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Book of Hours, detail
This is one of 26 miniatures in a 172 page French illuminated manuscript. This Medieval Book of Hours, written in Latin, traces the biblical account of Jesus’ life from the Annunciation to Ascension. In this half-page illustration Jesus’ heart is shown pierced with four beveled spear points, encircled by wreath of thorns set before cross with titulus inscribed INRI. The word heart, and its variations hearts, heart’s, and hearted, appear 953 times in the Bible. Overall, Psalms has the most references with 133. In the New Testment, Luke the most with 23. Ruth, Obadiah, Nahum, Galatians, and 1 and 2 Timothy the fewest with one reference each. Amos, Micah, Jonah, Habakkuk, Haggai, Titus, Philemon, 2 and 3 John, and Jude have none. There are a few biblical references to the heart in its literal sense as a physical organ, for instance… Exodus 28:29 And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually. In keeping with how the heart was understood in antiquity, within the Bible the heart usually designates the whole personality, though, in contrast to modern, the emphasis is on the activities of reason and will rather than emotion. Both in the Old and New Testaments, the heart is the seat of wisdom… 1 Kings 3:12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. …of thought and reflection… Jeremiah 24:7 And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. ...the instrument of belief… Roman 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. …and of will, the principle of action… Exodus 35:21 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. …which may be hardened so that the heart resists God… Deuteronomy 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother. Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. It is the principle both of virtues and vices, of humility… Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. …and pride… Deuteronomy 17:20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel. …of good thoughts… Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. …and of evil thoughts… Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. The word heart figures in a handful of verses cited as Old Testament messianic prophesies of New Testament events, for example: Elijah would come immediately prior to the coming of Jesus. Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Jesus would rise from the dead on the third day. Psalms 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Only once, cited above, is Jesus quoted as speaking of his own heart: Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls
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