Topical Encyclopedia
The term "devise" in the Bible often refers to the act of planning or plotting, whether for good or evil purposes. It is a concept that appears in various contexts throughout Scripture, highlighting the intentions and thoughts of individuals and groups.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word most commonly translated as "devise" is "חָשַׁב" (chashab), which means to think, plan, or calculate. This term is frequently used in the context of both righteous and wicked plans.
1.
Righteous Plans: In
Proverbs 16:3, the idea of devising is linked to committing one's works to the Lord: "Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be achieved." Here, the emphasis is on aligning one's plans with God's will, suggesting that righteous devising involves seeking divine guidance and approval.
2.
Wicked Schemes: Conversely, the Bible warns against devising evil.
Proverbs 6:18 lists "a heart that devises wicked schemes" among the things the Lord hates. Similarly, in
Micah 2:1, the prophet condemns those who "devise iniquity and work out evil on their beds." These passages illustrate the moral implications of devising plans that are contrary to God's commandments.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the Greek word "ἐπινοέω" (epinoeo) is used, which also means to think or plan. The New Testament continues the theme of contrasting godly and ungodly devising.
1.
Godly Wisdom:
James 3:17 speaks of the wisdom from above, which is "first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere." This wisdom guides believers in devising plans that reflect God's character and purposes.
2.
Evil Intentions: The New Testament also addresses the devising of evil, as seen in
Acts 4:25, where the apostles quote
Psalm 2:1, "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?" This reflects the futility of devising plans against God's anointed.
Theological ImplicationsThe concept of devising in the Bible underscores the importance of the heart's intentions.
Jeremiah 17:9 warns, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" This highlights the need for believers to seek God's wisdom and guidance in their planning.
Practical ApplicationFor Christians, the act of devising should be approached with prayer and a desire to align with God's will.
Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This encourages believers to submit their plans to God, ensuring that their devising is rooted in faith and obedience.
In summary, the biblical concept of devising encompasses both the potential for righteous planning and the danger of wicked scheming. It calls believers to examine their hearts and seek God's guidance in all their plans.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To formulate by thought; to contrive; to invent; to scheme; as, to devise a plan of defense, or an argument.
2. (v. t.) To plan or scheme for; to purpose to obtain.
3. (v. t.) To say; to relate; to describe.
4. (v. t.) To imagine; to guess.
5. (v. t.) To give by will; -- used of real estate; formerly, also, of chattels.
6. (v. i.) To form a scheme; to lay a plan; to contrive; to consider.
7. (n.) The act of giving or disposing of real estate by will; -- sometimes improperly applied to a bequest of personal estate.
8. (n.) A will or testament, conveying real estate; the clause of a will making a gift of real property.
9. (n.) Property devised, or given by will.
10. (n.) Device. See Device.
Greek
3191. meletao -- to care for, practice, study... to care for, practice, study. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: meletao Phonetic
Spelling: (mel-et-ah'-o) Short Definition: I
devise, plan Definition: I
...4679. sophizo -- to make wise
... Word Origin from sophos Definition to make wise NASB Word Usage cleverly
devised (1), give...wisdom (1). cunninglydevise, make wise....
Strong's Hebrew
2161. zamam -- to consider, purpose,devise... 2160, 2161. zamam. 2162 . to consider, purpose,
devise. Transliteration: zamam
Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-mam') Short Definition: purposed. Word Origin a prim
...908. bada -- todevise, invent
... 907, 908. bada. 909 . todevise, invent. Transliteration: bada Phonetic Spelling:
(baw-daw') Short Definition: devised. Word Origin a prim....devise, feign....
2790. charash -- to cut in, engrave, plow,devise
... 2789, 2790. charash. 2790a . to cut in, engrave, plow,devise. Transliteration:
charash Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-rash') Short Definition: altogether....
2790a. charash -- to cut in, engrave, plow,devise
... 2790, 2790a. charash. 2790b . to cut in, engrave, plow,devise.
Transliteration: charash Short Definition: plow. Word Origin a prim....
2803. chashab -- to think, account
... Usage accounting (1), calculate (5), composed (1), consider (3), considered (13),
counted (1), counts (1), designer (1), determined (1),devise (13), devised (8...
3289. yaats -- to advise, counsel
... advertise, take advise, advise well, consult, give, take counsel, determine,
devise,. A primitive root; to advise; reflexively, to...
5779. uts -- to counsel, plan
... 5778, 5779. uts. 5780 . to counsel, plan. Transliteration: uts Phonetic
Spelling: (oots) Short Definition:devise. Word Origin a prim....
