4209. mezimmah

Strong's Lexicon

mezimmah: Discretion, plan, purpose, device, wickedness

Original Word: מְזִמָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: mzimmah
Pronunciation: meh-zim-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (mez-im-maw')
Definition: Discretion, plan, purpose, device, wickedness
Meaning: a plan, evil, sometimes good

Word Origin: Derived from the root זָמַם (zāmam), which means "to plan" or "to devise."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G1919 (epinoia): Thought, purpose, intention

- G3190 (mēchane): Device, contrivance

Usage: The Hebrew word "mezimmah" can have both positive and negative connotations depending on the context. Positively, it refers to prudence, discretion, or thoughtful planning. Negatively, it can denote wicked schemes or evil plans. The dual nature of the word reflects the moral dimension of human intentions and actions, emphasizing the importance of aligning one's plans with righteousness.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, wisdom and discretion were highly valued traits, often associated with the fear of the Lord and adherence to His commandments. The concept of "mezimmah" underscores the importance of intentionality in one's actions, whether for good or ill. In a society where communal living and relationships were central, the impact of one's plans and purposes was significant, affecting not only the individual but the community at large.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from zamam
Definition
purpose, discretion, device
NASB Translation
devises evil (1), discretion (5), evil devices (1), intent (1), plans (1), plot (1), plots (1), purpose (2), purposes (1), schemer* (1), thoughts (1), vile deeds (1), wicked schemes (1), wickedly (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מְזִמָּה noun feminine purpose, discretion, device (Jeremiah and Wisdom Literature), מְזִמָּה Job 42:2 5t.; הַמְּזִמָּ֫תָה Jeremiah 11:15 **altogether עָֽשְׂתָה מְזִמֹּת ַ˜הנְדָרִים וּבְשַׂר קֹדֶשׁ יִעֲבִרוּ מֵעָלַיִח תָעָתֵךְ (but read for רַבִּים ׳המ with ᵐ5 הַמְּזִמֹּת ַ˜הנְדָרִים); מְזִמָּתוֺ Jeremiah 51:11; plural absolute מְזִמּוֺת Psalm 37:7 7t.; construct id. Jeremiah 23:20; Jeremiah 30:24; suffix מְזִמּוֺתָיו Psalm 10:4; —

1 of ׳י's purposes Job 42:2; chiefly in punishment (compare זָמַם, זִמָּה) Jeremiah 23:20; Jeremiah 30:24; Jeremiah 51:11("" זמם Jeremiah 51:12).

2 power of devising, discretion Proverbs 1:4 ("" דַּעַת), Proverbs 2:11 ("" תְּבוּנָה), Proverbs 3:21 ("" תֻּשִׁיָּה), Proverbs 5:2 ("" דַּעַת); דַּעַת מְזִמּוֺת Proverbs 8:12.

3. a. evil thoughts of men Psalm 10:4, evil devices of men Job 21:27 ("" מחשׁבות), Psalm 10:2; Psalm 21:12 (both with חָשַׁב).

b. wickedness in act Jeremiah 11:15; Psalm 37:7 (both with עָשָׂה), Psalm 139:20 לִמְזִמָּה = wickedly; — note phrases: מְזִמּוֺת אישׁ a man of (evil) devices (or practices) Proverbs 12:2 (opposed to טוֺכ) Proverbs 14:17; בַּעַלמְֿזִמּוֺת Proverbs 24:8 ("" מְחַשֵּׁב לְהָרֵעַ; see בַּעַל).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

wicked device, discretion, intent, witty invention, lewdness, mischievous device, thought, wickedly

From zamam; a plan, usually evil (machination), sometimes good (sagacity) -- (wicked) device, discretion, intent, witty invention, lewdness, mischievous (device), thought, wickedly.

see HEBREW zamam

Forms and Transliterations

בִּמְזִמּ֖וֹת במזמות הַֽמְזִמָּ֙תָה֙ המזמתה וּ֝מְזִמּ֗וֹת וּמְזִמָּֽה׃ ומזמה׃ ומזמות לִמְזִמָּ֑ה למזמה מְ֝זִמָּ֗ה מְ֝זִמּ֗וֹת מְ֭זִמָּה מְזִמָּֽה׃ מְזִמָּת֖וֹ מְזִמּ֑וֹת מְזִמּ֣וֹת מְזִמּ֥וֹת מְזִמּֽוֹת׃ מְזִמּוֹתָֽיו׃ מזמה מזמה׃ מזמות מזמות׃ מזמותיו׃ מזמתו bim·zim·mō·wṯ bimzimMot bimzimmōwṯ ham·zim·mā·ṯāh hamzimMatah hamzimmāṯāh lim·zim·māh limzimMah limzimmāh mə·zim·mā·ṯōw mə·zim·māh mə·zim·mō·w·ṯāw mə·zim·mō·wṯ mezimMah məzimmāh mezimmaTo məzimmāṯōw mezimMot mezimmoTav məzimmōwṯ məzimmōwṯāw ū·mə·zim·māh ū·mə·zim·mō·wṯ umezimMah ūməzimmāh umezimMot ūməzimmōwṯ

Englishman's Concordance

Job 21:27
HEB: יָ֭דַעְתִּי מַחְשְׁבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וּ֝מְזִמּ֗וֹת עָלַ֥י תַּחְמֹֽסוּ׃
NAS: your thoughts, And the plans by which you would wrong
KJV: your thoughts, and the devices [which] ye wrongfully imagine
INT: know your thoughts and the plans and wrong

