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    In Context

    What Does the Bible Say About the Heart — In Biblical Context

    The heart is the centre of a person's being — Scripture says to guard it above all else, for from it flow the issues of life.

    Quick Answer

    The heart is the centre of a person's being — Scripture says to guard it above all else, for from it flow the issues of life.

    "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." — Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)

    The Biblical Context

    In biblical usage, the 'heart' encompasses mind, will, emotions, and conscience. Jeremiah warned that the heart is deceitfully wicked (17:9). Proverbs 4:23 instructs believers to guard it above all things. God told Samuel He looks at the heart, not outward appearance. Jesus taught that what defiles a person comes from the heart. The promise of the New Covenant is that God writes His law on believers' hearts.

    Where It Sits in Scripture

    The core passage for this question, Proverbs 4:23, sits inside Proverbs 4. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.

    "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
    — Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)

    Supporting Passages

    Jeremiah 17:9
    "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
    1 Samuel 16:7
    "For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

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    Meaning

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