To think
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G1380 is a broad verb for thinking, supposing, considering, seeming, appearing, or deciding that something is fitting. Some contexts leave open whether an impression is true; others use the verb for a reasoned judgment or communal decision.
Reader summary
Full entry for δοκέω (G1380) · Open the biblical lexicon
G1380 is a broad verb for thinking, supposing, considering, seeming, appearing, or deciding that something is fitting. Some contexts leave open whether an impression is true; others use the verb for a reasoned judgment or communal decision.
The BSB source-word alignment has 62 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include do you think (7), think (6), thinks (5), thinking (3), thought (3).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 3:9. Its strongest book concentrations include Luke (10), Matthew (10), 1 Corinthians (9), Acts (8).
G1380 is a broad verb for thinking, supposing, considering, seeming, appearing, or deciding that something is fitting. Some contexts leave open whether an impression is true; others use the verb for a reasoned judgment or communal decision. The word itself does not mean weak conviction, self-deception, or error. The clause and narrative evaluation determine whether what seems true corresponds to reality.
Paul and James use the verb in several warnings about mistaken self-assessment. First Corinthians 10:12 warns the person who thinks he stands to watch against falling. Galatians 6:3 addresses someone who thinks he is something while being nothing in the immediate setting of gentle restoration and burden-bearing. James 1:26 contrasts considering oneself religious with an unbridled tongue. These passages expose particular mismatches; they do not make every confident judgment suspect.
Luke 1:3 uses an impersonal construction for the author's considered decision to write an orderly account. Acts 15 repeatedly uses "it seemed good" for the council's judgment, including "to the Holy Spirit and to us." These uses require no self-deception reading. Discernment may involve evidence, Scripture, community, humility, and correction. G1380 should not be used to cultivate chronic self-doubt, dismiss a person's testimony, or give a leader power to declare that another person's perception is unreal.
G1380 ranges from personal supposition and appearance to considered or communal judgment. Warning passages expose mistaken self-estimation, while Luke and Acts use the verb for deliberative conclusions.
So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
Paul addresses complacent self-assessment after using Israel's failures as warnings. Verse 13 keeps vigilance beside confidence in God's faithfulness.
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
The warning follows the call to restore someone gently and carry burdens. It challenges superiority in that setting rather than denying human worth.
Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
The construction describes a considered literary decision after careful investigation. It is a positive example of judgment rather than uncertain guesswork.
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
The council's letter states a communal judgment reached through dispute, testimony, scriptural reasoning, and deliberation. The verb does not explain the entire discernment process by itself.
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
James tests religious self-assessment by conduct, especially speech. The verse does not authorize observers to infer every hidden motive from one mistake.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Greek word. Subjective judgment based on thought rather than external proof; how something appears to the observer.
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 63 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
I think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
Read verseI think, seem, appear, it seems
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.
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
How this verb appears across 61 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 1 selected witness from 62 lexical occurrence verses.
δοκέω is a primary verb - no further derivation.
Highlights collective, Spirit-guided discernment.Acts 15:22-29
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
The New Testament does not treat all "thinking" as unreliable. G1380 can mark complacent self-assessment, an appearance that may prove false, a careful decision to write, or a council's considered conclusion. First Corinthians 10 calls for vigilance while immediately affirming God's faithfulness. Galatians 6 checks superiority in the work of restoration. Luke 1 joins judgment to investigation, and Acts 15 places a communal conclusion after testimony, dispute, Scripture, and deliberation.
This range gives pastors a healthier language of discernment. People need humility without chronic uncertainty and confidence without self-certification. Leaders must not dismiss reports of harm as mere perception or claim exclusive access to reality. Judgments should be named as judgments, supported with evidence, tested in community, and revised when truth requires it.
1Cor.10.12
G1380 can function personally or impersonally and can express opinion, appearance, consideration, or a judgment that something is fitting. The local artifact records about 62 occurrences. Context must show whether a judgment is mistaken, provisional, carefully reasoned, or affirmed by the narrative.
Wisdom texts warn against being wise in one's own eyes and also commend counsel, examination, and sound judgment. Those themes provide canonical parallels, but G1380's exact force comes from each Greek New Testament construction.