All: The inner life in Scripture's own words

The inner life in Scripture's own words

nous and dianoia: the Greek mind-words translate the Hebrew heart-word

What the lexicons say. νοῦς (nous) is introduced "[in LXX chiefly for לֵב, לֵבָב]" and defined as "of the ruling faculty, mind, understanding, reason". διάνοια (dianoia) is introduced with the same formula, "[in LXX chiefly for לֵב, לֵבָב]", and defined as "the understanding, mind". ⭐ Two Greek words for the mind, and the lexicon says both of them normally render the Hebrew word for the heart. Nous is in 22 verses and dianoia in 12.

A textual observation, and no verdict on it. Deuteronomy commands love "with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might" (Deuteronomy 6:5, ASV), three terms. When Mark quotes the same command it has four: "with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength" (Mark 12:30, ASV), and the tagged text shows dianoia behind "mind". ⚠️ That the Greek quotation has a term the Hebrew does not is a plain fact about the two texts, checkable by anyone. Why it does is a question commentators answer in several ways, and this file does not pick one.

A precision worth keeping. In Philippians 4:7 the ASV's "which passeth all understanding" is nous, while "your thoughts" (BSB and KJV: "your minds") is a third word, νόημα (noema), not nous. Saying that the peace of God guards "your mind, nous" would be wrong; nous is what it surpasses.

Sources: Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:30; Philippians 4:7; TBESG entries G3563, G1271, G3540; Strong's Greek Dictionary (1890), entries G3563 and G1271.

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Sources, trace every one

Every cited verse, in full. Tap any reference to open it in the reader.

  • Deuteronomy 6:5bsb

    And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

  • Mark 12:30bsb

    Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

  • Philippians 4:7bsb

    And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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nous and dianoia: the Greek mind-words translate the Hebrew heart-word · Bubble Bible