Topical Bible: Discerning

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Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Meaning:
Discerning, in a biblical context, refers to the ability to perceive, distinguish, and judge matters with spiritual insight and understanding. It involves recognizing the difference between truth and falsehood, right and wrong, and the divine and the mundane. This spiritual discernment is often seen as a gift from God, enabling believers to navigate the complexities of life in accordance with His will.

Biblical References:

1. 1 Kings 3:9 :
"So give Your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?"
· In this passage, King Solomon asks God for a discerning heart to lead the people of Israel effectively. This request highlights the importance of discernment in leadership and governance.

2. Proverbs 3:21 :
"My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment; do not let them out of your sight."
· Here, discernment is paired with sound judgment, emphasizing its role in maintaining a righteous and wise life.

3. Philippians 1:9-10 :
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ."
· The Apostle Paul prays for the Philippians to grow in love and insight, which will enable them to discern what is best, leading to purity and blamelessness.

4. Hebrews 5:14 :
"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil."
· This verse suggests that discernment is a mark of spiritual maturity, developed through practice and experience in distinguishing good from evil.

The Role of the Holy Spirit:
Discernment is often associated with the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. The Spirit provides guidance and wisdom, helping Christians to understand and apply God's truth in various situations. In 1 Corinthians 2:14 , it is stated, "The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. They are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Discernment in Practice:
Practically, discernment involves prayer, study of the Scriptures, and seeking godly counsel. It requires a heart attuned to God's voice and a willingness to submit to His guidance. Discernment is crucial in decision-making, evaluating teachings, and understanding the times and seasons in which one lives.

Warnings Against Lack of Discernment:
The Bible warns against a lack of discernment, which can lead to deception and spiritual downfall. In Ephesians 4:14 , Paul warns believers not to be "tossed by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming."

Conclusion:
While discernment is a gift, it is also a skill that can be developed through a close relationship with God, immersion in His Word, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is essential for living a life that honors God and fulfills His purposes.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Discern.

2. (a.) Acute; shrewd; sagacious; sharp-sighted.

Greek

1516. eirenikos -- peaceful
... Cognate: 1516 -- what pertains to , ie God's gift of which results from knowing
(discerning) the Lord's will and obeying it. See 1515 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1516.htm - 6k

4908. sunetos -- intelligent
... sunetos Phonetic Spelling: (soon-et'-os) Short Definition: intelligent, prudent,
wise Definition: intelligent, prudent, wise, understanding, discerning. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4908.htm - 7k

4920. suniemi -- to set together, fig. to understand
... final understanding (complete with ). Accordingly, 4920 () is closely connected
with discerning and doing "" (2307 ). Eph 5:17: "So ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4920.htm - 8k

189. akoe -- hearing, the sense of hearing
... 189 -- properly, ; used of () hearing that goes with receiving faith from God (Ro
10:17), ie spiritual hearing (discerning God's voice; see also Gal 3:2,5, Gk ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/189.htm - 7k

1253. diakrisis -- the act of judgment
... Word Origin from diakrino Definition the act of judgment NASB Word Usage discern
(1), distinguishing (1), passing judgment (1). discerning, disputation. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1253.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

995. bin -- to discern
... cared (1), clever (1), consider (8), consider carefully (1), considers (1), diligently
consider (1), discern (9), discerned (2), discerning (9), discernment (1 ...
/hebrew/995.htm - 7k

Library

About Discerning the Thoughts, with an Illustration from a Good ...
... Cassian's Conferences. I. First Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XX. About discerning
the thoughts, with an illustration from a good money-changer. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xx about discerning the.htm

Some Rules for Discerning what is Said About Christ the ...
... Chapter CXIV."Some rules for discerning what is said about Christ The circumcision
of the Jews is very different from that which Christians receive. ...
/.../chapter cxiv some rules for discerning.htm

The Discerning Scribe
... Strong Meat for Hungry Souls: The Gospel of St. Mark CHAPTER 12:28-34 THE
DISCERNING SCRIBE. "And one of the scribes came, and heard ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 12 28-34 the discerning scribe.htm

Discerning Prayer.
... DISCERNING PRAYER. INTRODUCTORY. BY DW WHITTLE. To recognize God's existence
is to necessitate prayer to Him, by all intelligent ...
//christianbookshelf.org/various/the wonders of prayer/discerning prayer.htm

Of the Subject to whom to the Key of Church Priviledge, Power, or ...
... the meanest of the Saints, an ability to judge between brethren, in the things of
this life, as those that have received such a spirit of discerning from Christ ...
/.../chap iiii of the subject.htm

The Great Privilege of those that are Born of God
... 3. The not discerning this, the not observing the wide difference there is between
being justified and being born again, has occasioned exceeding great ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 19 the great privilege.htm

Whether the Interior Senses are Suitably Distinguished?
... Reply to Objection 2: The proper sense judges of the proper sensible by discerning
it from other things which come under the same sense; for instance, by ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the interior senses are.htm

[Shewing] that Common and Saving Grace Differ, not Only in Degree ...
... But here we are plainly taught that a natural man is perfectly destitute of any
sense, perception, or discerning of those things of the Spirit. ...
/.../edwards/treatise on grace/shewing that common and saving.htm

Abbot Moses' Introduction on the Grace of Discretion. And So when ...
... same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another the gift of healing
by the same Spirit," and shortly after, "to another the discerning of spirits ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter i abbot moses introduction.htm

