σπλάγχνον

σπλαγχνου, τό, and (only so in the N. T.) plural σπλάγχνα, σπλάγχνων, τά, Hebrew רַחֲמִים, bowels, intestines (the heart, lungs, liver, etc.);
a. properly: Acts 1:18 (2 Macc. 9:5f; 4 Macc. 5:29, and in Greek writings from Homer down).
b. in the Greek poets from Aeschylus down the bowels were regarded as the seat of the more violent passions, such as anger and love; but by the Hebrews as the seat of the tenderer affections, especially kindness, benevolence, compassion (cf. Lightfoot on Phm 1:8; Winers Grammar, 18); hence, equivalent to our heart (tender mercies, affections, etc. (cf. B. D. American edition under the word )): 1 Jn 3:17 (on which see κλείω); 2 Cor 6:12; Phm 2:1 (here G L T Tr WH εἰ τίς σπλάγχνα; Buttmann, 81 (71), cf. Green 109; Lightfoot at the passage); σπλάγχνα ἐλέους (genitive of quality (cf. Winers Grammar, 611 (568); so Test xii. Patr., test. Zab. §§ 7, 8)), a heart in which mercy resides (heart of mercy), Lk 1:78; also σπλάγχνα οἰκτιρμοῦ (Rec. οἰκτίρμων), Col 3:12; τά σπλάγχνα αὐτοῦ περισσοτέρως εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐστιν, his heart is the more abundantly devoted to you, 2 Cor 7:15; ἐπιποθῶ ὑμᾶς ἐν σπλάγχνοις Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, in the heart (R. V. tender mercies) of Christ, i. e. prompted by the same love as Christ Jesus, Phm 1:8; ἀναπαύειν τά σπλάγχνα τίνος, to refresh one's soul or heart, Phm 1:7, Phm 1:20; τά σπλάγχνα ἡμῶν, my very heart, i. e. whom I dearly love, Phm 1:12 (so Darius calls his mother and children his own bowels in Curt. 4, 14, 22. meum corculum, Plautus Cas. 4, 4, 14; meum cor, id. Poen. 1, 2, 154; (cf. Lightfoot on Philemon, at the passage cited)). The Hebrew רַחֲמִים is translated by the Sept. now ὀικιρμοι, Ps 24:6; Ps 39:12, now ἔλεος, Isa 47:6; once σπλάγχνα, Prov 12:10.