Spiritual Meaning of Organs in Scripture: What the Bible Teaches
- Beata
- Mar 22
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 24
Have you ever wondered about the spiritual meaning of organs in Scripture? Beyond their physiological functions, our internal organs hold deep symbolic significance in Hebrew thought.
Each organ reveals a unique aspect of our spiritual life—our emotions, conscience, strength, and will. Let’s journey through the body and soul together to discover what the Bible teaches us about the heart, kidneys, liver, and more—and how these symbols can illuminate our faith and daily walk with God.
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Spiritual Meaning of Organs in Scripture: What the Bible Teaches
Let’s explore this fascinating symbolism of what the Bible say about our internal organs together.
The Liver – The Seat of Emotions (Kaved – כָּבֵד)
In Scripture, the liver is often associated with intense emotions like sorrow and anger. Lamentations 2:11 paints a powerful picture: "My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within, my liver is poured out on the ground..." The liver, being the heaviest organ, is linked to emotional weight.
In the Book of Tobit, the liver of a fish is used as a remedy against spiritual affliction (Tobit 6:7-8). This resonates with St. Hildegard of Bingen’s view that physical health and emotions are deeply intertwined. How often do we carry unprocessed grief within us, letting it weigh down our souls?
The Kidneys – Guardians of Conscience (Kelayot – כְּלָיוֹת)
In biblical imagery, the kidneys are seen as the place where our deepest thoughts and emotions reside. Psalm 73:21 says, "When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a brute beast before You." The Hebrew word for kidneys (kelayot) is also used metaphorically to mean “mind” or “inner being.”
Jeremiah 17:10 declares that God examines the heart and kidneys, showing that He not only sees our actions but understands the hidden motives behind them. Jung’s concept of the shadow self aligns with this—our kidneys, like our subconscious, reveal what we try to suppress.
The Bones – Strength and Fragility (Atzmot – עֲצָמוֹת)
Bones represent both resilience and vulnerability. Proverbs 17:22 tells us, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Our emotions don’t just exist in the mind; they manifest physically.
Jung believed that our body holds the memories of our past experiences, shaping our posture, tension, and even pain. St. Hildegard also wrote about the connection between spiritual peace and physical well-being. What is your body trying to tell you about your inner state?
The Heart – The Center of Will and Desire (Lev – לֵב)
The heart in Scripture is not just the seat of emotions—it represents the core of our identity, our thoughts, and our decisions.
Proverbs 4:23 warns us, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
Yet, as Jeremiah 17:9 states, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" It’s a reminder that self-awareness and discernment are lifelong journeys. How do we align our hearts with God’s wisdom?
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Personal Reflection – A Journal Exercise
Liver: What emotions am I carrying that need release?
Kidneys: What hidden fears or desires influence my decisions?
Bones: How is my body reflecting my inner struggles?
Heart: What is the deepest longing of my heart today?
🌸🌿Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Gift of My Body
Inspired by Psalm 139
O Lord, You have searched me and known me—every cell, every thought, every silent ache. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are Your works—my very being declares it.
Thank You for the gift of my liver, which filters pain and bitterness I do not always see. Cleanse me, Lord, from what no longer serves life. Let joy and trust flow freely again.
Thank You for my kidneys, the quiet keepers of my deepest desires and fears. Search me, O God, and know my anxious thoughts. Purify what is hidden; align my longings with Your will.
Thank You for my bones, the frame that holds me when I feel like falling apart. When I am weary, strengthen me from within. Let your truth be marrow in my soul.
Thank You for my heart, where every longing, love, and ache finds its home. You knit me together in secret—knit my desires now with Yours, that I may love as You love.
O God of wholeness, Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book before one of them came to be.
Heal me, hold me, guide me—not only in body, but in the mystery of who I am. For I belong to You, fully and forever.
Amen.
🌸🌿Let’s start a conversation!
If this reflection resonated with you, feel free to like, comment, or share this post.
How do you see the connection between body and soul in your own life?💚
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