, Simeon tells Mary that her heart will be pierced. So it’s not unknown. But the emphasis on the Sacred Heart is a fairly recent devotion, if that’s what you are thinking about.
Anatomically, the lance with which the soldier pierced the side of Jesus to ensure that He was dead when they took His Body from the Cross must have pierced the pericardium - that would explain the flow of blood AND water from His side, which of course we understand as being symbolic of the life-giving sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist.
There are some references to the “heart” in a metaphoric sense in Scripture - Ezekiel talks about God giving men “an undivided heart” and in Luke 6 Jesus says the good man brings forth good from the good that is stored in his heart. Ecclesiastes talks about a joyful heart and Obadiah warns against a prideful one. And of course, Simeon tells Mary that her heart will be pierced. So it’s not unknown. But the emphasis on the Sacred Heart is a fairly recent devotion, if that’s what you are thinking about.
Anatomically, the lance with which the soldier pierced the side of Jesus to ensure that He was dead when they took His Body from the Cross must have pierced the pericardium - that would explain the flow of blood AND water from His side, which of course we understand as being symbolic of the life-giving sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist.
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Evan
Guest
The bible was written over a period of 100’s of years. So it is impossible to answer a question like that. Ask, rather, what a word might mean in a particular book or to a particular author. Even then it might mean different things at different places within a book or chapter. Look at the context.
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Big_Dummy
Guest
Hi Evan, limit your answer to the gospels please. Does that narrow it down enough?
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