STRONGS G4698:
σπλάγχνον,
σπλαγχνου,
τό, and (only so in the N. T.) plural
σπλάγχνα,
σπλάγχνων,
τά, Hebrew
רַחֲמִים,
bowels, intestines (the heart, lungs, liver, etc.);
a. properly:
Acts 1:18 (2 Macc. 9:5f; 4 Macc. 5:29, and in Greek writings from
Homer down).
b. in the Greek poets from
Aeschylus down the bowels were regarded as the seat of the more violent passions, such as anger and love; but by the Hebrews as the seat of the tenderer affections, especially kindness, benevolence, compassion (cf.
Lightfoot on
Philippians 1:8;
Winers Grammar, 18); hence, equivalent to our
heart (
tender mercies, affections, etc. (cf.
B. D. American edition under the word )):
1 John 3:17 (on which see
κλείω);
2 Corinthians 6:12;
Philippians 2:1 (here
G L T Tr WH εἰ τίς σπλάγχνα;
Buttmann, 81 (71), cf. Green 109;
Lightfoot at the passage);
σπλάγχνα ἐλέους (genitive of quality (cf.
Winers Grammar, 611 (568); so
Test xii. Patr., test. Zab. §§ 7, 8)), a heart in which mercy resides (
heart of mercy),
Luke 1:78; also
σπλάγχνα οἰκτιρμοῦ (
Rec. οἰκτίρμων),
Colossians 3:12;
τά σπλάγχνα αὐτοῦ περισσοτέρως εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐστιν, his heart is the more abundantly devoted to you,
2 Corinthians 7:15;
ἐπιποθῶ ὑμᾶς ἐν σπλάγχνοις Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, in the heart (
R. V. tender mercies) of Christ, i. e. prompted by the same love as Christ Jesus,
Philippians 1:8;
ἀναπαύειν τά σπλάγχνα τίνος, to refresh one's soul or heart,
Philemon 1:7,
20;
τά σπλάγχνα ἡμῶν, my very heart, i. e. whom I dearly love,
Philemon 1:12 (so Darius calls his mother and children
his own bowels in Curt. 4, 14, 22. meum corculum,
Plautus Cas. 4, 4, 14; meum cor, id. Poen. 1, 2, 154; (cf.
Lightfoot on Philemon, at the passage cited)). The Hebrew
רַחֲמִים is translated by the
Sept. now
ὀικιρμοι,
Psalm 24:6 (
Ps. 25:6);
Psalm 39:12 (
Ps. 40:12), now
ἔλεος,
Isaiah 47:6; once
σπλάγχνα,
Proverbs 12:10.
THAYER’S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database.
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BLB Scripture Index of Thayer's