I should not have thought it necessary to have offered a single observation on this word, considered in the general acceptation of it, for every one cannot but know its obvious meaning. But it may be proper, notwithstanding, to observe, that as in its literal sense, the bowels mean the entrails, so when used figuratively, it refers to the heart and the affections. Hence, it is said of the patriarch Joseph, that at beholding his brother, "his bowels did yearn upon him." (Gen. xl3: 30.) And the Lord himself is represented as expressinghistenderness for Ephraim raider the same similitude; "Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still; therefore, my bowels are troubled for him. I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord." (Jer. xxxi. 20.) But when the word is spoken in reference to the person of Christ in his human nature, here it is not figuratively used, but literally; and the meaning of it is uncommonly blessed and sweet. If the reader will turn to the fortieth Psalm, and eighthverse, he will find Jesus thus speaking by the spirit of prophecy, "I delight to do thy will, O my God! yea, thy law is within my heart." The margin of the Bible renders it, within my bowels, meaning, that so perfectly holy and pure was the human nature of Christ, that the law of his Father was incorporated in his very being; an inwrought holiness mixed up and becoming his person and his existence. What a precious blessed view doth it afford of the Lord Jesus! And what I beg the reader also particularly to remark, thispurity, this holiness of the Lord Jesus in our nature, is, to all intents and purposes, that holiness in which JEHOVAH beholds his church in Jesus. This, I believe, is not so generally understood nor considered by the faithful as it ought; but it is what the Scriptures of God, in every part, warrant. Jesus becoming our Surety is expressly said to have been made both sin and a curse for his redeemed, that "they might be made the righteousness God in him." (2 Cor. v. 21. Gal. 3: 13.) And what a blessedness is there contained in thisone view of the completeness of the church in Jesus? So that, in the very moment that the child of God feels the workings of corruption within him, and is groaning under a body of sin and death, which he carries about with him, though he sees nothing in himself but sin and imperfection, yea, sometimes, as it appears to him, growing imperfections, yet looking to the Lord Jesus as his Surety, and considering the Redeemers holiness, and not any thing in himself, as the standard of justification, here he rests his well - foundedhope. This was blessedly set forth by the Holy Ghost: (Isa. xlv. 24.) "Surely, shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength; even to him shall men come, and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed."
The bowels are the seat of mercy, tenderness, and compassion. Joseph’s bowels were moved at the sight of his brother Benjamin; that is, he felt himself softened and affected. The true mother of the child whom Solomon commanded to be divided, felt her bowels move, and consented that it should be given to the woman who was not its real mother, 1Ki 3:26. The Hebrews also sometimes place wisdom and understanding in the bowels, “Who hath put wisdom in the inner parts?” or bowels, Job 38:36. The Psalmist says, “Thy law is within my heart,” literally, in the midst of my bowels,—it is by me strongly and affectionately regarded, Psa 40:8.
Bowels are often put by the Hebrew writers for the internal parts generally, the inner man, and so also for heart, as we use that term. Hence the bowels are made the seat of tenderness, mercy, and compassion; and thus the Scriptural expressions of the bowels being moved, bowels of mercy, straitened in the bowels, etc. By a similar association of ideas, the bowels are also sometimes made the seat of wisdom and understanding (Job 38:36; Psa 51:10; Isa 16:11).
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BOWELS.—The bowels are in Biblical language the seat of the emotions. Hence Psa 40:8 ‘Thy law is in the midst of my bowels,’ i.e. the object of my deepest affection.
(1) Literal: The literal meaning of these words is intestines, then the abdomen, the womb (matrix and uterus). As will be seen there is not much definiteness in the use of these expressions from the standpoint of physiology; but not less so than in modern oriental languages and even in many occidental languages, as popularly used. The remarkable phrases used in 2Ch 21:18, 2Ch 21:19, “Yahweh smote him in his bowels” and “His bowels fell out by reason of his sickness,” refer to a severe and fatal case of hemorrh oids.
(2) Figurative: In figurative language these words denote deep emotions of various kinds. As in physiology we speak of the “nervus sympathicus,” the ancients expressed by these terms “affection,” “sympathy” and “mercy,” feelings of distress and sorrow, as in Job 30:27 the King James Version; Lam 1:20 the King James Version; Lam 2:11 the King James Version. In one passage we have to translate
Gen 43:30 (b) The word is used to signify the innermost part of a person where the deepest feelings seem to lie. It is the same kind of expression as "from the depths of my heart."
Lam 1:20 (b) This refers to the deep trouble in his innermost soul. Because of Israel’s condition, the very vitals of his life were touched.
Php 1:8 (b) Here is a reference to the deepest Christian experience which Paul manifested in his earnest love for these Christians.
Phm 1:7 (b) The expression in this passage refers to a full-hearted joy which the saints experienced when Philemon ministered to them and brought a blessing from GOD to them.
1Jn 3:17 (b) Here the word is used to express feelings of sympathy, not on the surface, but deep in the heart. Much of so-called Christian living is a surface matter. The word "bowels" indicates in all these passages the very deepest feelings of the believer.