What is the difference between the heart and soul?

Redemption Theology

TL;DR:

The greatest battle in your life isn't merely external—it's fought in your heart and soul. God calls you to surrender your entire being to Him so that every thought, desire, and affection reflects His glory.

what does the bible say?

The heart and soul are related words, with Scripture sometimes using them interchangeably. However, they are not synonymous. In Hebrew thought, the heart is the center of oneself. We might observe it as one’s personality, but it’s more accurately the person, one’s self-consciousness. It includes the intellect, desires, emotions, and so forth. When speaking of one’s life and behavior, Scripture often uses “heart” (Proverbs 4:23; Jeremiah 17:9). Conversely, the soul can be said to be the bearer of that personality. It is not the person, but, as the spirit, intimately knows the person (Proverbs 20:27) and relates the person to God (Psalm 42:1–2). Note: some Christians distinguish between spirit and soul. For simplicity’s sake, this article assumes the dichotomist position which treats soul and spirit as synonymous. When used together (e.g. Matthew 22:37), it means “all of a person.” When used together (e.g. Matthew 22:37), it means “all of a person.” Being a Christian is not reserved for our “spiritual” life, but we are to devote our whole being to knowing, loving, and obeying God.

from the old testament

In English, “heart” is generally used to refer to emotions. However, in Hebraic thought, the heart was not exclusively the seat of the emotions. Rather, it was the center of who one is. It is the person. It includes their intellect, will, and emotions.
Because of this, the heart is the source of behavior and one’s direction in life. God commented that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9), meaning that, at the core of our personhood, we are sinful.
This is why Proverbs 4:23 reads, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Protecting one’s heart is guarding oneself against sin, which in turn sets one’s course in this life.
Soul, on the other hand, is that part of a person that relates to God and is one’s deep personal experience. It is the soul that longs for God (Psalm 42:1–2) and that returns to God after we die (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Though not the person, the soul intimately knows the person: “The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts” (Proverbs 20:27).
When used together, the whole of a person is meant. For example, Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Moses intended that one love God with one's entire being.

from the new testament

Jesus repeated Moses’ statement about loving God with everything: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). He was saying again that one is to love God with all that one has.
Individually, the heart is one’s moral center. Jesus said, “From within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (Mark 7:21–23).
Conversely, the soul is one’s relationship to God and can be saved or lost. Jesus said, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:25–26).
Though they are not synonymous, because both deal with the person and the relationship between morality and salvation, there is overlap between them, and so contextual clues must be the final determinant of what an author meant at each given use.

implications for today

Think about your smartphone. It may look perfect on the outside, but if the operating system is corrupted, every app, notification, and function is affected. In a similar way, the Bible teaches that what is happening inside you shapes everything that comes out of you. Your heart directs your thoughts, desires, choices, and actions, while your soul is the deepest part of you that longs for God and will spend eternity with Him. That's why Scripture doesn't merely tell us to change our behavior—it calls us to be transformed from the inside out.

When the Bible refers to both heart and soul together, it doesn’t mean for us to figure out the differences but to teach that we, as believers, are to do something with “all of us.” The most important of which is to love God with everything we are (Matthew 22:37). Jesus calls us to love Him with our heart, soul, mind, and strength because He doesn't want one part of your life—He wants every part. When every area of your life belongs to Christ, your thoughts, words, decisions, relationships, and purpose begin to reflect the One who is transforming you into His image.

Being a Christian is not reserved for our “spiritual” life, like we are part secular and part Christian. Rather, the Holy Spirit lives in us (Romans 8:9–11) to transform us to be like Christ in all areas of our lives. Let us, therefore, and regardless of specific terminology used, devote our whole selves to knowing, loving, and living for God.

understand

The heart refers to the center of one's personhood, including intellect, will, and emotions, and is the source from which behavior and life direction flow.
The soul refers to that part of a person which relates intimately to God, reflecting one's deepest personal experience and ultimate eternal destiny.
Though related and sometimes overlapping in usage, heart and soul are not synonymous; when paired together, they refer to one's entire being.

reflect

How does understanding the heart as the source of your behavior and direction in life inform the way you think about guarding it from sin?
In what ways do you currently nurture your soul's relationship with God, and what might it look like to pursue that connection more intentionally?
How does the call to love God with all your heart and soul challenge any tendency to compartmentalize your faith?

engage

How should a Christian think through the relationship between heart, soul, and spirit, given that Scripture sometimes uses these terms interchangeably and other times appears to distinguish them?
How does understanding the biblical distinction yet overlap between the heart and soul help us better understand what it means to love God with our entire being?
Why does the Bible emphasize inner transformation of the heart rather than merely changing outward behavior?

More Resources

Christian Life

How do you guard your heart?

Your heart shapes everything you think, say, and do, so it must be protected with care. You guard it by filling your mind with truth and avoiding what pulls you away from God.

Theology

Do we have a body, soul, and spirit? Are we made of two parts or three? Dichotomy or trichotomy?

The Bible teaches that humans are made of both material and immaterial components, though it does not always clearly distinguish between “soul” and “spirit.” While some argue for a three-part (trichotomous) view of man, on the whole, the biblical language more consistently supports a two-part (dichotomous) view.

New Testament

What is the significance of the command to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?

God calls us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. When we love the Lord above all else, we will love others well and reflect Him to the world around us.

Theology

What is the human soul, according to the Bible?

The human soul is the eternal, immaterial center of who we are; it is where we think, feel, choose, and worship. The human soul is the most valuable and vulnerable part of who we are.