Bible Encyclopedias
Think

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

think : The Old Testament often translates אמר , 'āmar , "to say," meaning what one says to himself, and hence, a definite and clearly formulated decision or purpose ( Genesis 20:11; Numbers 24:4; Rth 4:4, etc.), illustrated by the, change made by the Revised Version (British and American) in the King James Version of Esther 6:6 , where "thought in his heart" becomes "said in his heart." In other passages, for חשׁב , ḥāshabh , דּמה , dāmāh , or זמם , zāmam , indicating the result of mental activity, as in an intention or estimate formed after careful deliberation (compare Ecclesiasticus 18:25); In the New Testament, most, frequently for δοκέω , dokéō , "to be of the opinion, "suppose," literally, "seem" (Matthew 3:9; Matthew 6:7; Luke 10:36 , etc.). Sometimes, for λογίζομαι , logı́zomai , "to compute," "reckon" (Romans 2:3 , etc.); sometimes, for νομίζω , nomı́zō , literally referring to what attains the force of law (νόμος , nómos ), and then, "to be of the opinion"; or, for φρονέω , phronéō , implying a thought that is cherished - a mental habit, rather than an act (Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 13:11 ). The Greek ἡγέομαι , hēgéomai , "to consider," implies logical deduction from premises (Acts 26:2; Philippians 2:6 ), while in Matthew 1:20; Matthew 9:4 , and Acts 10:19 , ἐνθυμοῦμαι , enthumoúmai , refers to the mental process itself, the thinking-out of a project, the concentration of the faculties upon the formation of a plan.