The meaning of Think in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
think: The Old Testament often translates 'amar, "to say," meaning what one says to himself, and hence, a definite and clearly formulated decision or purpose (Genesis 20:11; Numbers 24:4; Ruth 4:4, etc.), illustrated by the, change made by the Revised Version (British and American) in the King James Version of Esther 6:6, where "thought in his heart" becomes "said in his heart." In other passages, for chashabh, damah, or zamam, indicating the result of mental activity, as in an intention or estimate formed after careful deliberation (compare Ecclesiasticus 18:25); In the New Testament, most, frequently for dokeo, "to be of the opinion, "suppose," literally, "seem" (Matthew 3:9; Matthew 6:7; Luke 10:36, etc.). Sometimes, for logizomai, "to compute," "reckon" (Romans 2:3, etc.); sometimes, for nomizo, literally referring to what attains the force of law (nomos), and then, "to be of the opinion"; or, for phroneo, implying a thought that is cherished—a mental habit, rather than an act (Romans 12:3; I Corinthians 13:11). The Greek hegeomai, "to consider," implies logical deduction from premises (Acts 26:2; Philippians 2:6), while in Matthew 1:20; Matthew 9:4, and Acts 10:19, enthumoumai, refers to the mental process itself, the thinking-out of a project, the concentration of the faculties upon the formation of a plan.
H. E. Jacobs
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