Reins

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Νεφρός (Strong'S #3510 — Noun Masculine — nephros — nef-ros' )

"a kidney" (Eng., "nephritis," etc.), usually in the plural, is used metaphorically of "the will and the affections,"  Revelation 2:23 , "reins" (cp.  Psalm 7:9;  Jeremiah 11:20;  17:10;  20:12 ). The feelings and emotions were regarded as having their seat in the "kidneys."

Morrish Bible Dictionary

The kidneys, used symbolically for the inward thoughts and feelings.  Psalm 7:9;  Psalm 16:7;  Psalm 26:2;  Psalm 139:13;  Proverbs 23:16;  Jeremiah 12:2;  Jeremiah 17:10;  Jeremiah 20:12;  Lamentations 3:13;  Revelation 2:23 . The word translated 'reins' in  Isaiah 11:5 is elsewhere translated 'loins.'

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Job 16:13 Psalm 139:13 Isaiah 11:5 Job 19:27 Psalm 7:9 Psalm 16:7 Psalm 26:2 Psalm 73:21 Jeremiah 11:20 Proverbs 23:16

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Job 16:13 (a) The word is used as a type of feelings, experiences, desires and thoughts. (See also  Psalm 7:9;  Psalm 16:7;  Psalm 26:2;  Proverbs 23:16;  Jeremiah 11:20;  Jeremiah 17:10;  Revelation 2:23).

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Kelayot . The "kidneys"; the supposed seat of the desires and affections ( Psalms 7:9;  Psalms 26:2;  Jeremiah 11:20;  Jeremiah 17:10;  Job 19:27). For "the loins" ( Halatsaim ),  Isaiah 11:5.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Reins. ( that is, Kidneys). In the ancient system of physiology, the kidneys were believed to be the seat of desire and longing, which accounts for their often being coupled, with the heart.  Psalms 7:9;  Psalms 26:2;  Jeremiah 11:20;  Jeremiah 17:10, etc.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n. pl.) The kidneys; also, the region of the kidneys; the loins.

(2): ( n. pl.) The inward impulses; the affections and passions; - so called because formerly supposed to have their seat in the part of the body where the kidneys are.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Psalm 7:9 16:7 26:2 139:13 Jeremiah 17:10

King James Dictionary

Reins n. plu. L. ren, renes.

1. The kidneys the lower part of the back. 2. In Scripture, the inward parts the heart, or seat of the affections and passions.  Psalms 73 .

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Or Kidneys The Hebrews often make the reins the seat of the affections, and ascribe to them knowledge, joy, pain, pleasure; hence in Scripture it is said that God searches the heart and tries the reins.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

REINS . See Kidneys.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

rānz ( כּליה , kilyāh  ; νεφρὸς , nephrós , words promiscuously translated "heart," "inward parts," "kidneys" or "reins." The latter word, which is derived from Latin " renes " through Old French " reins ", has given place in modern English to the word "kidneys" (see Skeat, Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language , 398). the Revised Version (British and American) has, however, retained the older word, at least in the margin, in all passages in which it is found in the King James Version): According to Hebrew psychology the reins are the seat of the deepest emotions and affections of man, which God alone can fully know. Thus the Revised Version (British and American) has substituted "heart" for "reins" in the text of   Job 19:27;  Psalm 7:9;  Psalm 16:7;  Psalm 26:2;  Psalm 73:21;  Proverbs 23:16;  Jeremiah 11:20;  Jeremiah 12:2;  Jeremiah 17:10;  Jeremiah 20:12; the translation "inward parts" is found but once ( Psalm 139:13 ). In one passage the King James Version has translated the Hebrew ḥālāc ("loins") with "reins" ( Isaiah 11:5 ), where the Revised Version (British and American) has rightly substituted "waist" (which see). The Greek word nephros (which is etymologically allied to the Middle English nere , Get. Niere  ; see Skeat, ibid, 231, under the word "Kidney") is found in 1 Macc 2:24;  Revelation 2:23 . See Kidneys .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

a name for the kidneys, derived from the Latin renes, and in our English Bible employed in those passages of the Old Test. in which the ierm for kidneys ( כְּלָיוֹת , Kelayoth ) is used metaphorically, i.e. except in the Pentateuch and in  Isaiah 34:6, where this word is rendered "kidneys." In the ancient system of physiology the kidneys, from the sensitiveness of that part of the person, were believed to be the seat of desire and longing, which accounts for their often being coupled with the heart ( Psalms 7:9;  Psalms 26:2;  Jeremiah 11:20;  Jeremiah 17:10,: etc.). (See Kidneys).

The word "reins" is once used ( Isaiah 11:5) as the equivalent of חֲלָצָיַם , Chalatsayim, elsewhere translated "loins" (q.v.).