Our Emotional Center; Examining our Reins; Hearts and Kidneys

Where is the seat of our emotions? Some would say the heart, some would say the head, but God says something different. We all have our own perspectives on life, and emotions ebb and flow depending on events and activities. The great quest of adulthood is to be able to control our own emotions. I say “our own” because many people want to control other peoples’ emotions and not their own. Our endeavor is to flow in the good emotions, and learn how to stir up positive emotions within ourselves while controlling negative emotions and not allowing bad emotions to overrule our behaviors. When we learn to handle our emotions we become better at logical thought. Emotions don’t spring up by themselves, they are fed by thoughts. Sometimes those thoughts originate in our hearts, sometimes those thoughts originate in our heads. Either way, if we experience an event that scares or traumatizes us our emotional response will cause a series of physical reactions. If we experience negative physical reactions we have to learn to not let them repeat themselves every time we are scared. That conditioning process is what we want to achieve so that we are not shaken or afraid all the time. The Bible tells us our emotions are rooted in the kidneys, which seems odd. Let’s explore.

David wrote that Yahweh examines the hearts and kidneys. We know that the heart has a mind with thoughts and intents. We also know that the brain has thoughts, but the heart is the thought center of the soul. Located just above the kidneys are the adrenal glands. The adrenals produce hormones that help control heart rate and blood pressure, as well as stress reactions. In a time of great fear one may lose the contents of one’s bladder or bowels. Anxiety as well as fatigue are adrenal reactions, both of which produce hormones that affect our emotions. If we understand that, we can see what Yahweh was telling us. The process of an event creates emotions which can either fester, be discarded, or escalate. Yahweh examines the kidneys, which is a very close look inside. Why? To determine what is going on, what emotions are there, are they correct emotions or incorrect emotions.    

Psalm 7:9G4931Finish off entirely G1211indeed G4189the wickedness G268of sinners!G2532 AndG2720you shall straighten G1342the just, G2082.1examining G2588hearts G2532and G3510kidneys, G3588O G2316God, G1346justly

2588LSJ Gloss: καρδία the heart

Dodson: καρδία the heart, inner life, intention lit: the heart; mind, character, inner self, will, intention, center.

Strong's: καρδία the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle
Derivation: prolonged from a primary κάρ (Latin cor, "heart"); KJV Usage: (+ broken-)heart(-ed).

Thayer:

1) the heart
1a) that organ in the animal body which is the centre of the circulation of the blood, and hence was regarded as the seat of physical life
1b) denotes the centre of all physical and spiritual life
2a) the vigour and sense of physical life
2b) the centre and seat of spiritual life
2b1) the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours
2b2) of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence
2b3) of the will and character
2b4) of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions
1c) of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimate

καρδία kardia kar-dee'-ah Prolonged from a primary κάρ kar (Latin cor , “heart”); the heart, that is, (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle KJV Usage: (+ broken-) heart (-ed).

3510  LSJ Gloss: νεφρόςthe kidneys

Dodson: νεφρός a kidney as a general emotional center a kidney (as a general emotional center), the reins.

Strong's: νεφρός a kidney (plural), i.e. (figuratively) the inmost mind Derivation: of uncertain affinity; KJV Usage: reins.

Thayer:

1) a kidney
2) kidneys, loins
2a) used of the inmost thoughts, feelings, purposes, of the soul

νεφρός nephros nef-ros' Of uncertain affinity; a kidney (plural), that is, (figuratively) the inmost mind KJV Usage: reins.

We have a mind of the heart and a mind of the brain, but kidneys are the emotional center. We have thoughts and intents in our heart and thoughts in our brain, but we have sentiments in our kidneys, including our adrenals. Moses wrote about the kidneys as part of ritual sacrifice of animals. In fact the Torah uses the word kidneys for animal sacrifice only. Translators wanted to differentiate between kidneys in animal sacrifice and kidneys as the center of human emotion. They decided to use the word reins. Reins means “kidneys”; the seat of the feelings or passions (Merriam Webster). The ancient writers knew the center of emotions as the kidneys, but years later the brain became a more popular organ so translators used kidneys as mind. We have probably never thought of the kidneys as anything more than two little filters, but the ancients’ believed that sickness and disease of the kidneys, and kidney stones were due to bad emotions.

David writes about his reins/kidneys correcting or humbling him.

Psalm 16:7G2127I will bless G3588the G2962lord, G3588the G4907.3one bringing understanding to G1473me; G2089but still G1161 G2532also G2193until G3571night G3811[²corrected G1473³me G3588 G3510¹my kidneys].G1473

Psalm 16:7 I will bless the Lord who has instructed me; my reins too have chastened me even till night. 8 I foresaw the Lord always before my face; for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart rejoiced an my tongue exulted; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 10 because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt fill me with joy with thy countenance: at thy right hand there are delights for ever.

David gained understanding and his emotional center corrected him as he saw Yahweh. David’s deep feelings connected with Yahweh and that brought David the realization that Yahweh was always with him.  David asks for Yahweh to set his kidneys on fire.  

Psalm 26:2G1381TryG1473me,G2962O lord,G2532andG3985testG1473me!G4448Set on fireG3588 G3510my kidneysG1473 G2532andG3588 G2588my heart!G1473

These are strong emotions. These are good emotions. Having an emotional fire for Yahweh has no down side. This is the place of gut-wrenching or gut-longing emotions.  We want a fire for Yahweh in our inner most being. Not just a head knowledge, and not just a heart knowledge. This is not a fire of the heart but of the very center of our hormonal being. The place where fear can knot us up or peace can calm us down. Asaph says that when his heart was inflamed that his kidneys were changed. What he is saying is that when his thoughts in his soul got excited his emotional state changed.

Psalm 73: 21G3754ForG1572[²was kindledG3588 G2588¹my heart],G1473 G2532andG3588 G3510my kidneysG1473 G241.2were changed

This tells us that the way to positive emotions, or emotions that are good, are by stirring up the heart’s thoughts. That would include praising, worshipping, and other forms of speaking out, such as prayer, rhema, logos, laleo, or grapho. The place we feed our heart and mind is the place that changes our emotions.

Ezra has a great example of travailing in his kidneys for the people of Israel.

2 Esd 5:32-34 And said unto me, Hear me, and I will instruct thee; hearken to the thing that I say, and I shall tell thee more.33 And I said, Speak on, my Lord. Then said he unto me, Thou art sore troubled in mind for Israel's sake: lovest thou that people better than he that made them? 34 And I said, No, Lord: but of very grief have I spoken: for my reins pain me every hour, while I labour to comprehend the way of the most High, and to seek out part of his judgment.KJV

When we grieve and lament in our prayer time for someone or something we are pained in our reins/kidneys. Ezra is pained for Israel’s people, but struggles to understand the Most High. While these emotions are not desirable, they are part of a deep longing for heavenly matters on the earth. An understanding of times and seasons and ages helps us recognize our time on the earth is actually short in comparison to eternity. But the heavy burden of suffering on the earth drains our emotions.

Solomon compares the unrighteous to the righteous and gives us another clue to our emotions residing in our kidneys. Because God sees the reins of all people the unrighteous do not skip judgment. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit only resides among and in the righteous. This is an emotion changer as well.

Wisdom 1:4-7For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin.5 For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in.6 For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words: for God is witness of his reins, and a true beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.7 For the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice. KJV

People who are malicious, sinful, deceitful, stupid, unrighteous, or blasphemers do not have the Holy Spirit, and therefore their inner being is in emotional turmoil. They do not have the knowledge of the Holy Spirit’s voice. Remember, the knowledge of the heart and brain feed the kidneys. If the head thinks fear, or inspires evil behaviors the emotions will be unrestrained and dark. With the Holy Spirit residing in one’s heart, the emotions of the individual change for the better because the knowledge of the Most High fills the individual.

Jeremiah notes that Yahweh tries the kidneys and the hearts. It is not enough that we think correctly, we have to feel correctly. This is the basis of becoming mature. Adulthood takes work.

Jeremiah 11: 20G2962O lord G3588of the G1411forces, G2919judging G1342just things, G1381trying G3510the kidneys G2532and G2588the hearts,G1492may I behold G3588 G3844[² exacted by G1473³you G1557¹ the punishment] G1722on G1473them. G3754For G4314to G1473you G601I revealed G3588 G1345my right action. G1473

It isn’t enough to ask Yahweh to test or examine our heart, mind, or soul. We also need to examine or test our kidneys. We humans may have become very lax regarding the restraint of our emotions. We may never have been told that we are to control our emotions. We may never have been told not to act on emotions. These are all life skills that we will be judged on when Jesus gives out rewards. If we master this we may very well be rewarded as compared to losing rewards for unrestrained emotions. Jeremiah makes a very good point here. He says Yahweh is close to their (Israel’s) mouth, but far from their kidneys.

