Let me give an example here. Literally, Ezra 1:1 speaks of the "spirit of Cyrus." Yet, the New International Version uses the expression "the heart of Cyrus" instead. We can do the same thing in relation to God's spirit. If the spirit was grieved, it was actually God feeling bad, his heart was made heavy with sorrow.
At Daniel 7:15, Daniel was grieved in his spirit (KJV), yet the New Jerusalem Bible simply says that he was "deeply disturbed."
Also Isaiah 54:6 has "grieved in spirit" (KJV) where the NJB simply has "grief-stricken."
And "his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel" (KJV) simply means "could bear Israel's suffering no longer." NJB Judges 10:16
"Why is thy heart grieved" (KJV) simply means "Why are you so sad." NJB 1 Samuel 1:8
As a parallel to this, God's heart can also be grieved:
"It repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart."
Genesis 6:6 ASV (See also 1 Samuel 2:33; Ezek. 13:22)
The heart can be grieved, the spirit can be grieved, the heart can also be happy (Judges 18:20), glad (Eccl 7:3), upright (Job 33:3), it can rejoice (Proverbs 23:16) etc., yet despite these personal emotions, no one would say that the heart is a person. Besides meaning "power" and "breath," spirit can also point to our dispositions and temperament, as was the case with King Cyrus.
*In the Bible "stones cry out" (Luke 19:40) and "wages cry out" (James 5:4 Revised English Bible), the "right hand" teaches (Ps 45:4). In the Bible Sheol/Hell has a mouth and can swallow people (Numbers 16:30), it has ropes (2 Samuel 22:6), and it has soul (Isaiah 5:14). "Sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire" (Gen 4:7 KJV). Here SIN is given desire, it lies and it is referred to as "HIS." Blood cries out (Gen 4:10). Names can rot (Pr 10:7) Desire gives birth (Jas 1:15) "Hell is naked" (Job 26:6 KJV) Mountains give birth (Is 55:12) etc.
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