Lexical Summary mezimmah: Discretion, plan, purpose, device, wickedness Original Word: מְזִמָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wicked device, discretion, intent, witty invention, lewdness, mischievous device, thought, wickedlyFrom zamam; a plan, usually evil (machination), sometimes good (sagacity) -- (wicked) device, discretion, intent, witty invention, lewdness, mischievous (device), thought, wickedly. see HEBREW zamam NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom 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). Topical Lexicon overview of usage Nineteen Old Testament occurrences show מְזִמָּה ranging from godly “discretion” to wicked “schemes.” Context alone determines whether it is celebrated or condemned, yet in every case the term exposes the heart’s orientation toward or against the LORD. wisdom literature: discretion as covenantal prudence Proverbs elevates מְזִמָּה as a virtue. “To impart prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young” (Proverbs 1:4) sets the agenda for the entire book. Discretion guards (Proverbs 2:11), must be preserved (Proverbs 3:21), and empowers moral speech (Proverbs 5:2). Wisdom herself announces, “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion” (Proverbs 8:12). Without it, one becomes “a man of evil devices” whom the LORD condemns (Proverbs 12:2), “a devious man” who is hated (Proverbs 14:17), and “a schemer” whose very name is a warning (Proverbs 24:8). the psalter: exposing and defeating malicious plots Psalms applies מְזִמָּה to the designs of the wicked. “In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise” (Psalm 10:2). “In all his schemes there is no God” (Psalm 10:4). The king’s foes will not succeed: “Though they intend You harm, the schemes they devise will not prevail” (Psalm 21:11). The righteous are told, “Do not fret…when they carry out wicked schemes” (Psalm 37:7). Plotting against God’s people is ultimately futile. job: contrasting human thought and divine plan Job discerns his friends’ designs: “Behold, I know your thoughts and the schemes by which you would wrong me” (Job 21:27). Yet Job ends by confessing the supremacy of God’s own plan: “I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). Human intentions collapse before divine purpose. prophetic literature: the LORD’s unthwarted purpose Jeremiah exposes Judah’s conspiracies: “What right has My beloved in My house, when she has done many wicked schemes?” (Jeremiah 11:15). Yet the same word describes God’s irrevocable resolve: “The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has fully performed the purposes of His heart” (Jeremiah 23:20; 30:24). Regarding Babylon, “His plan is set against Babylon to destroy it” (Jeremiah 51:11). God overturns human strategy with His own righteous plan. moral polarity and theological insights 1. Divine sovereignty: Job 42:2; Jeremiah 51:11. pastoral and ministry applications • Discipleship: Equip believers with prudence that guards against temptation (Proverbs 2:11). christological reflection Human plots sent Jesus to the cross, yet “they did what Your power and will had decided beforehand” (Acts 4:28). The cross is the ultimate מְזִמָּה of God—wise, gracious, undefeatable. summary מְזִמָּה challenges every heart: will our planning align with the LORD or oppose Him? Scripture assures that only His plan stands, while all godless schemes perish. True discretion therefore begins with the fear of the LORD and finds its fulfillment in Christ. 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 ūməzimmōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 Psalm 10:2 Psalm 10:4 Psalm 21:11 Psalm 37:7 Psalm 139:20 Proverbs 1:4 Proverbs 2:11 Proverbs 3:21 Proverbs 5:2 Proverbs 8:12 Proverbs 12:2 Proverbs 14:17 Proverbs 24:8 Jeremiah 11:15 Jeremiah 23:20 Jeremiah 30:24 Jeremiah 51:11 19 Occurrences |
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