What does διαλογισμός (dialogismós) mean in the Bible?
διαλογισμός (dialogismos) can name an inward thought, calculation, doubt, dispute, or argumentative reasoning. The noun is not a condemnation of careful thinking.
Greek · G1261
διαλογισμός
Reasoning
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
διαλογισμός G1261
Pronunciation dialogismós
What does διαλογισμός (dialogismós) mean in the Bible?
διαλογισμός (dialogismos) can name an inward thought, calculation, doubt, dispute, or argumentative reasoning. The noun is not a condemnation of careful thinking.
Reader summary
Full entry for διαλογισμός (G1261) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G1261?
The BSB source-word alignment has 14 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include thoughts (6), [the] thoughts (1), {do} doubts (1), an argument (1), arguing (1).
Where does διαλογισμός (dialogismós) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 15:19. Its strongest book concentrations include Luke (6), Romans (2), 1 Corinthians (1), 1 Timothy (1).
What This Word Actually Means
διαλογισμός (dialogismos) can name an inward thought, calculation, doubt, dispute, or argumentative reasoning. The noun is not a condemnation of careful thinking. Its Pauline uses expose reasoning that has curved inward, become futile before God, or broken fellowship through quarrelsome resistance. In 1 Corinthians 3:20 Paul quotes Scripture to puncture the self-congratulating thoughts of the supposedly wise.
In 1 Timothy 2:8 anger and disputing are incompatible with holy prayer. In Philippians 2:14 argumentative complaint threatens the church's blameless witness in a crooked generation. The word therefore reaches both the hidden workshop of the heart and the speech by which inward resistance enters community life. Faithful teaching should call believers to renewed thinking while refusing to baptize suspicion, resentment, or endless controversy as discernment.
How the Bible Uses It
Paul uses διαλογισμός for thoughts and disputes that resist God's wisdom, corrupt prayer, or disturb the church's obedient witness. The problem is not thinking itself but reasoning disordered by pride, anger, and complaint.
- 1Cor.3.20
And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
Paul quotes Psalm 94 to expose human thoughts that boast of wisdom while standing empty before the Lord who knows them completely.
- 1Tim.2.8
Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.
Public prayer is to rise from holy lives without anger or quarrelsome disputing. The inner and communal posture of the worshiper matters.
- Php.2.14
Do everything without complaining or arguing,
Complaining and argumentative resistance are set against obedient life, unity, and the church's witness as lights holding forth the word of life.
Canonical parallelPassage context
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It thoughts 6× Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21, Luke 6:8, Luke 9:47
[the] thoughts 1× Luke 2:35
{do} doubts 1× Luke 24:38
an argument 1× Luke 9:46
arguing 1× Philippians 2:14
dissension 1× 1 Timothy 2:8
on [his] opinions 1× Romans 14:1
thinking 1× Romans 1:21
were thinking 1× Luke 5:22
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 15:19 διαλογισμοὶ to thoughts Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Mark 7:21 διαλογισμοὶ to thoughts Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Luke 2:35 διαλογισμοί to [the] thoughts Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Luke 5:22 διαλογισμοὺς to were thinking Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural Luke 6:8 διαλογισμοὺς to thoughts Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural Luke 9:46 διαλογισμὸς to an argument Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Luke 9:47 διαλογισμὸν to thoughts Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Luke 24:38 διαλογισμοὶ to {do} doubts Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Romans 1:21 διαλογισμοῖς to thinking Noun - Dative Masculine Plural Romans 14:1 διαλογισμῶν to on [his] opinions Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 15:19
Aligned rows 14
Books represented 8
Matthew 1 Mark 1 Luke 6 Romans 2 1 Corinthians 1 Philippians 1 1 Timothy 1 James 1
Source forms
διαλογισμοὶ 3x dialogismoi Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21, Luke 24:38
διαλογισμοὺς 3x dialogismous Luke 5:22, Luke 6:8, 1 Corinthians 3:20
διαλογισμῶν 3x dialogismōn Romans 14:1, Philippians 2:14, James 2:4
διαλογισμοί 1x dialogismoi Luke 2:35
διαλογισμοῖς 1x dialogismois Romans 1:21
διαλογισμὸν 1x dialogismon Luke 9:47
διαλογισμὸς 1x dialogismos Luke 9:46
διαλογισμοῦ 1x dialogismou 1 Timothy 2:8
Parsing patterns
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural 4x Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21, Luke 2:35, Luke 24:38
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural 3x Luke 5:22, Luke 6:8, 1 Corinthians 3:20
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural 3x Romans 14:1, Philippians 2:14, James 2:4
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular 1x Luke 9:47
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural 1x Romans 1:21
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular 1x 1 Timothy 2:8
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular 1x Luke 9:46
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Examine the desire and fruit of an argument, not only its internal logic.
