We often talk about the heart as the seat of our emotions, but what does that really mean?
The ancient rabbis certainly pondered this. In Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes, we find a fascinating exploration of the heart’s many roles. It begins with the verse from (Ecclesiastes 1:16): “I have spoken with my heart, saying: Behold, I have amassed and added wisdom, beyond all who were before me over Jerusalem; my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge.”
The rabbis then embark on a whirlwind tour of the heart’s capabilities, drawing on verses from across the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). It's kind of .
According to this passage, the heart isn’t just a muscle or a metaphor; it's a dynamic, multifaceted organ with an astonishing range of functions. The Midrash, a method of interpreting biblical stories, finds proof-texts showing that the heart sees. As it is stated, “My heart has seen much.” (Ecclesiastes 1:16). The heart also hears, as we see in the plea, “Give your servant an understanding [shome’a, literally, hearing] heart” (I Kings 3:9). And of course, the heart speaks, as evidenced by the verse that started this whole exploration: “I have spoken with my heart.”
But it doesn't stop there. The heart goes, as in, “Didn’t my heart go?” (II (Kings 5:2)6). The heart falls, as in, “Let no man’s heart fall” (I (Samuel 17:3)2). It stands firm: “Will your heart endure [haya’amod, literally, stand]?” (Ezekiel 22:14). It rejoices: “Therefore, my heart rejoices” (Psalms 16:9). The heart cries out, grieves, hardens, softens… the list goes on and on.
It’s a dizzying array of emotions and actions. According to Kohelet Rabbah, the heart can be consoled, as Isaiah (40:2) implores us to "Speak to the heart of Jerusalem," after God says to, "Console, console My people, says your God.” It can also be saddened, as we see when Genesis (6:6) tells us that God "was saddened in His heart" by humanity's wickedness.
The heart isn't just a passive recipient of emotions; it's an active participant in our lives. It contemplates, calculates [meḥashev], desires, and even fabricates! As we find in Proverbs (19:21), "Many are the thoughts [maḥshavot] in the heart of man." The heart can be stolen (Genesis 31:20, referring to Jacob stealing Laban's heart), humbled (Leviticus 26:41), and enticed (Genesis 34:3).
The heart's influence extends to our spiritual lives as well. It can love God (Deuteronomy 6:5), hate a brother (Leviticus 19:17), and even be searched by God (Jeremiah 17:10). We’re told to rend our hearts, not just our garments (Joel 2:13), emphasizing the importance of inner repentance. The heart can be like fire (Jeremiah 20:9) or stone (Ezekiel 36:26), repenting (II (Kings 23:2)5) or being incensed (Deuteronomy 19:6).
The rabbis weren't just making a list; they were pointing to something profound. Our inner life, the core of our being, is a complex and dynamic landscape. The heart isn’t just about love and happiness; it’s about the full spectrum of human experience. It's where we grapple with our fears, our desires, our hopes, and our failings.
The passage concludes by highlighting how the heart absorbs both matters of the world and God’s teachings. It absorbs fear (Jeremiah 32:40), but also thanks God (Psalms 111:1). It can covet (Proverbs 6:25) or be toughened (Proverbs 28:14). It deceives (Proverbs 12:20) and devises (Proverbs 6:14), but also absorbs mitzvot (commandments) – commandments (Proverbs 10:8).
Ultimately, this exploration of the heart in Kohelet Rabbah invites us to pay attention to our inner lives. It reminds us that our hearts are not static entities, but rather ever-changing landscapes that shape and are shaped by our experiences. It's a call to introspection, to understanding the intricate workings of our own hearts, and to striving to cultivate hearts that are open, compassionate, and attuned to the divine. So, what is your heart saying to you today?
