GREEK · G7632
ἡνία
hēnia — reins
sandal-thongg, reigns, bridle
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY
Reins
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.
HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3629
כִּלְיָה
kil.yah — kidney
1) kidneys 1a) of physical organ (lit.) 1b) of seat of emotion and affection (fig.) 1c) of sacrificial animals 2) (TWOT) reins
26 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G3510
νεφρός
nephros — mind
νεφρός, -οῦ, ὁ [in LXX for כִּלְיָה, Exo.29:13, al.; metaphorically, Psa.7:9 16:7 26:2, Wis.1:6, al. ;] a kidney; pl., the kidneys, reins; metaphorically, of the will and affections: ν. καί καρδίαι (thoughts), Rev.2:23.† (AS)
1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →GREEK · G7633
ἡνίοχος
hēniochos — a charioteer
1. one who holds the reins, a driver, charioteer , opposite to παραιβάτης (the warrior by his side), (Iliad by Homer) 2. generally a chariot-driver , as in the games, (Pindar), attic:—;in (Theognis Elegiacus), a rider. 3. metaphorically a guide, governor , (Pindar) (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G8514
ὀμφαλός
omphalos — anavel
1. the navel , Lat. umbilicus, (Iliad by Homer), etc. 2. anything central (like a navel) : 3. the knob or boss in the middle of the shield, Lat. umbo, (Iliad by Homer) 4. a button or knob on the horse's yoke to fasten the reins to, (Iliad by Homer) 5. in plural the knobs at each end of the stick round which books were rolled , Lat. umbilici, (Lucian) 6. the centre or middle point , as the island of Calypso is the ὀμφαλός of the sea, (Odyssey by Homer); and Delphi (or rather a round stone in the Delphic temple) was called ὀμφαλός as marking the middle point of Earth , (Pindar), etc. (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G9400
τανύω
tanuō — to stretch
1. to stretch, strain, stretch out , (Iliad by Homer); τ. βιόν to string a bow, (Odyssey by Homer); and in Mid., τόξον τανυσσάμενος having strung his bow, (Iliad by Homer):—;of putting the strings to a harp, ἐτάνυσσε χορδήν (Odyssey by Homer); τ. κανόνα to push the weaving-bar tight , i. e. to weave, (Iliad by Homer); ὅπως τανύσηι when he reins in [the horses, 8th/7th c.BC]; ἐπὶ Ἀκράγαντι τανύσσας (i.e. ὀϊστούς) having aimed them, (Pindar):—;Pass., γναθμοὶ τάνυσθεν (for ἐτανύσθησαν) the hollow cheeks filled out , (Odyssey by Homer); to run at full stretch , of horses galloping, (Homer) 2. metaphorically to strain, make more intense , μάχην (Iliad by Homer); ἔριδα πολέμοιο πεῖραρ τάνυσσαν strained the tug of war, (Iliad by Homer) 3. to stretch out, lay along, lay , (Homer); τ. τινὰ ἐν κονίηις, ἐπὶ γαίηι to lay one in the dust, stretch him at his length , (Homer):—;Pass. to lie stretched out , (Homer): to extend , (Odyssey by Homer); ἐπὶ χθονὶ κεῖτο τανυσθείς (Iliad by Homer):—;also, τρίβος τετάνυστο the path stretched away , (Theocritus Poeta Bucolicus) (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G9407
τείνω
teinō — to stretch out
1. to stretch by main force, to stretch to the uttermost , τόξον ἔτεινεν stretched it to its full , (Iliad by Homer); ἐξ ἄντυγος ἡνία τείνας having tied the reins tight to the chariot-rail, (Iliad by Homer):—;Pass., [ ἱμὰς] τέτατο the strap was made tight , (Iliad by Homer); ἱστία τέτατο the sails were stretched , (Odyssey by Homer):—;absolute, μὴ τείνειν ἄγαν not to strain the cord too tight, (Sophocles Tragicus) 2. metaphorically, ἶσον τείνειν πολέμου τέλος to strain the even tug of war, (Iliad by Homer):—;Pass., ἐπὶ ἶσα μάχη τέτατο (Iliad by Homer); ἵπποισι τάθη δρόμος their pace was strained to the utmost , (Iliad by Homer): also, to exert oneself, be anxious , (Pindar) 3. to stretch out, spread , Ζεὺς λαίλαπα τείνει (Iliad by Homer); νὺξ τέταται βροτοῖσιν night is spread over mankind, (Odyssey by Homer); so, of light, τέτατο φάος (Sophocles Tragicus); of sound, ἀμφὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐτάθη πάταγος (Sophocles Tragicus) 4. to aim at, direct towards a point, properly from the bow, τείνειν βέλη (Sophocles Tragicus): then, metaphorically, τ. φόνον εἴς τινα to aim death to one, design it for him, (Euripides); τ. λόγον εἴς τινα (Plato Philosophus) 5. to stretch out in length , (Herdotus Historicus):—;Pass. to lie out at length, lie stretched , ταθεὶς ἐπὶ γαίηι (Iliad by Homer); ταθεὶς ἐνὶ δεσμῶι lying stretched in chains, (Odyssey by Homer) 6. to stretch or hold out, present , τινὰ ἐπὶ σφαγάν (Euripides):—;Mid., τείνεσθαι χέρε to stretch out one's hands, etc., (Theocritus Poeta Bucolicus) 7. to extend, lengthen , of Time, (Aeschulus Tragicus); τείνειν λόγον (Aeschulus Tragicus) 8. intransitive, of geographical position, to stretch out or extend , (Herdotus Historicus):—;of Time, τείνοντα χρόνον lengthening time, (Aeschulus Tragicus) 9. to exert oneself, struggle , ἐναντία τινί (Plato Philosophus): to hurry on, hasten , (Euripides) 10. to extend to, reach , Lat. pertinere, ἐπὶ τὴν ψυχήν (Plato Philosophus) 11. to tend, refer, belong to , Lat. spectare ad, τείνει ἐς σέ it refers to, concerns you, (Herdotus Historicus), etc.; ποῖ τείνε; to what tends it? (Plato Philosophus); ἐγγύς τι τείνειν τοῦ θανάτου (Plato Philosophus) (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →Historical dictionary entry
The kidneys, the supposed seat of the desires and affections; used metaphorically for “heart.” The “reins” and the “heart” are often mentioned together, as denoting the whole moral constitution of man (Ps. 7:9; 16:7; 26:2; 139:13; Jer. 17:10, etc.).
Scripture references
Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.