Jeremiah 12: 2G5452You planted G1473them, G2532and G4492they were rooted. G5043.1They produced children, G2532and G4160they produced G2590fruit. G1451[³near G1510.2.2²are G1473¹You] G3588 G4750their mouth,G1473 G2532andG4206at a distanceG575fromG3588 G3510their kidneys.G1473

Jeremiah 12:1 Righteous art thou, O Lord, that I may make my defence to thee, yea, I will speak to thee of judgments. Why is it that the way of ungodly men prospers? that all that deal very treacherously are flourishing? 2 Thou hast planted them, and they have taken root; they have begotten children, and become fruitful; thou art near to their mouth, and far from their reins. 3 But thou, Lord, knowest me; thou hast proved my heart before thee; purify them for the day of their slaughter. 4 How long shall the land mourn, and the grass of the field wither, for the wickedness of them, that dwell in it? the beasts and birds are utterly destroyed; because the people said, God shall not see our ways.

In context, Jeremiah is frustrated that the ungodly prosper. We have many people within the Body of Christ that fit this description. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing, the false pastors and the false prophets. They speak words that sound Godly, they inspire the masses with false ideas and prophecies and people are fooled. Their kidneys are far from Yahweh. Their emotions are far from true, right, and honest. We have all heard stories of the “high and mighty” Christian Leaders who in private circles lose their mind to anger, rage, hostility, and the like. Uncontrolled and unbridled emotions spewed like hot lava upon the innocent servants. During our elections in the USA we saw Christian Leaders lining up for one candidate or another. We witnessed some who truly lost their minds due to their emotions. They attempted to guide the Body of Christ based upon their own emotional experiences and emotional traumas. Are their emotions far from Yahweh? Isn’t this what Jeremiah is lamenting? The wicked religious leaders who seem to prosper, leading the masses astray to the end that they do not believe. Yahweh sees them. Yahweh examines our kidneys.  

Jeremiah 17: 10G1473I G2962the lord G2082.1am examining G2588hearts, G1381trying G3510kidneys, G3588 G1325to give G1538to each G2596according to G3588 G3598his ways, G1473 G2532and G2596according to G3588the G2590fruits G3588 G2006.1of their practices. G1473

Jeremiah 17: 9 The heart is deep beyond all things, and it is the man, and who can know him? 10 I the Lord try the hearts, and prove the reins, to give to every one according to his ways, and according to the fruits of his devices.

Here Jeremiah points out our rewards or judgments are based on the trying of our emotions. Yahweh examines the heart, the kidneys, and the fruit that is produced. Yikes, that means we really are required to control our emotional state.

Jeremiah 20: 12G2962O lord, G1381trying G1342just things, G4920perceiving G3510the kidneys G2532and G2588heart; G1492may I behold G3588the G3844[²by G1473³you G1557¹punishment] G1722on G1473them. G3754For G4314to G1473you G601I uncovered G3588 G626.1my pleas in defense. G1473

Jeremiah 20:11 But the Lord was with me as a mighty man of war: therefore they persecuted me, but could not perceive anything against me; they were greatly confounded, for they perceived not their disgrace, which shall never be forgotten.

12 O Lord, that provest just deeds, understanding the reins and hearts, let me see thy vengeance upon them: for to thee I have revealed my cause. 13 Sing ye to the Lord, sing praise to him: for he has rescued the soul of the poor from the hand of evil-doers.

It is evident that Jeremiah, who they called the “weeping Prophet”, suffered a lot of injustice from others. He wanted to see Yahweh’s vengeance upon the people who were selling out Israel. Isn’t that what happens today, political and religious leaders selling out the people and the one lonely Prophet who speaks the opposite is the one who is attacked. But Jeremiah reminds the people to sing praises because Yahweh rescues the souls of the poor.

Lamentations 3:13G1521He brought G1722[³into G3588 G3510⁴my kidneys G1473 G2447¹ the poison G5329.1²from his quivers]. G1473

Lamentations 3:12 HE. He has bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. 13 He has caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins. 14 I became a laughing-stock to all my people; and their song all the day.

Jeremiah again is filled with sorrow over the way evil people treat him. He feels as if he has been hit with poison arrows into the center of his emotions. Job is much like Jeremiah in his misery. We can see the root of depression here as Job responds to his miserable comforters. 