1819. damah -- to be like, resemble
... compare,devise, liken, mean, think, use similitudes. A primitive root;
to compare; by implication, to resemble, liken, consider...
2664. chaphas -- to search
... root Definition to search NASB Word Usagedevise (1), disguise (2), disguised (5),
distorted (1), examine (1), hide (1), ponders (1), ransacked (1), search (6...
1897. hagah -- to moan, growl, utter, speak, muse
... root Definition to moan, growl, utter, speak, muse NASB Word Usage declare (1),
devise (2), devising (1), growls (1), make a sound (1), meditate (5), meditates...
Library
Indiscreet Importunity.
... We take our ideas of happiness from what we see in other people, and have little
originality todevise any special and more appropriate enjoyment or success....
Gifts and Talents.
... and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and
in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, todevise cunning works, to...
Gregory Then Makes an Explanation at Length Touching the Eternal...
... Since then this doctrine is put forth by the Truth itself, it follows that anything
which the inventors of pestilent heresiesdevise besides to subvert this...
Whether Guile is a Sin Pertaining to Craftiness?
... with his servants." Guile is also in the heart, according to Ecclus.19:23, "His
interior is full of deceit," but this is todevise deceits, according to Ps.37...
Two Senses of the Word Son, 1 Adoptive; 2 Essential; Attempts of...
... constitution. And though we were todevise another, we must firstdevise
his Mediator, so that we shall never come to an end. And...
Section 11, 12. Marcellus and his Disciples, Like Arians, Say that...
... For either He will ever be silent, or He will again beget, and willdevise a different
creation (for He will not make the same, else that which was made would...
Of Vows. The Miserable Entanglements Caused by Vowing Rashly.
... If these positions are true, it is easy to see that all fictitious worship, which
we ourselvesdevise for the purpose of serving God, is not in the least...
His Charge of Cowardice is Baseless: for Basil Displayed the...
... and promises, royal favours and ecclesiastical power to obedience, but to resistance
all that a cruel spirit which has got the power to work its will candevise...
Unionism in the Ascendency.
... A committee was also appointed to confer with the German Reformed, and todevise
plans for utilizing Franklin College as a theological seminary, in order to...
Of Councils and their Authority.
... everything at their own pleasure, who, not contented with the oracles of Scripture,
that is, with the only rule of perfect wisdom,devise some novelty out of...
Thesaurus
Devise (41 Occurrences)... 1. (vt) To formulate by thought; to contrive; to invent; to scheme; as, to
devise a plan of defense, or an argument.
...Devise (41 Occurrences).
...Imagine (24 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To contrive in purpose; to scheme; todevise; to compass; to purpose. See
Compass.... 4. (vi) To form images or conceptions; to conceive; todevise....
Devices (43 Occurrences)
... his devices. (KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT). Exodus 31:4 todevise devices to work
in gold, and in silver, and in brass, (YLT). Exodus 35:32...
Device (17 Occurrences)
... But more frequently it is used in an evil sense, of a wicked purpose or plot, "Let
usdevise devices against Jeremiah" (Jeremiah 18:18); "For we are not...
Forecast (2 Occurrences)
... in the first sense that it is used in Daniel 11:24, 25 (the King James Version)
as the translation of chashabh, "to think," "meditate," "devise," "plot," "He...
Plots (20 Occurrences)
... NIV). Psalms 10:2 In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are
caught in the schemes that theydevise. (See NAS). Psalms...
Artistic (14 Occurrences)
... artistic work. (DBY). Exodus 31:4 todevise artistic work to work in gold,
and in silver, and in copper, (DBY NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 35...
Curious (18 Occurrences)
... the ephod. (KJV WBS). Exodus 31:4 Todevise curious works, to work in gold,
and in silver, and in brass, (WBS). Exodus 35:32 And to...
Schemes (25 Occurrences)
... (See RSV NIV). Psalms 10:2 In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They
are caught in the schemes that theydevise. (WEB RSV NIV)....
Cunning (43 Occurrences)
... James Version "a man cunning to work in gold"; 2 Chronicles 2:13 Isaiah 3:3 the
King James Version, etc.); chashabh, "to think," "devise," "desire" (Exodus 26:1...
Resources
What does the Bible say about false accusations? | GotQuestions.orgWhat impact did Friedrich Nietzsche have on the Christian faith? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about being passive-aggressive? | GotQuestions.orgDevise: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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