Question 1

What does "Reins" mean in the King James Bible?

Accepted Answer

In the KJV, "Reins" means "inmost being." The ancient embodied psychology. The Hebrews located the deepest, most hidden emotions in the kidneys (kelayot) -- the organs buried deepest in the body, hidden from all eyes. When God searches the reins and hearts, He examines both the hidden emotional core (kidneys) and the will/mind (heart). Two organs, two dimensions of the inner person.

Question 2

Why did the word "Reins" disappear from modern English?

Accepted Answer

The word 'reins' (from Latin renes 'kidneys') -- meaning the kidneys as the seat of deep emotions and secret thoughts -- was overtaken by 'reins' as leather straps for controlling horses, making divine examination of kidneys read as God holding horse equipment. The word was at peak usage around 1611 and declined by ~1800.

Question 3

What modern word replaced "Reins"?

Accepted Answer

"Reins" was replaced by: "mind" (though this intellectual; reins-as-kidneys meant the deepest, most hidden part of a person's emotional life); "inmost being" (though this vague; reins specifically located deep emotions in the physical body); "conscience" (though this moral judgment; reins encompassed desires, fears, and motivations below conscious awareness).

What Does “Reins” Mean in the Bible?

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