Job 42:2
HEB: יִבָּצֵ֖ר מִמְּךָ֣ מְזִמָּֽה׃
NAS: And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
KJV: that thou canst do every [thing], and [that] no thought can be withholden
INT: can be thwarted at purpose

Psalm 10:2
HEB: עָנִ֑י יִתָּפְשׂ֓וּ ׀ בִּמְזִמּ֖וֹת ז֣וּ חָשָֽׁבוּ׃
NAS: Let them be caught in the plots which
KJV: let them be taken in the devices that
INT: the afflicted them be caught the plots which have devised

Psalm 10:4
HEB: אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים כָּל־ מְזִמּוֹתָֽיו׃
NAS: [Him]. All his thoughts are, There is no
KJV: [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts.
INT: God All his thoughts

Psalm 21:11
HEB: רָעָ֑ה חָֽשְׁב֥וּ מְ֝זִמָּ֗ה בַּל־ יוּכָֽלוּ׃
NAS: You [And] devised a plot, They will not succeed.
KJV: against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, [which] they are not able
INT: evil You devised A plot They will not succeed

Psalm 37:7
HEB: בְּ֝אִ֗ישׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה מְזִמּֽוֹת׃
NAS: who carries out wicked schemes.
KJV: who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
INT: of the man carries wicked

Psalm 139:20
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֹ֭אמְרֻךָ לִמְזִמָּ֑ה נָשֻׂ֖א לַשָּׁ֣וְא
NAS: For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies
KJV: For they speak against thee wickedly, [and] thine enemies
INT: they speak wickedly take vain

Proverbs 1:4
HEB: לְ֝נַ֗עַר דַּ֣עַת וּמְזִמָּֽה׃
NAS: To the youth knowledge and discretion,
KJV: knowledge and discretion.
INT: to the youth knowledge and discretion

Proverbs 2:11
HEB: מְ֭זִמָּה תִּשְׁמֹ֥ר עָלֶ֗יךָ
NAS: Discretion will guard
KJV: Discretion shall preserve
INT: Discretion will guard and

Proverbs 3:21
HEB: נְצֹ֥ר תֻּ֝שִׁיָּ֗ה וּמְזִמָּֽה׃
NAS: Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
KJV: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
INT: Keep sound and discretion

Proverbs 5:2
HEB: לִשְׁמֹ֥ר מְזִמּ֑וֹת וְ֝דַ֗עַת שְׂפָתֶ֥יךָ
NAS: That you may observe discretion And your lips
KJV: That thou mayest regard discretion, and [that] thy lips
INT: you may observe discretion knowledge and your lips

Proverbs 8:12
HEB: עָרְמָ֑ה וְדַ֖עַת מְזִמּ֣וֹת אֶמְצָֽא׃
NAS: And I find knowledge [and] discretion.
KJV: knowledge of witty inventions.
INT: prudence knowledge discretion find

Proverbs 12:2
HEB: מֵיְהוָ֑ה וְאִ֖ישׁ מְזִמּ֣וֹת יַרְשִֽׁיעַ׃
NAS: a man who devises evil.
KJV: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
INT: God A man devises will condemn

Proverbs 14:17
HEB: אִוֶּ֑לֶת וְאִ֥ישׁ מְ֝זִמּ֗וֹת יִשָּׂנֵֽא׃
NAS: And a man of evil devices is hated.
KJV: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
INT: foolishly man of evil is hated

Proverbs 24:8
HEB: ל֝֗וֹ בַּֽעַל־ מְזִמּ֥וֹת יִקְרָֽאוּ׃
KJV: shall be called a mischievous person.
INT: to do person A mischievous will call

Jeremiah 11:15
HEB: בְּבֵיתִ֗י עֲשׂוֹתָ֤הּ הַֽמְזִמָּ֙תָה֙ הָֽרַבִּ֔ים וּבְשַׂר־
NAS: many vile deeds? Can the sacrificial
KJV: [seeing] she hath wrought lewdness with many,
INT: my house has done vile many flesh

Jeremiah 23:20
HEB: וְעַד־ הֲקִימ֖וֹ מְזִמּ֣וֹת לִבּ֑וֹ בְּאַֽחֲרִית֙
NAS: and carried out the purposes of His heart;
KJV: and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart:
INT: Until and carried the purposes of his heart the last

Jeremiah 30:24
HEB: וְעַד־ הֲקִימ֖וֹ מְזִמּ֣וֹת לִבּ֑וֹ בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית
NAS: He has accomplished The intent of His heart;
KJV: [it], and until he have performed the intents of his heart:
INT: and until has accomplished the intent of his heart the latter

Jeremiah 51:11
HEB: עַל־ בָּבֶ֥ל מְזִמָּת֖וֹ לְהַשְׁחִיתָ֑הּ כִּֽי־
NAS: Because His purpose is against
KJV: of the Medes: for his device [is] against Babylon,
INT: is against Babylon his purpose to destroy Because

19 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4209
19 Occurrences

bim·zim·mō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
ham·zim·mā·ṯāh — 1 Occ.
lim·zim·māh — 1 Occ.
mə·zim·māh — 3 Occ.
mə·zim·mā·ṯōw — 1 Occ.
mə·zim·mō·wṯ — 8 Occ.
mə·zim·mō·w·ṯāw — 1 Occ.
ū·mə·zim·māh — 2 Occ.
ū·mə·zim·mō·wṯ — 1 Occ.