Bible Encyclopedias
Device

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

dē̇ -vı̄s ´: "A scheme," "invention," "plot." In the Old Testament it stands for six Hebrew words, of which the most common is maḥăshebheth (from ḥāshabh , "to think," "contrive"). In the New Testament it occurs only twice, once for Greek enthúmēsis (Acts 17:29 ), and once for nóēma (2 Corinthians 2:11 ). Sometimes the word means simply that which is planned or invented, without any evil implication, as in 2 Chronicles 2:14; Acts 17:29 (of artistic work or invention), and Ecclesiastes 9:10 (in the general sense of reasoning or contriving). But more frequently it is used in an evil sense, of a wicked purpose or plot, "Let us devise devices against Jeremiah" ( Jeremiah 18:18 ); "For we are not ignorant of his (i.e. Satan's) devices" (2 Corinthians 2:11 ), etc.