“I have spoken with my heart, saying: Behold, I have amassed and added wisdom, beyond all who were before me over Jerusalem; my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge” (Ecclesiastes 1:16). “I have spoken with my heart” – the hearts sees, as it is stated: “My heart has seen much.” The heart hears, as it is stated; “Give your servant an understanding [shome’a]120Literally, hearing. heart” (I Kings 3:9). The heart speaks, as it is stated: “I have spoken with my heart.” The heart goes, as it is stated: “Didn’t my heart go?” (II Kings 5:26). The heart falls, as it is stated: “Let no man’s heart fall” (I Samuel 17:32). The heart stands, as it is stated: “Will your heart endure [haya’amod]”121Literally, stand. (Ezekiel 22:14). The heart rejoices, as it is stated: “Therefore, my heart rejoices” (Psalms 16:9). The heart cries out, as it is stated: Their heart cried out to the Lord” (Lamentations 2:18). The heart is consoled, as it is stated: “Speak to the heart of Jerusalem” (Isaiah 40:2).122This verse is preceded by: “Console, console My people, says your God.” The heart grieves, as it is stated: “Your heart shall not be grieved” (Deuteronomy 15:10). The heart hardens, as it is stated: “The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (Exodus 9:12). The heart softens [mitrakekh], as it is stated: “Let your heart not be faint” (Deuteronomy 20:3). The heart is saddened, as it is stated: “He was saddened in His heart” (Genesis 6:6). The heart fears, as it is stated: “From the fear of your heart” (Deuteronomy 28:67). The heart breaks, as it is stated: “A broken and contrite heart” (Psalms 51:19). The heart becomes conceited, as it is stated: “Your heart will grow haughty” (Deuteronomy 8:14). The heart is recalcitrant, as it is stated: “But this people had a revolting and rebellious heart” (Jeremiah 5:23). The heart fabricates, as it is stated: “The month that he fabricated from his heart” (I Kings 12:33). The heart contemplates,123Matters of stupidity as it is stated: “[I will have peace] though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart” (Deuteronomy 29:18). The heart overflows, as it is stated: “My heart overflows with goodly matter” (Psalms 45:2). The heart calculates [meḥashev], as it is stated: “Many are the thoughts [maḥshavot] in the heart of man” (Proverbs 19:21). The heart desires, as it is stated: “The desire of his heart You have granted him” (Psalms 21:3). The heart deviates, as it is stated: “Let your heart not turn aside to her ways” (Proverbs 7:25). The heart strays, as it is stated: “You shall not follow after your heart…[after which you stray]” (Numbers 15:39). The heart is sustained, as it is stated: “And sustain your heart” (Genesis 18:5). The heart is stolen, as it is stated: “Jacob stole the heart of Laban” (Genesis 31:20). The heart is humbled, as it is stated: “Perhaps then their hearts will be humbled” (Leviticus 26:41). The heart is enticed, as it is stated: “He spoke soothingly124Literally, “to the heart.” Shekhem was speaking to Dina and attempting to entice her to marry him. to the young woman” (Genesis 34:3). The heart goes astray, as it is stated: “My heart has gone astray” (Isaiah 21:4). The heart trembles, as it is stated: “For his heart was trembling” (I Samuel 4:13). The heart awakens, as it is stated: “I am asleep but my heart is awake” (Song of Songs 5:2). The heart loves, as it is stated: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:5). The heart hates, as it is stated: “Do not hate your brother in your heart” (Leviticus 19:17). The heart envies, as it is stated: “Let your heart not envy…” (Proverbs 23:17). The heart is searched, as it is stated: “I the Lord search the heart…” (Jeremiah 17:10). The heart is rent, as it is stated: “Rend your heart and not your garments” (Joel 2:13). The heart meditates, as it is stated: “The meditation of my heart will be understanding” (Psalms 49:4). The heart is like fire, as it is stated: “My heart will be like fire” (Jeremiah 20:9). The heart is like stone, as it is stated: “I will remove the heart of stone” (Ezekiel 36:26). The heart repents, as it is stated: “Who returned to the Lord with all his heart” (II Kings 23:25). The heart is incensed, as it is stated: “For his heart is incensed” (Deuteronomy 19:6). The heart dies, as it is stated: “His heart died within him” (I Samuel 25:37). The heart melts, as it is stated “The heart of the people melted” (Joshua 7:5). The heart absorbs matters, as it is stated: “These matters that I command you today shall be upon your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:6). The heart absorbs fear, as it is stated: “I will place My fear in their hearts” (Jeremiah 32:40). The heart thanks, as it is stated: “I will thank my Lord with all my heart” (Psalms 111:1). The heart covets, as it is stated: “Do not covet her beauty in your heart” (Proverbs 6:25). The heart is toughened, as it is stated: “And one who toughens his heart” (Proverbs 28:14). The heart becomes merry, as it is stated: “It was when their hearts were merry” (Judges 16:25). The heart deceives, as it is stated: “Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil” (Proverbs 12:20). The heart speaks from within, as it is stated: “Hannah was speaking in her heart” (I Samuel 1:13). The heart loves a bribe, as it is stated: “Your eyes and your heart [are only on your ill-gotten gain]” (Jeremiah 22:17). The heart writes matters, as it is stated: “Write them on the tablet of your heart” (Proverbs 3:3). The heart devises, as it is stated: “Duplicity is in his heart, he devises evil” (Proverbs 6:14). The heart absorbs mitzvot, as it is stated: “The wise of heart will grasp mitzvot (Proverbs 10:8). The heart acts with malice, as it is stated: “The malice of your heart deceived you” (Obadiah 1:3). The heart arranges, as it is stated: “To a person are the arrangements of the heart” (Proverbs 16:1). The heart glorifies, as it is stated: “Your heart has glorified you” (II Chronicles 25:19). That is, “I have spoken with my heart, saying: Behold, I have amassed…”
