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An Exegetical Examination of ἀνὴρ κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν μου in Acts 13:22
This exegetical study of An Exegetical Examination of ἀνὴρ κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν μου in Acts 13:22 is based on a b-greek discussion from April 26th, 2014. The initial query focused on the precise meaning of the phrase ἀνδρα κατα την καρδιαν μου in Acts 13:22, questioning whether it constitutes a common idiom or if its surface-level meaning suffices. The underlying concern was to clarify the nuance of what it truly signifies for David to be described as “a man after God’s heart.”
The central exegetical issue revolves around the semantic range and precise implication of the prepositional phrase κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν μου (“according to my heart”) as applied to David in Acts 13:22. The discussion highlights a debate concerning whether the phrase primarily denotes David’s personal devotion to God, God’s favorable disposition towards David, or David’s comprehensive alignment with God’s will and desires. This involves understanding how this idiom articulates the relationship between divine purpose and human character, particularly in the context of divine election and commissioning.
Greek text (Nestle 1904)
22 καὶ μεταστήσας αὐτὸν ἤγειρεν τὸν Δαυίδ αὐτοῖς εἰς βασιλέα, ᾧ καὶ εἶπεν μαρτυρήσας, Εὗρον Δαυίδ τὸν τοῦ Ἰεσσαί, ἄνδρα κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν μου, ὃς ποιήσει πάντα τὰ θελήματά μου.
Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):
- The spelling of David: Nestle 1904 uses Δαυίδ while SBLGNT 2010 employs Δαυεὶδ.
- The inclusion of ἄνδρα (man) is consistent across both Nestle 1904 and SBLGNT 2010, despite its highlighting in the source discussion.
Textual criticism (NA28), lexical notes (KITTEL, BDAG):
The NA28 text largely aligns with Nestle 1904 in this verse, also reading Εὗρον Δαυεὶδ τὸν τοῦ Ἰεσσαί, ἄνδρα κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν μου, ὃς ποιήσει πάντα τὰ θελήματά μου, with the orthographical variant Δαυεὶδ. No significant textual variants are noted for ἄνδρα κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν μου. Unfortunately, no entry from KITTEL’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament was provided in the source material for direct analysis of these terms.
Lexical analysis, drawing upon Arndt, Danker, & Bauer’s A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (BDAG), illuminates the phrase:
- The preposition κατά (with the accusative τὴν καρδίαν) is defined in BDAG (γ) as denoting a standard: “of a standard of any other kind κ. τ. χρόνον ὃν ἠκρίβωσεν in accordance w. the time which he had ascertained Mt 2:16. κ. τ. πίστιν ὑμῶν acc. to your faith 9:29. κ. τ. δύναμιν acc. to his capability 25:15… ἀνὴρ κ. τ. καρδίαν μου Ac 13:22 (καρδία 1bε).” This usage suggests conformity or agreement with a standard.
- The noun καρδία (heart) is extensively detailed in BDAG. Relevant to this context, BDAG (ε) includes: “of the emotions, wishes, desires… Also of the wish or desire of God ἀνὴρ κατὰ τὴν κ. (τοῦ θεοῦ) after God’s heart i.e. as God wishes him to be Ac 13:22 (cp. 1 Km 13:14).” This entry is crucial as it explicitly interprets the phrase as describing David in terms of God’s desire for him.
The BDAG entry therefore resolves the core exegetical issue, explicitly stating that “a man after God’s heart” refers to someone “as God wishes him to be,” aligning with God’s desires and purposes.
Translation Variants
The grammatical structure involves ἀνὴρ (nominative subject, “a man”), modified by the prepositional phrase κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν μου. The preposition κατά, governing the accusative case τὴν καρδίαν, signifies “according to,” “in conformity with,” or “in agreement with.” The genitive pronoun μου (“my,” referring to God) indicates possession or source for the “heart.” Rhetorically, this is a statement of divine commendation and election, presented as a direct quote from God (via Samuel in 1 Samuel 13:14) to justify David’s kingship and lineage in Paul’s sermon in Pisidian Antioch. It emphasizes David’s qualification for the divine mission, establishing him as a predecessor to Christ.
The discussion highlights two primary interpretative poles:
- David’s personal devotion to God (emphasizing David’s internal state and actions).
- David’s alignment with God’s will or desire (emphasizing God’s standard or purpose for David).
Based on the BDAG entry, the latter interpretation holds stronger lexical support. The phrase describes David’s character and actions as being in agreement with what God desires or purposes for him, rather than merely reflecting his personal piety, though such piety would naturally be a characteristic of one who fulfills God’s will. The subsequent clause, ὃς ποιήσει πάντα τὰ θελήματά μου (“who will perform all my will”), further reinforces this understanding, specifying that the “man after God’s heart” is one who actively carries out God’s purposes.
Conclusions and Translation Suggestions
The phrase ἄνδρα κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν μου in Acts 13:22, rooted in 1 Samuel 13:14, functions as a divine endorsement of David. It describes David not merely as a devoted individual, but fundamentally as one whose character and actions align with God’s divine purpose and will. The accompanying clause specifying that David “will perform all my will” confirms this interpretation, portraying him as an instrument of divine intent. Therefore, translations should capture this sense of alignment with God’s plan and desires, rather than exclusively focusing on David’s subjective piety.
- “a man who acts in accordance with my (God’s) will.”
This translation emphasizes the functional aspect of David’s alignment with God’s desires. - “a man shaped by my (God’s) heart’s desire.”
This option highlights God’s initiative and design in David’s character and calling. - “a man who perfectly serves my (God’s) purposes.”
This rendering emphasizes David’s role as a chosen agent fulfilling God’s overarching plan.
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