 | As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man. |
 | As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. |
 | As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man. |
| Proverbs 27:19 |
Commentary
Thoughts reflect a person's true character.
Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Pr 27:19). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
Word Study: Heart
HEART - the inner self that thinks, feels, and decides. In the Bible the word "heart" has a much broader meaning than it does to the modern mind. The heart is that which is central to a person. Nearly all the references to the heart in the Bible refer to some aspect of human personality.
In the Bible all emotions are experienced by the heart: love and hate (Ps. 105:25; 1 Pet. 1:22); joy and sorrow (Eccl. 2:10; John 16:6); peace and bitterness (Ezek. 27:31; Col. 3:15); courage and fear (Gen. 42:28; Amos 2:16).
The thinking processes are said to be carried out by the heart. This intellectual activity corresponds to what would be called "mind" in English. Thus, the heart may think (Esth. 6:6), understand (Job 38:36), imagine (Jer. 9:14), remember (Deut. 4:9), be wise (Prov. 2:10), and speak to itself (Deut. 7:17). Decision-making is also carried out by the heart. Purpose (Acts 11:23), intention (Heb. 4:12), and will (Eph. 6:6) are all activities of the heart.
Finally, heart often means someone's true character or personality. Purity or evil (Jer. 3:17; Matt. 5:8); sincerity or hardness (Ex. 4:21; Col. 3:22); and maturity or rebelliousness (Ps. 101:2; Jer. 5:23)-all these describe the heart or true character of individuals. God knows the heart of each person (1 Sam. 16:7). Since people speak and act from their hearts, they are to guard them well (Prov. 4:23; Matt. 15:18-19). The most important duty of anyone is to love God with the whole heart (Matt. 22:37). With the heart a person believes in Christ and so experiences both love from God and the presence of Christ in the heart (Rom. 5:5; 10:9-10; Eph. 3:17).
Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., Harrison, R. K., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson's new illustrated Bible dictionary. Rev. ed. of: Nelson's illustrated Bible dictionary.; Includes index. Nashville: T. Nelson.
Thoughts reflect a person's true character.
Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Pr 27:19). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
Word Study: Heart
HEART - the inner self that thinks, feels, and decides. In the Bible the word "heart" has a much broader meaning than it does to the modern mind. The heart is that which is central to a person. Nearly all the references to the heart in the Bible refer to some aspect of human personality.
In the Bible all emotions are experienced by the heart: love and hate (Ps. 105:25; 1 Pet. 1:22); joy and sorrow (Eccl. 2:10; John 16:6); peace and bitterness (Ezek. 27:31; Col. 3:15); courage and fear (Gen. 42:28; Amos 2:16).
The thinking processes are said to be carried out by the heart. This intellectual activity corresponds to what would be called "mind" in English. Thus, the heart may think (Esth. 6:6), understand (Job 38:36), imagine (Jer. 9:14), remember (Deut. 4:9), be wise (Prov. 2:10), and speak to itself (Deut. 7:17). Decision-making is also carried out by the heart. Purpose (Acts 11:23), intention (Heb. 4:12), and will (Eph. 6:6) are all activities of the heart.
Finally, heart often means someone's true character or personality. Purity or evil (Jer. 3:17; Matt. 5:8); sincerity or hardness (Ex. 4:21; Col. 3:22); and maturity or rebelliousness (Ps. 101:2; Jer. 5:23)-all these describe the heart or true character of individuals. God knows the heart of each person (1 Sam. 16:7). Since people speak and act from their hearts, they are to guard them well (Prov. 4:23; Matt. 15:18-19). The most important duty of anyone is to love God with the whole heart (Matt. 22:37). With the heart a person believes in Christ and so experiences both love from God and the presence of Christ in the heart (Rom. 5:5; 10:9-10; Eph. 3:17).
Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., Harrison, R. K., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson's new illustrated Bible dictionary. Rev. ed. of: Nelson's illustrated Bible dictionary.; Includes index. Nashville: T. Nelson.
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