What does מְזִמָּה (məzimmāh) mean in the Bible?
מְזִמָּה (məzimmāh): Cunning mental scheming, predominantly malevolent intent, rarely sagacious; human plotting against divine order.
Hebrew · H4209
מְזִמָּה
A plan , usually evil ( machination ), sometimes good ( sagacity )
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מְזִמָּה H4209
Pronunciation məzimmāh
What does מְזִמָּה (məzimmāh) mean in the Bible?
מְזִמָּה (məzimmāh): Cunning mental scheming, predominantly malevolent intent, rarely sagacious; human plotting against divine order.
Full entry for מְזִמָּה (H4209) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4209?
The BSB source-word alignment has 19 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and discretion (2), Discretion (2), the purposes (2), . . . (1), and a devious (1).
Where does מְזִמָּה (məzimmāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Job 21:27. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (8), Psalms (5), Jeremiah (4), Job (2).
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 and discretion 2× Proverbs 1:4, Proverbs 8:12
Discretion 2× Proverbs 2:11, Proverbs 5:2
the purposes 2× Jeremiah 23:20, Jeremiah 30:24
. . . 1× Proverbs 24:8
and a devious 1× Proverbs 14:17
and discernment 1× Proverbs 3:21
deceitfully 1× Psalms 139:20
evil schemes 1× Jeremiah 11:15
His plan 1× Jeremiah 51:11
his schemes 1× Psalms 10:4
in the schemes 1× Psalms 10:2
plan 1× Job 42:2
the schemes 1× Psalms 21:11
the schemes by which 1× Job 21:27
who devises evil 1× Proverbs 12:2
wicked schemes 1× Psalms 37:7
Show sample aligned rows
Job 21:27 וּ֝מְזִמּ֗וֹת to the schemes by which Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural Job 42:2 מְזִמָּֽה׃ to plan Noun - feminine singular Psalms 10:2 בִּמְזִמּ֖וֹת to in the schemes Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural Psalms 10:4 מְזִמּוֹתָֽיו׃ to his schemes Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular Psalms 21:11 מְ֝זִמָּ֗ה to the schemes Noun - feminine singular Psalms 37:7 מְזִמּֽוֹת׃ to wicked schemes Noun - feminine plural Psalms 139:20 לִמְזִמָּ֑ה to deceitfully Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular Proverbs 1:4 וּמְזִמָּֽה׃ to and discretion Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Proverbs 2:11 מְ֭זִמָּה to Discretion Noun - feminine singular Proverbs 3:21 וּמְזִמָּֽה׃ to and discernment Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Job 21:27
Aligned rows 19
Books represented 4
Job 2 Psalms 5 Proverbs 8 Jeremiah 4
Source forms
מְזִמּ֣וֹת 4x mə·zim·mō·wṯ Proverbs 8:12, Proverbs 12:2, Jeremiah 23:20, Jeremiah 30:24
וּמְזִמָּֽה׃ 2x ū·mə·zim·māh Proverbs 1:4, Proverbs 3:21
בִּמְזִמּ֖וֹת 1x bim·zim·mō·wṯ Psalms 10:2
הַֽמְזִמָּ֙תָה֙ 1x ham·zim·mā·ṯāh Jeremiah 11:15
וּ֝מְזִמּ֗וֹת 1x ū·mə·zim·mō·wṯ Job 21:27
לִמְזִמָּ֑ה 1x lim·zim·māh Psalms 139:20
מְ֝זִמָּ֗ה 1x mə·zim·māh Psalms 21:11
מְ֭זִמָּה 1x mə·zim·māh Proverbs 2:11
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine plural 6x Psalms 37:7, Proverbs 5:2, Proverbs 8:12, Proverbs 12:2
Noun - feminine singular 3x Job 42:2, Psalms 21:11, Proverbs 2:11
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular 2x Proverbs 1:4, Proverbs 3:21
Noun - feminine plural construct 2x Jeremiah 23:20, Jeremiah 30:24
Article | Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular 1x Jeremiah 11:15
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural 1x Job 21:27
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular 1x Psalms 10:4
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular 1x Jeremiah 51:11
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Cunning mental scheming, predominantly malevolent intent, rarely sagacious; human plotting against divine order.
Source Gloss
a plan , usually evil ( machination ), sometimes good ( sagacity )
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Cunning mental scheming, predominantly malevolent intent, rarely sagacious; human plotting against divine order.
a plan, usually evil (machination), sometimes good (sagacity) BDB: purpose Usage: (wicked) device, discretion, intent, witty invention, lewdness, mischievous (device), thought, wickedly.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
careful planning or thoughtful discernment
thoughtful planning or careful judgment
His thoughts, plans, or schemes; refers to the entirety of his inner world
Wicked scheme; plot; device; refers to a calculated and intentional plan of evil
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 19 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מְזִמָּה is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Wisdom equips believers to think ahead and avoid destructive decisions. Proverbs 3:21-35
Discretion allows a person to apply wisdom in practical situations. Proverbs 8:12-21
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.
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