Whether Gratuitous Grace is Rightly Divided by the Apostle?
... to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another, the
working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, the discerning of spirits ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether gratuitous grace is rightly.htm

Thesaurus

Discerning (29 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Discern. 2. (a.) Acute; shrewd; sagacious; sharp-sighted.
Multi-Version Concordance Discerning (29 Occurrences). ...
/d/discerning.htm - 15k

Discerningly (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In a discerning manner; with judgment; judiciously;
acutely. Multi-Version Concordance Discerningly (1 Occurrence). ...
/d/discerningly.htm - 6k

Discernment (43 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of discerning. 2. (n.) The power
or faculty of the mind by which it distinguishes one ...
/d/discernment.htm - 18k

Seeks (48 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS RSV NIV). Proverbs 14:6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, but
knowledge comes easily to a discerning person. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/seeks.htm - 19k

Discerneth (10 Occurrences)

/d/discerneth.htm - 9k

Wise (422 Occurrences)
... 2. (v.) Hence, especially, making due use of knowledge; discerning and judging soundly
concerning what is true or false, proper or improper; choosing the best ...
/w/wise.htm - 40k

Spirits (129 Occurrences)
... one is to be preferred as the more correct." Taking these three passages together
it is evident that the Greek term which is rendered "discerning" means a ...
/s/spirits.htm - 42k

Kinds (110 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 12:10 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy;
and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages ...
/k/kinds.htm - 36k

Unworthily (2 Occurrences)
... (KJV DBY WBS YLT). 1 Corinthians 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily,
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. ...
/u/unworthily.htm - 7k

Operations (4 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 12:10 and to another operations of miracles; and to another prophecy;
and to another discerning of spirits; and to a different one kinds of ...
/o/operations.htm - 7k

Resources

What is the spiritual gift of discerning spirits? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about discernment? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Alpha Course? | GotQuestions.org

Discerning: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Discerning (29 Occurrences)

Acts 27:39
And when the day came, they were not discerning the land, but a certain creek were perceiving having a beach, into which they took counsel, if possible, to thrust forward the ship,
(YLT)

1 Corinthians 1:19
For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing."
(WEB ASV)

1 Corinthians 4:4
for of nothing to myself have I been conscious, but not in this have I been declared right -- and he who is discerning me is the Lord:
(YLT)

1 Corinthians 11:29
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
(KJV WBS YLT RSV)

1 Corinthians 11:31
for if ourselves we were discerning, we would not be being judged,
(YLT)

1 Corinthians 12:10
and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Hebrews 4:12
for the reckoning of God is living, and working, and sharp above every two-edged sword, and piercing unto the dividing asunder both of soul and spirit, of joints also and marrow, and a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart;
(See RSV)

Genesis 41:33
Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
(See NAS NIV)

Genesis 41:39
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: 'Forasmuch as God hath shown thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou.
(See NAS NIV)

Deuteronomy 1:13
Take wise men of understanding and well known according to your tribes, and I will make them heads over you."
(See NAS)

Ruth 2:19
And her mother-in-law saith to her, 'Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and where hast thou wrought? may he who is discerning thee be blessed.' And she declareth to her mother-in-law with whom she hath wrought, and saith, 'The name of the man with whom I have wrought to-day 'is' Boaz.'
(YLT)

2 Samuel 14:17
Then thy handmaid said: Let, I pray thee, the word of my lord the king be for my comfort; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad; and the LORD thy God be with thee.'
(See NIV)

1 Kings 3:9
Give Thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this Thy great people?'
(See NIV)

1 Kings 3:12
behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there has been none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Ezra 3:13
and the people are not discerning the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people are shouting -- a great shout -- and the noise hath been heard unto a distance.
(YLT)

Proverbs 1:5
(The wise man, hearing, will get greater learning, and the acts of the man of good sense will be wisely guided:)
(See NIV)

Proverbs 10:13
In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
(See NAS NIV)

Proverbs 14:6
A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
(WEB NIV)

Proverbs 14:33
In the heart of him that hath discernment wisdom resteth; but in the inward part of fools it maketh itself known.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 16:21
The wise in heart is called a man of discernment; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
(WEB NIV)

Proverbs 18:15
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
(WEB NIV)

Proverbs 19:25
When blows overtake the man of pride, the simple will get sense; say sharp words to the wise, and knowledge will be made clear to him.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 28:7
He who keeps the law is a wise son, but he who keeps company with feasters puts shame on his father.
(See NAS NIV)

Ecclesiastes 9:11
And again I saw under the sun that the reward goes not to him who is quick, or the fruits of war to the strong; and there is no bread for the wise, or wealth for men of learning, or respect for those who have knowledge; but time and chance come to all.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 29:14
For this cause I will again do a strange thing among this people, a thing to be wondered at: and the wisdom of their wise men will come to nothing, and the sense of their guides will no longer be seen.
(See NAS RSV)

Daniel 1:4
youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skilful in all wisdom, and endued with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
(See JPS NAS)

Daniel 2:21
He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings, and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding;
(See NIV)

Hosea 14:9
Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Discerning

Discerning of Spirits

Related Terms

Discerningly (1 Occurrence)

Discernment (43 Occurrences)

Seeks (48 Occurrences)

Discerneth (10 Occurrences)

Wise (422 Occurrences)

Spirits (129 Occurrences)

Kinds (110 Occurrences)

Unworthily (2 Occurrences)