Job 16:13G2944They encircled G1473me G3057with lances, G906casting G1519into G3510my kidney, G1473 G3756not G5339sparing; G1632they poured out G1519[²onto G3588³the G1093⁴earth G3588 G5521¹my bile]. G1473

Job 16:12 For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly. 13 When I was at peace he distracted me: he took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: he set me up as a mark. 14 They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing me they poured out my gall upon the ground. 15 They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in their might. 16  They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground. 17 My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids. 18 Yet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

What Job and Jeremiah both show us is that emotions are a part of life; sorrow and sadness happen to everyone. Injustice causes emotions that can fester and become negative or bad emotional responses. Our job is to reign in our emotions, put knowledge of the Most High into our hearts, and as we speak and recite that knowledge, our emotions will change for the better. We all know people who live in a state of anger. They seem to always be mad about something or some perceived wrong. Sometimes those people conspire to get back at, or harm, others. This is not the way we are to live. Yahweh is the one who will avenge us, even if it is not in this lifetime but in the next age. We have to learn to let go of negative emotions and fears. If we are afraid that we won’t get justice because Yahweh doesn’t see us, we are sorely mistaken. Yahweh examines our kidneys, he examines everyone’s kidneys. Jesus has not forgotten any of us. In fact, he is keeping score and will reward us accordingly. The negative emotions in our kidneys is a symptom of not trusting Him.

Think about Jeremiah and Job. Both were treated unjustly or unfairly. Jeremiah was a Prophet who kept warning the people, the religious leaders, and the political leaders. They mocked him, scorned him, and threw him into a pit/cistern of dung or mud (Jeremiah 38:6). All Jeremiah did was to speak for Yahweh. The people however, were not convinced that he spoke for Yahweh. Job never sinned. But on the day the sons of God met on the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north, to give account of the things on the earth, the satan accused Job before the throne of God. God showed off Job to the satan and the satan stated that Job would curse God if he didn’t have a hedge around him. Job was attacked but never cursed God. Job lamented over his situation as he felt he was innocent of wrong doing. He was innocent of wrong doing. We can see that there is no such thing as “fair” or “fairness” in this world. Just as Jesus (who was sinless) paid the price and died for all of our sin, there is no such thing as “fair”. Some people live seemingly easy lives and some live hard lives. Either way, our emotional state, our kidneys, are examined. Being sad for things that happen is not wrong unless one wallows in it longer than they should. What is worse is to act out because of, or by way of, our emotions.  If we keep them in check and stir up our hearts in the knowledge of Yahweh, we can change our emotions and feelings. 

Jesus says to the church at Thyatira that he is searching the kidneys and the hearts. Jesus is searching, examining the emotions and our thoughts and intents. Jesus is watching. He sees, he knows, you cannot hide, you cannot make excuses. Have you been treated as badly without cause as Jeremiah or Job? We will have no excuse for acting poorly, our emotional state has to be balanced with our heart knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Rev 2: 23G2532And G3588 G5043[²her children G1473 G615¹I will kill] G1722by G2288plague; G2532and G1097they shall know G3956in all G3588the G1577assemblies G3754that G1473I G1510.2.1am G3588the one G2045searching G3510the kidneys G2532and G2588hearts; G2532and G1325I will give G1473to you G1538each G2596according to G3588 G2041your works. G1473

I’m pretty sure that this is not a popular sermon, telling people that Jesus is watching us and he knows our emotional state as well as our heart knowledge. But in life, Jesus gave us many warnings that we will be disliked, hated, and treated poorly. Be blessed and rejoice because our reward is rich and abundant in heaven. 

Luke 6:22-23 Blessed (happy — with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition — and to be envied) are you when people despise (hate) you, and when they exclude and excommunicate you [as disreputable] and revile and denounce you and defame and cast out and spurn your name as evil (wicked) on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice and be glad at such a time and exult and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is rich and great and strong and intense and abundant in heaven; for even so their forefathers treated the prophets. AMP

Here is one remedy to those who hate us, we should love them. That takes our heart and mind to force our kidneys into producing what are good and right feelings.

Luke 6:27-28 But I say to you who are listening now to Me: [in order to heed, make it a practice to] love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred, 28 Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God's blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you]. AMP

Love is one of those deep rooted emotions in our kidneys. It doesn’t spring up in these type situations naturally. Love springs up naturally from our inner most being when we are happy with people we love, in situations that are good. But when things go wrong and people hate us and we have been mistreated, we have to take authority over our emotions to walk in love.

1 John 3:13-16 Do not be surprised and wonder, brethren, that the world detests and pursues you with hatred. 14 We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is held and kept continually) in [spiritual] death. 15 Anyone who hates (abominates, detests) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding (persevering) within him. 16 By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him]. AMP

Think about this, bad feelings and emotions are poison to our bodies. We die a spiritual death. We have to love ourselves enough to stir up our own emotions in a positive way, praising, worshipping, and speaking out (laleo, logos, rhema, or grapho). We have the power to control our emotions. This does not mean we will never be sad or grieve, or travail over someone or something. It does mean that we have the choice to control or not control our emotional responses and our emotional condition. Our kidneys are far more important than we have ever realized.