UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: heart, inner self, mind

Semantic entry: 26.3

Semantic domains: Psychological Faculties

Definition: (a figurative extension of meaning of καρδία ‘heart,’ not occurring in the NT in its literal sense) the causative source of a person’s psychological life in its various aspects, but with special emphasis upon thoughts{N:001}

Notes: It is often possible to render καρδία[a] by a number of different terms depending upon the immediate context, for example, ‘mind,’ ‘intention,’ ‘purpose,’ or ‘desire.’ In many languages it is quite impossible to use a term meaning ‘heart,’ since such a term may not lend itself to figurative extension in meaning. Often the equivalent of καρδία is ‘liver,’ while in a number of languages it is ‘stomach’ or ‘bowels.’

Sense 2: depths, far inside

Semantic entry: 83.14

Semantic domains: Spacial Positions

Subdomains: Among, Between, In, Inside

Definition: (a figurative extension of meaning of καρδία ‘heart,’ not occurring in the NT in its literal sense) a location deep within a larger area

Sense 3: to be greatly troubled, to be acutely distressed

Semantic entry: 25.281

Semantic domains: Attitudes and Emotions

Subdomains: Sorrow, Regret

Definition: (an idiom, literally: to pierce the heart) to experience acute emotional distress, implying both concern and regret

Collocations: κατανύσσομαι τὴν καρδίαν

Sense 4: to be confident, to be assured

Semantic entry: 25.166

Semantic domains: Attitudes and Emotions

Subdomains: Courage, Boldness

Definition: (an idiom, literally: to convince the heart) to exhibit confidence and assurance in a situation which might otherwise cause dismay or fear

Collocations: πείθω τὴν καρδίαν

Sense 5: to close someone’s mind, to make someone unable to learn

Semantic entry: 27.53

Semantic domains: Learn

Subdomains: Be Willing To Learn

Definition: (an idiom, literally: to maim the heart) to cause someone to be unwilling to learn

Notes: This expression is only found as a variant reading: πεπήρωκεν αὐτῶν τὴν καρδίαν ‘he has made their hearts unable to learn’ RV JHN 12:40 · LV JHN 12:40 · Read together JHN 12:40 (apparatus).

Collocations: πηρόω τὴν καρδίαν

Sense 6: to show affection for, to open one’s heart to

Semantic entry: 25.53

Semantic domains: Attitudes and Emotions

Subdomains: Love, Affection, Compassion

Definition: (an idiom, literally: to broaden the heart) to make evident that one has affection for someone

Collocations: πλατύνω τὴν καρδίαν

Sense 7: to make think, to fill the heart, to cause to decide

Semantic entry: 30.29

Semantic domains: Think

Subdomains: To Think, Thought

Definition: (an idiom, literally: to fill the heart, and: to throw into the heart) to cause someone to think in a particular manner, often as a means of inducing some behavior

Collocations: πληρόω τὴν καρδίαν; βάλλω εἰς τὴν καρδίαν

Sense 8: to have one’s heart made pure, to be purified in one’s heart, to be pure

Semantic entry: 88.31

Semantic domains: Moral and Ethical Qualities and Related Behavior

Subdomains: Holy, Pure

Definition: (an idiom, literally: to be sprinkled in the heart) to be purified from moral failure

Collocations: ῥαντίζομαι τὴν καρδίαν

Sense 9: to make grieve, to break one’s heart

Semantic entry: 25.282

Semantic domains: Attitudes and Emotions

Subdomains: Sorrow, Regret

Definition: (an idiom, literally: to break the heart) to cause great sorrow and grief

Notes: It is rare that one can reproduce in a literal form the idiom συνθρύπτω τὴν καρδίαν. A frequent equivalent of ‘to break one’s heart’ is ‘to cause one to cry.’ In some languages one may even have ‘to cause one’s heart to cry.’

Collocations: συνθρύπτω τὴν καρδίαν

Sense 10: to treasure up in the heart, to store in the mind as valuable, to make up one’s mind, to decide

Semantic entry: 30.76

Semantic domains: Think

Subdomains: To Decide, To Conclude

Definition: (an idiom, literally: to place in the heart) to store information in the mind, with the implication of its being valuable

Collocations: τίθημι ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