Lebba is the heart, the whole inner person, with its mind, will, and affection. In the Gospels it is where a person decides what to love and what to treasure. The same root gives a verb, etlabbab, take heart.
| Form | Pattern | Transliteration | Script | Standard | Qala rendering |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noun | base noun + -a | lebba | לבא ܠܶܒ݁ܳܐ | heart | heart: the whole inner person |
| Noun + suffix | possessive endings | lebak, lebkun | — | your heart | your heart (sing., pl., Matthew 22:37; 6:21) |
| Verb (Ethpaal) | denominal, from "heart" | etlabbab (impv. pl. etlabw) | אתלבבו ܐܶܬ݂ܠܰܒ݈݁ܒ݂ܘ | take heart! | take heart |
In the Gospels the noun gives rise to one verb, the Ethpaal etlabbab, to take heart or be encouraged (Matthew 14:27; John 16:33).
Put your hand on your chest for three breaths, say lebba, and ask yourself where you stood today. If shame comes up, say etlabbab, take heart, aloud.
The Hebrew cognate is lev / levav (לֵב, לֵבָב), the word used in Deuteronomy 6:5, which Matthew 22:37 quotes.