- Do not carry anger, murmuring, or factional loyalty into prayer under the name of discernment.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that διαλογισμός makes rational reflection or honest questions spiritually suspect.
- Do not claim that doctrinal concern excuses anger, quarrelsomeness, or a pattern of complaint.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Inner deliberation or questioning, often negative doubts or evil intentions rather than neutral thought.
Strong's G1261
Lexical occurrences 14 verses Greek text appearances 14 times Word forms 7 forms 14 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Luke 9:46–48 Source Gloss
reasoning
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
14 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 15:19 Noun Nominative Plural Masculine
διαλογισμοὶ dialogismoi
a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
Read verse Mark 7:21 Noun Nominative Plural Masculine
διαλογισμοὶ dialogismoi
a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
Read verse Luke 2:35 Noun Nominative Plural Masculine
διαλογισμοί. dialogismoi
a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
Read verse Luke 5:22 Noun Accusative Plural Masculine
διαλογισμοὺς dialogismouv
a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
Read verse Luke 6:8 Noun Accusative Plural Masculine
διαλογισμοὺς dialogismouv
a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
Read verse Luke 9:46 Noun Nominative Singular Masculine
διαλογισμὸς dialogismov
a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
Read verse Luke 9:47 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
διαλογισμὸν dialogismon
a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
Read verse Luke 24:38 Noun Nominative Plural Masculine
διαλογισμοὶ dialogismoi
a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
Read verse Romans 1:21 Noun Dative Plural Masculine
διαλογισμοῖς dialogismoiv
a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
Read verse Romans 14:1 Noun Genitive Plural Masculine
διαλογισμῶν. dialogismwn
a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
Read verse 1 Corinthians 3:20 Noun Accusative Plural Masculine
διαλογισμοὺς dialogismouv
a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
Read verse Philippians 2:14 Noun Genitive Plural Masculine
διαλογισμῶν, dialogismwn
a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
Read verse 1 Timothy 2:8 Noun Genitive Singular Masculine
διαλογισμοῦ. dialogismou
a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
Read verse James 2:4 Noun Genitive Plural Masculine
διαλογισμῶν dialogismwn
a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 7 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 7 Aligned forms 14 Case pattern Nominative (5) Number pattern Plural (11)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Nominative · Plural · Masculine Matt 15:19 · Mark 7:21 · Luke 2:35 · Luke 24:38 4×
Nominative · Singular · Masculine Luke 9:46 1×
Genitive · Plural · Masculine Rom 14:1 · Phil 2:14 · Jas 2:4 3×
Genitive · Singular · Masculine 1 Tim 2:8 1×
Dative · Plural · Masculine Rom 1:21 1×
Accusative · Plural · Masculine Luke 5:22 · Luke 6:8 · 1 Cor 3:20 3×
Accusative · Singular · Masculine Luke 9:47 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Additional Occurrences
Luke 9:46–48 διαλογισμός dialogismós
Reasoning, inward debate
New Testament Witnesses
reasoning/dispute
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 14 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
διαλογισμός is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Reveals internal ambition contrary to the kingdom ethic.
Canonical Themes
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
διαλογισμός reveals that spiritual conflict often develops before it becomes visible. First Corinthians 3 places human thoughts beneath the searching knowledge of the Lord and dismantles boasting in teachers. Paul is not asking believers to stop reasoning; he is teaching them to become fools by the world's standards so they may receive God's wisdom in Christ.
First Timothy 2 moves from thought to worship: men are to pray without anger or disputing, because a hostile posture contradicts the holy hands they lift. Philippians 2 joins complaint and argument to the church's public life. God is at work in His people, so obedient service without grumbling helps them shine as lights while holding forth the word of life. The pastoral question is not simply whether an argument is logical.
It is also what desire feeds it, what fruit it produces, and whether it submits to the wisdom of Christ.
Anchor passage
Php.2.14-16
Doctrinal connections
- Psalm 94:8-11 - the Lord knows the thoughts of humanity
- 1 Corinthians 1:18-3:23 - the cross overturns boasting in worldly wisdom
- 1 Timothy 2:1-8 - prayer for all people requires holy and peaceable worshipers
- Philippians 2:12-16 - God's work in believers produces obedient public witness
- Romans 12:1-2 - renewed minds discern God's will
The noun can move between inner thoughts or calculations and outward doubts, disputes, or arguments. Context and number matter. A plural reference to thoughts may emphasize inward schemes, while a communal setting can foreground controversy or disputing. The lexical range should not be reduced to either intellect or quarrel alone.
From Old to New Testament
The Psalms and prophets repeatedly place human thoughts beneath God's knowledge and call His people away from murmuring and hardened counsel. Paul quotes that wisdom directly in 1 Corinthians and applies the wider posture to prayer and church life. The canonical bridge concerns thoughts submitted to God, not an equation of every Hebrew thought-word with G1261.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain