The term "perceivest" is an archaic form of the verb "perceive," which means to become aware of, to recognize, or to understand something through the senses or the mind. In the context of the Bible, perceiving often involves spiritual insight or discernment granted by God. The ability to perceive is frequently associated with wisdom and understanding, gifts that are highly valued in the biblical narrative.

Biblical Usage and Context

In the Bible, perceiving is often linked to the heart and mind's ability to understand spiritual truths. It is not merely an intellectual exercise but involves a deeper, spiritual comprehension that is often contrasted with mere physical sight or hearing. This concept is evident in several passages where the prophets and Jesus Himself speak of the people's inability to perceive God's truth due to their hardened hearts.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "perceive" is "bin," which conveys understanding or discernment. For example, in the book of Job, Elihu speaks to Job, saying, "Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him? Who has prescribed His ways for Him, or said, ‘You have done wrong’? Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song. All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar. How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of His years is unsearchable" (Job 36:22-26). Here, the perception of God's greatness is linked to an understanding that transcends human wisdom.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the Greek word "noeo" is often used, which means to perceive with the mind, to understand, or to think upon. Jesus frequently addressed the issue of spiritual perception. In Matthew 13:13-15 , Jesus explains why He speaks in parables: "This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.’" Here, Jesus highlights the spiritual blindness and deafness of the people, which prevents them from perceiving the truth of His message.

Spiritual Perception and Discernment

The ability to perceive spiritually is a recurring theme in the Bible, often associated with the work of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 2:14 , Paul writes, "The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." This passage underscores the necessity of spiritual discernment, which is a gift from God, enabling believers to perceive and understand divine truths.

Practical Implications for Believers

For believers, the call to perceive is a call to seek wisdom and understanding from God. Proverbs 2:3-5 encourages this pursuit: "if you indeed call out for insight and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God." This pursuit of spiritual perception is an ongoing process, requiring prayer, study of the Scriptures, and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

In summary, "perceivest" in the biblical context refers to a deep, spiritual understanding that goes beyond mere sensory experience. It is a gift from God, enabling believers to discern His will and truth in their lives.

Perceivest Thou not How Much this Reasoning Aideth the Very ...
... Section 2. Perceivest thou not how much this reasoning aideth the very
persons whom as great? 2. Perceivest thou not how much ...
/.../augustine/against lying/section 2 perceivest thou not.htm

1 Cor. x. 13
... "And I would not that ye should have communion with demon." Perceivest thou
the kindness of a careful father? Perceivest thou also ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxiv 1 cor x.htm

A Treatise against the Heretic Novatian by an Anonymous Bishop.
... Church; in which house if thou hadst continued, Novatian, thou hadst perchance been
also a precious vessel; but now thou neither perceivest nor complainest ...
/.../a treatise against the heretic.htm

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity
... master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but
perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either ...
/.../xx sermon for the fourth.htm

The Practice of Piety in Glorifying God in the Time of Sickness ...
... DIE IN THE LORD. As soon as thou perceivest thyself to be visited with any
sickness, meditate with thyself: 1. That "misery cometh ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/the practice of piety in.htm

Secondly, for Thy Words.
... matters. If thou perceivest that thou hast erred, persevere not in thine
error; rejoice to find the truth, and magnify it. Study ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/secondly for thy words.htm

O Fool, Thou Dost not Die to God.
... the lofty One. Although thou shouldst arrange that when dead thou perceivest
nothing, thou shalt foolishly be overcome. God the ...
/.../commodianus/the instructions of commodianus/xxvii o fool thou dost not.htm

We Shall See God when we Put on Immortality.
... their dews. If thou perceivest these things, O man, living chastely, and
holily, and righteously, thou canst see God. But before ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter vii we shall see god.htm

With Freedom is Thy Struggle, O Evil One: it Can Cast on Thee a ...
... each other, how weak both are: Death reminded the Evil One of thy mightiness (O
Freedom)."4. Thy fire is in thy nest, O Death, and thou perceivest not: the ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn lvi with freedom is.htm

Hear, O Freedom, the Dispute of Two Servants: How they are ...
... D., It is for thy evil thou conquerest, O Evil One, if thou discernest:
thy crown is wholly of shame, if thou perceivest."21. ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn liv hear o freedom.htm

Perceivest (2 Occurrences)
...Perceivest (2 Occurrences). Luke 6:41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in
thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ...
/p/perceivest.htm - 6k

Lookest (8 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Luke 6:41 But why lookest thou on the mote which is in the eye of thy brother,
but perceivest not the beam which is in thine own eye? (DBY). ...
/l/lookest.htm - 8k

Mote (6 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT). Luke 6:41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy
brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ...
/m/mote.htm - 9k

Perceives (2 Occurrences)

/p/perceives.htm - 6k

Perceiveth (4 Occurrences)

/p/perceiveth.htm - 7k

Beholdest (6 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV WBS). Luke 6:41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's
eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/b/beholdest.htm - 8k

Perceive (53 Occurrences)
... Proverbs 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not
in him the lips of knowledge. (Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). ...
/p/perceive.htm - 22k

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