Lost in Translation

An Analysis of the Original Meanings of Heart, Mind, Soul and Spirit in the Hebrew Bible

Abstract

While reading the Hebrew Bible, it is possible for modern readers to misunderstand the original Hebrew meanings of the English translations. Common words such as ‘heart’, ‘mind’, ‘soul’ (נפש) and ‘spirit’ (רוח) are often misinterpreted to have English connotations that were not used in the Hebrew Bible. For instance, the biblical Hebrew words (לבב ,לב and לבח), frequently translated as ‘heart’ had connotations that could be argued to correspond more accurately to the English definition of the word ‘mind.’ Conversely, the biblical Hebrew word (לב or לב), generally interpreted as ‘mind,’ is perhaps better understood in relation to the modern understanding of the heart as one's emotional centre. Also, as opposed to the non-physical modern notion of an immortal ‘soul’, biblical authors and their intended audiences understood it in relation to the physical. Furthermore, ‘spirit’ meant the energy and character of oneself and had divine connotations as associated with the breath or divine essence of YHWH. Therefore, in order to appropriately understand the Hebrew Bible, the fallibility of translation must be recognized.