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Bible Encyclopedias
Kidney
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
(only in plur. כְּלָיוֹת, kelayoth', prob. from the idea of its being the seat of longing), the leaf-fat around which was specially to be a burnt-offering, significant of its being the richest and most central part of the victim (Exodus 29:13; Exodus 29:22; Leviticus 3:4; Leviticus 3:10; Leviticus 3:15; Leviticus 4:9; Leviticus 7:4; Leviticus 8:16; Leviticus 8:25; Leviticus 9:10; Leviticus 9:19; Isaiah 34:3). Spoken also of the " reins" of a human being, i.e. the inmost soul, which the ancients supposed to be seated in the viscera (compare the Homeric φρήν, midriff, hence mind), both in a physical sense (Job 16:13; Job 19:27; Psalms 139:13; Lamentations 3:13), and figuratively (Psalms 7:9; Psalms 16:7; Psalms 26:2; Psalms 73:21; Proverbs 23:16; Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 12:2; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 20:12). Sometimes applied to kernels of grain, from their kidney-like shape and richness (Deuteronomy 32:14).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Kidney'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tce/​k/kidney.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.