heart
le.vav denotes the inner person as the seat of commitment, intention, thought, and emotional condition.
The term most often marks a person’s inward orientation—especially wholehearted loyalty, seeking, obedience, or turning away. It also names inner intentions and known thoughts, and in several clauses describes a person’s inward condition, including sorrow, hardness, or evil disposition.
Senses in use
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Inward commitment and moral orientation · dominant
The construct noun repeatedly occurs in clauses about serving, seeking, obeying, or being directed toward the LORD. In 1 Samuel 12:24 the APB renders service “with all your heart,” while 1 Kings 11:4 contrasts Solomon’s inward orientation with a heart not complete with the LORD; 2 Chronicles 16:9 describes those whose heart is fully committed to him.
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Intention, resolve, or desired action · common
In building and requesting contexts, the construct noun identifies what a person has purposed inwardly. In 1 Kings 8:17 the APB renders that it was “in the heart of David” to build, and 2 Chronicles 1:11 places Solomon’s request for wisdom in what was “with your heart.”
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Inner thoughts known or examined · occasional
The noun can identify the inner contents that God or a person knows and assesses. In 1 Kings 8:39 the APB speaks of knowing each person’s heart, and 1 Chronicles 28:9 joins every heart with “every intention of the thoughts”; 1 Kings 2:44 concerns harm that Shimei’s heart knew.
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Inner condition or disposition · occasional
Several clauses portray an inward state rather than a stated decision. In 1 Samuel 1:8 the APB asks why Hannah’s heart is sad; 1 Samuel 6:6 addresses hardened hearts, and 1 Samuel 17:28 attributes evil to David’s heart.
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly uses “heart,” especially in phrases such as “with all your heart,” “in your heart,” and “complete heart.” It also presents the surrounding clauses in terms of intentions, thoughts, commitment, sadness, and hardness.