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מַחֲשָׁבָה

𐤌𐤇𐤔𐤁𐤄

machăshâbâh

H4284 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Plan, device, or thought; denotes the product of intentional or inventive mental activity in a wide range of contexts, including concrete designs such as artistic objects or technological devices, and abstract notions such as plans, intentions, schemes, or thoughts. Range includes 'mental plan or intention' (good or ill), 'invention,' and 'skillfully crafted object'.

Semantic Range

plan, intention, purpose, thought, mental device, invention, scheme, artistic design, skillful workmanship, plot, contrivance

Root / Etymology

From the root חָשַׁב (חשׁב), meaning 'to think, plan, devise.' Derived noun מַחֲשָׁבָה denotes the result or product of such mental activity, encompassing both material and immaterial outcomes. The form is a feminine noun patterning after typical action/result substantives.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מַחֲשָׁבָה appears across genres in the Hebrew Bible. In early texts (e.g., Exodus), it refers to artistic design or craftsmanship, especially in the context of the Tabernacle (Exod 31:4, 35:32, 'skillful work'). In wisdom and prophetic literature, it primarily denotes thought, plan, or intention, which can be neutral, good, or evil depending on the context (e.g., Isa 55:8–9, Ps 33:10–11, Prov 6:18). While English translations often render as 'thought' or 'plan,' in Hebrew the term is broader, sometimes including the concrete result of ingenuity or craftsmanship. It overlaps with, but is less narrowly material than, מִזְמָה (mizmah, 'plot, device'). Later literature tended to emphasize the mental/intellectual sense. The translation 'curious work' (KJV, Exodus) reflects early modern English usage and does not fully convey the breadth of the term.

Translation Consistency

primary "plan" 46 occurrences

'Plan' is the most natural, common English word that covers the primary senses in the SILEX range—intent, purpose, scheme, design, and contrivance. It matches the majority of existing renderings, reads naturally in translation, and can flexibly cover both concrete designs and abstract intentions without sounding overly formal or specialized.

Alternatives (10 occurrences):
"thoughts" (8x) "than your thoughts" (1x) "device of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מַחֲשֶׁבֶת; from חָשַׁב; a contrivance, i.e. (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice); cunning (work), curious work, device(-sed), imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חשב (ḥ-š-b) — to think, to devise, to plan, to reckon

Root חָשַׁב to think, to devise, to plan, to reckon
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2803 חָשַׁב he devised
H2804 חֲשַׁב accounted ones
H2805 חֵשֶׁב with intricately woven sash of
H2807 חֲשֻׁבָה and Chashubah
H2808 חֶשְׁבּוֹן Reckoning-City

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4284-07 מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ת macheshevot HNcfpc thoughts plans of plans of 15
H4284-05 מַחֲשָׁבֹ֑ת machashavot HNcfpa plans devised plans plans 11
H4284-08 מַחְשְׁבוֹתָ֑/ם macheshevotam HNcfpc/Sp3mp their thoughts their plans their plans 4
H4284-06 מַחֲשֶׁ֥בֶת machashevet HNcfsc devised plan of plan of 3
H4284-03 מַחֲשָֽׁבֶת machashavet HNcfsa design devised plan a plan 2
H4284-10 מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֑י/ו macheshevotayv HNcfpc/Sp3ms his plans his devised plans his plans 2
H4284-02 מַֽחֲשָׁבָ֑ה machashavah HNcfsa a-plan devised plan plan 2
H4284-17 וּ/מַ֨חְשְׁבוֹתָ֔י/ו umacheshevotayv HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms and His purposes and his devised plans and his planned plans 2
H4284-13 מַחְשְׁב֣וֹתֵי/כֶ֔ם macheshevoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your thoughts your plans your thoughts 2
H4284-04 מַֽחֲשַׁבְתּ֔/וֹ machashaveto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his scheme his devised plan his devised plan 2

Occurrences in Scripture

56 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4284-07 Genesis 6:5 מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ת macheshevot HNcfpc of the thoughts plans of plans of
H4284-05 Exodus 31:4 מַחֲשָׁבֹ֑ת machashavot HNcfpa artistic designs devised plans plans
H4284-05 Exodus 35:32 מַֽחַשָׁבֹ֑ת machashavot HNcfpa thoughts devised plans plans
H4284-03 Exodus 35:33 מַחֲשָֽׁבֶת machashavet HNcfsa of thought devised plan a plan
H4284-05 Exodus 35:35 מַחֲשָׁבֹֽת machashavot HNcfpa of designs devised plans plans
H4284-05 2 Samuel 14:14 מַֽחֲשָׁב֔וֹת machashavot HNcfpa plans devised plans plans
H4284-10 Isaiah 55:7 מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֑י/ו macheshevotayv HNcfpc/Sp3ms his thoughts his devised plans his plans
H4284-09 Isaiah 55:8 מַחְשְׁבוֹתַ/י֙ macheshevotay HNcfpc/Sp1cs my thoughts my devised plans my thoughts
H4284-13 Isaiah 55:8 מַחְשְׁב֣וֹתֵי/כֶ֔ם macheshevoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your thoughts your plans your thoughts
H4284-16 Isaiah 55:9 וּ/מַחְשְׁבֹתַ֖/י umacheshevotay HC/Ncfpc/Sp1cs and My thoughts and my plans and my thoughts
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