Lexical Summary
machashabah or machashebeth: Thought, plan, purpose, device, intention
Original Word:מַחֲשָׁבָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:machashabah
Pronunciation:makh-ash-aw-baw' or makh-ash-eh'-beth
Phonetic Spelling:(makh-ash-aw-baw')
KJV: cunning (work), curious work, device(-sed), imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought
NASB:thoughts, plans, schemes, designs, purposes, plan, scheme
Word Origin:[fromH2803 (חָשַׁב - considered)]
1. a contrivance
2. (concretely) a texture, machine
3. (abstractly) intention, plan
4. (hence, negatively) a plot
5. (hence, positively) advice
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
cunning work, curious work, imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought
Or machashebeth {makh-ash-eh'-beth}; fromchashab; a contrivance, i.e. (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice) -- cunning (work), curious work, device(-sed), imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought.
see HEBREWchashab
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
chashabDefinitionthought, device
NASB Translationdesign (1), designs (3), devised (1), intentions* (1), invented (1), inventive (1), plan (2), plans (14), plot (1), plots (1), plotting (1), purposes (3), scheme (2), schemes (4), thoughts (19), ways (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(chiefly in poetry and late) — absolute
Jeremiah 18:11;
Jeremiah 49:30;
Ezekiel 38:10;
Exodus 35:33; 2Chron 2:13; construct
Esther 8:5; 2Chronicles 26:15; suffix
Esther 8:3;
Esther 9:25; plural
Jeremiah 11:19 7t.;
Exodus 31:4 3t.; construct
Isaiah 59:7 13t.;
Genesis 6:5; suffix
Isaiah 55:8 etc. + 19 t. suffixes; —
thought:
Psalm 94:11;Psalm 33:11thoughts of the mind;Genesis 6:5 (J),1 Chronicles 28:9;1 Chronicles 29:18.
Micah 4:12; withPsalm 40:6;Jeremiah 51:29; the thoughts of God are exceeding deepPsalm 92:6; higher than man's thoughtsIsaiah 55:8 (twice in verse);Isaiah 55:9 (twice in verse).
device, plan, purposeIsaiah 55:7;Isaiah 59:7;Isaiah 65:2;Isaiah 66:18;Jeremiah 6:19;Jeremiah 18:12;Psalm 56:6;Proverbs 19:21;Job 21:27;Lamentations 3:60,61;Esther 8:5;Proverbs 21:5;Job 5:12;Proverbs 12:5;Psalm 33:10;Isaiah 59:7;Jeremiah 4:14;Proverbs 6:18;Proverbs 15:26;Jeremiah 21:11;devise devices2 Samuel 14:14;Jeremiah 11:19;Jeremiah 18:11,18;Jeremiah 29:11;Jeremiah 49:20,30;Jeremiah 50:45;Ezekiel 38:10;Daniel 11:24,25;Esther 8:3;Esther 9:25; as subject ofbe establishedProverbs 16:3;Proverbs 20:18;break plansProverbs 15:22.
inventionExodus 31:4;Exodus 35:32,33,35 (all P), 2 Chron 2:13; 2 Chronicles 26:15 (see ).
Topical Lexicon
Definition and ScopeThe noun מַחֲשָׁבָה occurs roughly fifty-six times in the Hebrew Scriptures. It denotes mental activity that moves from inward reflection to outward purpose: thoughts, plans, intentions, schemes, artistic designs, or devices. The context determines whether the term carries a positive, neutral, or negative sense.
Frequency and Distribution
The word appears in every major section of the Old Testament—Torah, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets—revealing its broad theological reach. Thirty-three occurrences are clearly ethical or spiritual, eighteen relate to craftsmanship or statecraft, and the remainder are narrative or poetic descriptions of inner life.
Divine Thoughts and Plans
Scripture repeatedly affirms that the LORD’s thoughts stand in majestic contrast to human reasoning.
•Psalm 33:11 – “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.”
•Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways … so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
•Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
God’s מַחֲשָׁבוֹת are unchanging, morally pure, and effectual. They encompass creation (Psalm 92:5), providence (Psalm 40:5), discipline (Jeremiah 23:20), and salvation (Isaiah 55:7-9). He not only conceives perfect purposes but also brings them to fruition, overruling human machinations (Job 5:12;Proverbs 19:21).
Human Thought Life: Noble and Wicked
The word diagnoses the moral quality of the heart.
Positive:
•Proverbs 12:5 – “The thoughts of the righteous are just.”
•Proverbs 21:5 – “The plans of the diligent bring plenty.”
Negative:
•Psalm 94:11 – “The LORD knows the thoughts of man; He knows that they are futile.”
•Isaiah 59:7 – “Their thoughts are sinful; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.”
•Jeremiah 4:14 – “How long will your wicked thoughts lodge within you?”
Because human מַחֲשָׁבוֹת are vulnerable to corruption, Scripture calls for renewed minds (Isaiah 55:7;Psalm 139:23-24) and warns that secret schemes are fully exposed before God (Psalm 146:4;Psalm 94:11).
Artistic Design and Creative Skill
InExodus 31–35 the term shifts from mental intention to artistic design. Bezalel and Oholiab are “to devise artistic works” for the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:4; 35:32, 35). Here מַחֲשָׁבָה highlights Spirit-endowed creativity. The same idea appears later in Temple blueprints (1 Chronicles 28:12) and military technology (2 Chronicles 26:15). Creativity, technology, and craftsmanship are therefore seen as gifts entrusted to serve God’s worship and His people’s welfare.
National and Corporate Planning
Kings and kingdoms form strategies (2 Samuel 14:14;Isaiah 19:17), yet God’s sovereignty prevails.Proverbs 15:22 commends wise counsel: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” By contrast, conspiratorial plots—whether of Assyria (Nahum 1:11) or Gog (Ezekiel 38:10)—are destined for judgment.
Prophetic Warnings and Comfort
Prophets expose false confidence in human counsel (Isaiah 30:1;Jeremiah 18:11) and announce that divine plans for discipline will not relent “until He has carried out and accomplished the intentions of His heart” (Jeremiah 23:20). InLamentations 3:60-61 Jeremiah lays before the LORD “all their vengeance, all their schemes against me,” trusting that God both sees and judges.
Redemptive Thread
Joseph declared, “You intended evil against me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20, verb form). The noun inJeremiah 29:11 becomes a touchstone for hope during exile, pointing forward to the messianic restoration accomplished in Jesus Christ, in whom all God’s gracious thoughts toward His people find their “Yes” (compare2 Corinthians 1:20).
Ministry Implications
1. Renewal of Mind: Believers are called to align their מַחֲשָׁבוֹת with God’s revealed will (Proverbs 16:3;Romans 12:2).
2. Discernment: Leadership must distinguish between Spirit-led creativity and self-serving scheming (Exodus 35:30-35;James 3:13-17).
3. Pastoral Care:Jeremiah 4:14 demonstrates that sinful thought patterns require cleansing; counseling must address heart motives, not merely behavior.
4. Assurance:Jeremiah 29:11 anchors the suffering saint in God’s benevolent intentions, fostering endurance and mission confidence.
Selected Key References
Exodus 31:4; 35:32, 35
1 Chronicles 28:12
2 Chronicles 26:15
Job 5:12; 21:27
Psalm 33:11; 40:5; 92:5; 94:11; 146:4
Proverbs 12:5; 15:22; 19:21; 21:5
Isaiah 55:8-9; 59:7
Jeremiah 4:14; 18:11; 23:20; 29:11
Lamentations 3:60-61
Ezekiel 38:10
Nahum 1:11
Together these passages reveal מַחֲשָׁבָה as a window into both the mind of God and the heart of humanity, inviting worship, repentance, and confident obedience.
