The meaning of Diligence; Diligent; Diligently in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
dil'-i-jens, dil'-i-jent-li: This word is used in various senses in our English Bibles.
1. In the Old Testament:
In Ezra 5:8, "with diligence" means "with care"; in Ezra 6:12; Ezra 7:17, "with speed," "speedily"; in Proverbs 4:23 "watchfulness"; in Deuteronomy 4:9; Deuteronomy 6:17; Deuteronomy 19:18; Psalms 77:6; Proverbs 27:23; Isaiah 55:2; Micah 7:3, "with care," "scrupulously," "earnestly." Sometimes it means "early" "with haste" (Job 8:5; Proverbs 8:17). It may mean "industrious," "exacting" (Proverbs 10:4; Proverbs 12:27; Proverbs 22:29).
2. In the New Testament:
The American revisers have rendered "diligence" for various words in the King James Version, e.g. for "business" in Romans 12:11; "giving diligence" for "endeavoring" (Ephesians 4:3); "give diligence" for "study" (II Timothy 2:15,), for "labor" (Hebrews 4:11); "diligently" for "carefully" (Philippians 2:28; Hebrews 12:17); "be diligent in" for "meditate upon" (I Timothy 4:15). It is well also to remember that the Old English meaning of diligence is "with love," from diligo, "to love."
G. H. Geberding
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