The term "perceiveth" 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

1. Spiritual Discernment: In the Bible, perceiving is often linked to spiritual discernment. This is the ability to see beyond the physical and understand the spiritual truths that God reveals. For instance, in the New Testament, Jesus frequently spoke in parables, and only those with spiritual insight could perceive the deeper meanings of His teachings. In Matthew 13:13 , Jesus explains, "This is why I speak to them in parables: 'Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.'"

2. Wisdom and Understanding: The ability to perceive is closely related to wisdom and understanding, which are gifts from God. Proverbs 1:2 states that the proverbs are "for learning wisdom and discipline, for understanding words of insight." Here, perceiving is part of the process of gaining wisdom, which is essential for living a life that honors God.

3. Recognition of God's Works: Perceiving also involves recognizing the works and presence of God in the world. In Psalm 19:1 , it is written, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." Those who perceive can see God's handiwork in creation and understand His power and majesty.

4. Moral and Ethical Insight: Perception in the Bible often involves moral and ethical insight. Hebrews 5:14 speaks of mature believers who "by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil." This perception is crucial for making righteous decisions and living according to God's will.

5. Blindness and Hardness of Heart: Conversely, a lack of perception is often attributed to spiritual blindness or hardness of heart. In Mark 8:17-18 , Jesus questions His disciples, "Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?" This indicates that spiritual perception is not merely a natural ability but a condition of the heart and spirit.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in enabling believers to perceive spiritual truths. In 1 Corinthians 2:14 , Paul writes, "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." The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of believers, allowing them to perceive and embrace the truths of God.

Practical Implications for Believers

For believers, perceiving is an ongoing process that involves seeking God's wisdom and guidance through prayer, study of the Scriptures, and openness to the Holy Spirit. It requires a heart that is receptive to God's voice and a willingness to act upon the insights received. As believers grow in their faith, their ability to perceive spiritual truths deepens, enabling them to live more fully in accordance with God's purposes.

Sermon for Palm Sunday
... He is the Word of the Father; in which Word the Father utters Himself, and all the
divine nature, and all that God is, so that, in that He perceiveth it, He ...
/.../xiii sermon for palm sunday.htm

How to Make Use of Christ as the Truth, for Growth in Knowledge.
... 3. Let him not think, that there is no growth in knowledge, because possibly he
perceiveth it not, or is not satisfied as to the measure thereof; yea, though ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xiii how to make.htm

Since the Case is So, what is Man...
... Because he is himself not able to choose or love, unless being first chosen and
loved he be healed, because by choosing blindness he perceiveth not, and by ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on patience /19 since the case is.htm

A Song of Christian Consolation and Joy.
... he eats. My mind this clear perceiveth, Yet am I undismay'd; To Thee my
heart aye cleaveth, On Thee shall cares be laid. Though ...
/.../gerhardt/paul gerhardts spiritual songs/a song of christian consolation.htm

Three Condensed Parables
... I to XII THREE CONDENSED PARABLES. 'And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy
brother's eye, but perceiveth not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/three condensed parables.htm

Portrait of a Matron
... She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.18. She perceiveth
that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.19. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/portrait of a matron.htm

John Chapter i. 5-Jan
... 1. When I give heed to what we have just read from the apostolic lesson, that "the
natural man perceiveth not the things which are of the Spirit of God," [3 ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate i john chapter i.htm

Of Confession of Our Infirmity and of the Miseries of this Life
... an evil desire conquereth a mind given to the world, and thinketh it happiness to
be under the nettles(3) because it savoureth not nor perceiveth the sweetness ...
/.../kempis/imitation of christ/chapter xx of confession of.htm

The Discourse on the Holy Theophany.
... 1. Good, yea, very good, are all the works of our God and Saviour"all of them that
eye seeth and mind perceiveth, all that reason interprets and hand handles ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/the discourse on the holy.htm

But that He Judgeth all Things, this Answers to his Having ...
... For this he doth by the understanding of his mind, whereby he perceiveth the things
of the Spirit of God; whereas otherwise, man being placed in honour, had no ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xxiii but that he.htm

Perceiveth (4 Occurrences)
...Perceiveth (4 Occurrences). Job 14:21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it
not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. ...
/p/perceiveth.htm - 7k

Perceiving (25 Occurrences)

/p/perceiving.htm - 13k

Notices (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Notices (1 Occurrence). Job 33:14 For God speaketh in
one way, yea in two, though man perceiveth it not. (See NAS). ...
/n/notices.htm - 6k

Regardeth (21 Occurrences)
... DBY). Job 14:21 His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; And they are
brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. (See JPS). ...
/r/regardeth.htm - 12k

Earning (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Earning (2 Occurrences). Proverbs 31:18 She perceiveth
that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night. (DBY). ...
/e/earning.htm - 7k

Perceivest (2 Occurrences)

/p/perceivest.htm - 6k

Adornment (7 Occurrences)
... his glorious adornment which is on the head of the fat valley shall be like an early
fig before the summer: as soon as he that seeth it perceiveth it, scarcely ...
/a/adornment.htm - 8k

Scarcely (14 Occurrences)
... his glorious adornment which is on the head of the fat valley shall be like an early
fig before the summer: as soon as he that seeth it perceiveth it, scarcely ...
/s/scarcely.htm - 10k

Swalloweth (10 Occurrences)
... his glorious adornment which is on the head of the fat valley shall be like an early
fig before the summer: as soon as he that seeth it perceiveth it, scarcely ...
/s/swalloweth.htm - 9k

Candle (16 Occurrences)
... out. (KJV WBS). Proverbs 31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good:
her candle goeth not out by night. (KJV WBS). Jeremiah ...
/c/candle.htm - 15k

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