Forms and Transliterations
הַמַּחֲשָׁבֹ֗ת המחשבת וּמַ֨חְשְׁבוֹתָ֔יו וּמַחְשְׁבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם וּמַחְשְׁבֹתֶ֗יךָ וּמַחְשְׁבֹתַ֖י ומחשבותיו ומחשבתי ומחשבתיהם ומחשבתיך מִמַּחְשְׁבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ מַ֭חֲשָׁבוֹת מַֽחֲשַׁבְתּ֔וֹ מַֽחֲשָׁב֔וֹת מַֽחֲשָׁבָ֑ה מַֽחַשָׁבֹ֑ת מַחְשְׁב֖וֹת מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת מַחְשְׁב֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם מַחְשְׁב֤וֹת מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ת מַחְשְׁבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ׃ מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֑יו מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖יו מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֣ם מַחְשְׁבֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ מַחְשְׁבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ מַחְשְׁבוֹתַי֙ מַחְשְׁבוֹתָ֑ם מַחֲשֶׁ֜בֶת מַחֲשֶׁ֣בֶת מַחֲשֶׁ֥בֶת מַחֲשַׁבְתּ֧וֹ מַחֲשָֽׁבֶת׃ מַחֲשָׁ֑בֶת מַחֲשָׁב֖וֹת מַחֲשָׁב֗וֹת מַחֲשָׁב֣וֹת מַחֲשָׁבָֽה׃ מַחֲשָׁבֹ֑ת מַחֲשָׁבֹֽת׃ מַחֲשָׁבֽוֹת׃ מַחֲשָׁבוֹת֒ מחשבה מחשבה׃ מחשבות מחשבות׃ מחשבותי מחשבותיהם מחשבותיכם מחשבותינו מחשבותם מחשבת מחשבת׃ מחשבתו מחשבתיהם׃ מחשבתיו מחשבתיך׃ מחשבתם ממחשבתיכם׃ ham·ma·ḥă·šā·ḇōṯ hammachashaVot hammaḥăšāḇōṯ ma·ḥă·šā·ḇāh ma·ḥă·šā·ḇeṯ ma·ḥă·šā·ḇō·wṯ ma·ḥa·šā·ḇōṯ ma·ḥă·šā·ḇōṯ ma·ḥă·šaḇ·tōw ma·ḥă·še·ḇeṯ machashaVah machaShavet machashaVot machashavTo machaShevet machsheVot machshevoTai machshevoTam machshevoTav machshevoTeicha machshevoteiChem machshevoteiHem machshevoTeinu maḥ·šə·ḇō·ṯām maḥ·šə·ḇō·ṯāw maḥ·šə·ḇō·ṯê·hem maḥ·šə·ḇō·ṯe·ḵā maḥ·šə·ḇō·w·ṯām maḥ·šə·ḇō·w·ṯay maḥ·šə·ḇō·w·ṯê·hem maḥ·šə·ḇō·w·ṯê·ḵem maḥ·šə·ḇō·w·ṯê·nū maḥ·šə·ḇō·wṯ maḥ·šə·ḇōṯ maḥăšāḇāh maḥăšāḇeṯ maḥašāḇōṯ maḥăšāḇōṯ maḥăšāḇōwṯ maḥăšaḇtōw maḥăšeḇeṯ maḥšəḇōṯ maḥšəḇōṯām maḥšəḇōṯāw maḥšəḇōṯêhem maḥšəḇōṯeḵā maḥšəḇōwṯ maḥšəḇōwṯām maḥšəḇōwṯay maḥšəḇōwṯêhem maḥšəḇōwṯêḵem maḥšəḇōwṯênū mim·maḥ·šə·ḇō·ṯê·ḵem mimachshevoteiChem mimmaḥšəḇōṯêḵem ū·maḥ·šə·ḇō·ṯay ū·maḥ·šə·ḇō·ṯê·hem ū·maḥ·šə·ḇō·ṯe·ḵā ū·maḥ·šə·ḇō·w·ṯāw umachshevoTai uMachshevoTav umachshevoTeicha umachsheVoteiHem ūmaḥšəḇōṯay ūmaḥšəḇōṯêhem ūmaḥšəḇōṯeḵā ūmaḥšəḇōwṯāw
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