The Heart of the Bible

How Autonomic Medicine Enriches the Narrative

The Hebrew word “lev” appears hundreds of times in the Hebrew Bible and is typically translated as “heart.” But “lev” carries a far richer meaning than the English word suggests -- encompassing mind, will, emotion, and the innermost core of a person.

This book examines how “lev” is used across the biblical text, drawing on insights from a Dead Sea scroll and other ancient sources. It reveals how the heart in the Hebrew Bible is not merely a physical organ but a locus of consciousness, intention, and moral decision-making.

By bringing the lens of autonomic medicine to these ancient texts, the book uncovers surprising connections between scripture and science. The autonomic nervous system -- which governs involuntary functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and gut motility -- provides a framework for understanding biblical descriptions of fear, courage, grief, and joy in a new light.