A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY

Affection

FREE DAILY DEVOTIONAL

A little Scripture and hope in your inbox.

Get a short, Scripture-centered devotional and a practical step for your day. Read examples first.

Free. Confirm by email before receiving devotionals. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy.

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

GREEK · G4698

σπλάγχνον

splagchnon — affection/entrails

σπλάγχνον, -ου, τό mostly (in NT always) in pl., σπλάγχνα, -ων, τά, [in LXX: Pro.12:10 (רַחַם, elsewhere rendered by οἰκτιρμοί, Psa.25:6 40:12 and by ἔλεος, Isa.47:6), Pro.26:22 (בֶּטֶן), Wis.10:5, Sir.30:7, 2Ma.9:5 (6), al. ;] the inward parts (heart, liver, lungs, etc.; Lat. viscera): Act.1:18. Metaphorical, of the seat of the feelings and of the feelings themselves (in Gk. poets, of anger, anxiety, etc.), the heart, affections (the characteristic LXX and NT reference of the word to feelings of kindness, benevolence and pity, is found in π.; see MM, xxiii; cf. Lft. on Php.1:8): 2Co.6:12 7:15, Phm 7 12 20, 1Jn.3:17; σ. οἰκτιρμοῦ, Col.3:12; σ. καὶ οἰκτιρμοὶ, Php.2:1; σ. ἐλέους θεοῦ; ἡμῶν, Luk.1:78; σ. Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, Php.1:8.† (AS)

11 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

Historical dictionary entry

Feeling or emotion. Mention is made of “vile affections” (Rom. 1:26) and “inordinate affection” (Col. 3:5). Christians are exhorted to set their affections on things above (Col. 3:2). There is a distinction between natural and spiritual or gracious affections (Ezek. 33:32).

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Scripture cited by this entry (KJV)

Read the quoted verses in their chapters to evaluate the historical dictionary references.

Romans 1:26

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Colossians 3:5

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Colossians 3:2

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Affection in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →