How the Bible Mistranslates 'Heart'

It's time to challenge the English Bible's mistranslation of the Hebrew word "levav." While "heart" is the commonly accepted translation, but in it's original cultural context, the word actually encompasses both emotions and rationality. That's right - our understanding of the Bible may have been skewed all this time! But fear not, this video is not all doom and gloom. It's an entertaining exploration of the intricacies of language and how words can have multiple meanings.

For more info, there is a whole chapter dedicated to translating this word in the book "And God Said..." by Joel Hoffman.

[kenshi]

"Do not hate your neighbour in your ventromedial prefrontal cortex." - Moses, M.D.

[PerfectByClip]

Definition and Usage:
The word "לֵבָב" (levav) refers to the innermost part of a person, encompassing thoughts, emotions, and desires. It is used to describe the seat of understanding, will, and affections. In Hebrew thought, the heart was considered the core of a person's being, where their character and decisions originated.

[itaynaveh]

It's important to state that the word "levav" (לבב) comes from the same root as "lev" (לב) which means heart.

[vividemage]

This actually fits Korean better than English. 마음 (Maeum) means "mind, " but is also the seatvof emotions, so both heart and mind.

[DAKGODEVER]

This is why context is important. I always viewed it as conscience in most contexts but we do use it that currently.

[caidalee]

“I believe it in my heart” means I believe it deep down, earnestly, with serious dedication. It makes sense to me.

[Growmetheus]

Beyond a "deep understanding" the biblical heart is likewise used to described the "innermost person" which is your private self and the essence of your goals and opinions.

[matthewrichard]

"Heart" can mean "core" in English. Which is still in keeping with the original translation.

[yelsmig]

This is fascinating!

In Japanese, the word for “heart” in this context is 心 (kokoro) but it also has the meaning of mind as well as emotions.

[هدرة]

In my language Arabic a sister language of Aramaic and Hebrew Lub or Labab means heart. Generally it means the inside of things. And in ancient scripts we consider heart as the center of thinking. In Quran God said their hearts are as hard as rocks. This is intelligibly interpreted to "their minds". Generally it could mean both mind and emotions depending on the context.
So that could translate to love God from all of your "inside"

[LaTabernadeMiguel]

Let's not forget "to learn by heart" (thus, memorizing). Which, by the way, is related to "recordar" in Spanish (to remember). Recordar could be translated as "to being back to the heart.

[russbus]

I like the Latin word for heart, “cor”. It also can imply both emotion and logic, both of which are fundamental to the “core” of humanity.

[notgerardjoseph]

Here’s a fun one:

In Malay, the word most similar to heart from the emotion side of things is “hati”.

Just like English, it also refers to an emotional centre and an organ, specifically the liver.

English: Broken heart
Malay: Sakit hati (Liver pain)

[ThundersonMusic]

your explanation makes "heart" make more sense as the english choice word. english speakers differentiate "head knowledge" from "heart knowledge" - and book knowledge vs street knowledge.the mind and learning is always less central to a person if it ties to the brain - when we love, learn, judge, or decide from our heart it carries authenticity---not just emotions.

[ismaelvargas-osiris]

I learned this from my parish priest. He always tried to clarify these kind of things and I'm so grateful for that.

[GabeGarsia]

biblical definition of Heart = mind, will, emotions! Love this video, thanks for putting out quality content

[RebelYells-IntoVoid]

I know not many people get the niche you are in and I am so here for it. That translation makes so much sense in the context of more emotions based peak moment churches that are very popular where I’m from. I always felt there was far too much emphasis on the emotional in passages like “Love God with all your heart” we know the heart is a fickle thing… logic makes so much more sense in the context. Amazing points ❤

[astranix]

Can you hear the silence
Can you see the dark
Can you fix the broken
Can you feel *LEVAV*

[pogimax]

It's not a mistranslation, since both lev and levav are also the actual Hebrew words for the physical heart.

What is lacking in our context is the full cultural, historical, and symbolic context of how they used the terms. It's not a problem of translation but of interpretation.

[RDBS]

as a native hebrew speaker i’m glad our language is being taught