σπλάγχνον G4698
Inward parts, entrails; figuratively, deep affection, tender compassion, heartfelt mercy
In classical Greek this word denoted the visceral organs—heart, lungs, liver, kidneys—the parts reserved for sacrificers at the beginning of a feast. By the New Testament era it had become the premier expression for the deepest seat of human emotion, much as English speakers once located feeling in the 'bowels.' Paul writes of longing for the Philippians 'with the splanchna of Christ Jesus' (Phil 1:8), and the canticle of Zechariah celebrates God's 'splanchna of mercy' (Luke 1:78). Spanish 'entranas' and French 'entrailles' preserve this striking body-to-emotion transfer. Only once does the literal anatomical sense surface: in the grim account of Judas's death, where his body burst open and 'all his splanchna poured out' (Acts 1:18).
Senses
1. tender affection, compassion — Deep tender affection or compassion, understood as arising from the innermost parts of one's being. This metaphorical extension dominates the NT: Paul appeals to the Philippians 'by any splanchna and compassion' (Phil 2:1), confesses longing 'with the splanchna of Christ Jesus' (Phil 1:8), and tells the Corinthians that his own splanchna are wide open to them (2 Cor 6:12). Philemon's splanchna are refreshed by love (Phlm 1:7, 20). Spanish 'entranas' and German 'Inneres' both capture the visceral-to-emotional transfer that makes this word so vivid. 10×
AR["-أَحشاءَ","-أَحشائي","أَحشاءَ","أَحشاءَهُ","أَحشاؤُهُ","أَحشائِكُمْ","أَحْشاءٌ","أَحْشاءِ","أَحْشَاءِ"]·ben["অন্তর","অন্তরকে","অন্তরে","করুণাময়-হৃদয়","ভালোবাসা","ভালোবাসায়","হৃদয়"]·DE["Inneres","σπλάγχνα"]·EN["affections","compassion","compassions"]·FR["entrailles"]·heb["מֵעִים","מֵעֵי","מֵעָיו","רַחֲמִים","רַחֲמֵי"]·HI["अंतःकरण","अंतरात्मा","अंतरात्माओं","करुणा","दय","दिल","वतसलत"]·ID["belas kasihan","belas-kasihan","hati","hati-","kasih-sayang"]·IT["splagchna","viscere"]·jav["jeroaning-ati","manah","manah-","penggalih-welas-asih","sih-piwelas","welas-asih"]·KO["긍휼의-심장","내장에","내장이","마음들이","마음을","마음이","심장","심장과","심정-을","창자들-을"]·PT["entranhas","entranhas--"]·RU["внутренности","милосердие","милосердии","милосердию","сердца","сердцах","сердце","сердце -","сострадание"]·ES["entrañas"]·SW["huruma","matumbo","moyo","ya"]·TR["merhametli-yüreği","o-","sefkat","sefkatinde","yürekleri","yüreğim-","yüreğimi","yüreğini"]·urd["ترس","دردمندی","دردمندی-میں","دل","دلوں","شفقت"]
2. innards, intestines (literal) — The literal internal organs or entrails of the body. This older, anatomical meaning appears only in Acts 1:18, where Judas fell headlong, his body burst open, and all his splanchna spilled out. The gruesome physicality of this sole literal usage stands in stark contrast to the tender metaphorical sense that pervades the epistles. French 'entrailles' and Spanish 'entranas' are ambiguous in the same way as the Greek, covering both viscera and deep feeling. 1×
AR["أَحْشَائِهِ"]·ben["নাড়িভুঁড়ি"]·DE["σπλάγχνα"]·EN["innards"]·FR["entrailles"]·heb["מֵעָיו"]·ID["isi-perut"]·IT["viscere"]·jav["jeroan"]·KO["창자들-이"]·PT["entranhas"]·RU["внутренности"]·ES["entrañas"]·SW["matumbo"]·TR["onun"]·urd["انتڑیاں"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σπλάγχνον, τό, mostly in plural σπλάγχνα (σπλάγχανα Refs, inward parts, especially the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, which in sacrifices were reserved to be eaten by the sacrificers at the beginning of their feast (distinguished from ἔντερα, κοιλίη, Refs 5th c.BC+; σπλάγχνα πάσαντοRefs 8th c.BC+; δῶκε δ᾽ ἄρα σπλάγχνων μοίραςRefs 5th c.BC+: hence, sacrificial feast, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 any part of…