What does בָּחַן · כִּלְיָה · לֵב mean in the Bible?
בָּחַן · כִּלְיָה · לֵב is a Hebrew phrase meaning "test kidneys and heart, examine inner person".
Hebrew · H974, H3629, H3820
בֹּחֵן כְּלָיוֹת וָלֵב
To test (especially metals); generally and figuratively, to investigate · a kidney (as an essential organ ); figuratively, the mind (as the interior self) · the heart ; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings , the will and even the intellect ; likewise for the centre of anything
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What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
בָּחַןH974to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively, to investigate
Pronunciationyiḇḥănû
Testing that reveals true quality through refinement; metaphorically, trial that exposes character or faith.
Open lexicon entry →כִּלְיָהH3629a kidney (as an essential organ ); figuratively, the mind (as the interior self)
Pronunciationkelayot
Kidneys as seat of inner emotions and moral consciousness, especially in covenantal loyalty and divine testing.
Open lexicon entry →לֵבH3820the heart ; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings , the will and even the intellect ; likewise for the centre of anything
Pronunciationlev
The seat of will, intellect, and emotion—the inner moral and spiritual center governing all human motivation and choice.
Open lexicon entry →What does בֹּחֵן כְּלָיוֹת וָלֵב (bochen kelayot valev) mean in the Bible?
בָּחַן · כִּלְיָה · לֵב is a Hebrew phrase meaning "test kidneys and heart, examine inner person".
Full entry for בֹּחֵן כְּלָיוֹת וָלֵב (H974, H3629, H3820) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H974, H3629, H3820?
H974, H3629, H3820 is connected to 656 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. test kidneys and heart, examine inner person
Source Gloss
test kidneys and heart, examine inner person
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms13
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense10×
Participle active1Chr 29:17 · Jer 11:20 · Jer 17:10 · Jer 20:124×
ImperfectJob 12:11 · Job 34:3 · Ps 11:4 · Ps 11:54×
PerfectMal 3:15 · Ps 17:32×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject1×
PerfectEzek 21:181×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action2×
ImperfectGen 42:15 · Job 34:362×
Word Origins
בֹּחֵן כְּלָיוֹת וָלֵב is a primitive root - no further derivation.