מַחֲשָׁבָה (H4284) — Hebrew Lexicon

מַחֲשָׁבָה

𐤌𐤇𐤔𐤁𐤄

machăshâbâh

H4284 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חָשַׁב to think, to devise, to plan, to reckon

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.

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.

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Root Family

חשב (ḥ-š-b) — 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
H2809	חֶשְׁבּוֹן	in Heshbon
H2810	חִשָּׁבוֹן	devised contrivances
H2811	חֲשַׁבְיָה	Yah has considered
H2812	חֲשַׁבְנָה	Hashabnah
H2813	חֲשַׁבְנְיָה	Yah Has Considered
H2815	חַשּׁוּב	Regarded One

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H4284-07`	מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	thoughts	plans of	15
`H4284-05`	מַחֲשָׁבֹ֑ת	machashavot	`HNcfpa`	plans	devised plans	11
`H4284-08`	מַחְשְׁבוֹתָ֑/ם	macheshevotam	`HNcfpc/Sp3mp`	their thoughts	their plans	4
`H4284-06`	מַחֲשֶׁ֥בֶת	machashevet	`HNcfsc`	devised	plan of	3
`H4284-03`	מַחֲשָֽׁבֶת	machashavet	`HNcfsa`	design	devised plan	2
`H4284-10`	מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֑י/ו	macheshevotayv	`HNcfpc/Sp3ms`	his plans	his devised plans	2
`H4284-02`	מַֽחֲשָׁבָ֑ה	machashavah	`HNcfsa`	a-plan	devised plan	2
`H4284-17`	וּ/מַ֨חְשְׁבוֹתָ֔י/ו	umacheshevotayv	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms`	and His purposes	and his devised plans	2
`H4284-13`	מַחְשְׁב֣וֹתֵי/כֶ֔ם	macheshevoteykhem	`HNcfpc/Sp2mp`	your thoughts	your plans	2
`H4284-04`	מַֽחֲשַׁבְתּ֔/וֹ	machashaveto	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his scheme	his devised plan	2
`H4284-12`	מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽי/ךָ	macheshevoteykha	`HNcfpc/Sp2ms`	are Your thoughts	your plans	2
`H4284-11`	מַחְשְׁבֽוֹתֵי/הֶם֙	macheshevoteyhem	`HNcfpc/Sp3mp`	their own thoughts	their plans	2
`H4284-19`	וּ/מַחְשְׁבֹתֶ֗י/ךָ	umacheshevoteykha	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms`	and-thoughts-your	and your plans	1
`H4284-09`	מַחְשְׁבוֹתַ/י֙	macheshevotay	`HNcfpc/Sp1cs`	my thoughts	my devised plans	1
`H4284-15`	מִ/מַּחְשְׁבֹתֵי/כֶֽם	mimacheshevoteykhem	`HR/Ncfpc/Sp2mp`	than your thoughts	from your plans	1
`H4284-01`	הַ/מַּחֲשָׁבֹ֗ת	hamachashavot	`HTd/Ncfpa`	plans	the devised plans	1
`H4284-16`	וּ/מַחְשְׁבֹתַ֖/י	umacheshevotay	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp1cs`	and My thoughts	and my plans	1
`H4284-14`	מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵ֨י/נוּ֙	macheshevoteynu	`HNcfpc/Sp1cp`	our plans	our devised plans	1
`H4284-18`	וּ/מַחְשְׁבֹ֣תֵי/הֶ֔ם	umacheshevoteyhem	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp3mp`	and their thoughts	and their devised plans	1

Occurrences in Scripture

56 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H4284-07`	Genesis 6:5	מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	of the thoughts	plans of
`H4284-05`	Exodus 31:4	מַחֲשָׁבֹ֑ת	machashavot	`HNcfpa`	artistic designs	devised plans
`H4284-05`	Exodus 35:32	מַֽחַשָׁבֹ֑ת	machashavot	`HNcfpa`	thoughts	devised plans
`H4284-03`	Exodus 35:33	מַחֲשָֽׁבֶת	machashavet	`HNcfsa`	of thought	devised plan
`H4284-05`	Exodus 35:35	מַחֲשָׁבֹֽת	machashavot	`HNcfpa`	of designs	devised plans
`H4284-05`	2 Samuel 14:14	מַֽחֲשָׁב֔וֹת	machashavot	`HNcfpa`	plans	devised plans
`H4284-10`	Isaiah 55:7	מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֑י/ו	macheshevotayv	`HNcfpc/Sp3ms`	his thoughts	his devised plans
`H4284-09`	Isaiah 55:8	מַחְשְׁבוֹתַ/י֙	macheshevotay	`HNcfpc/Sp1cs`	my thoughts	my devised plans
`H4284-13`	Isaiah 55:8	מַחְשְׁב֣וֹתֵי/כֶ֔ם	macheshevoteykhem	`HNcfpc/Sp2mp`	your thoughts	your plans
`H4284-16`	Isaiah 55:9	וּ/מַחְשְׁבֹתַ֖/י	umacheshevotay	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp1cs`	and My thoughts	and my plans
`H4284-15`	Isaiah 55:9	מִ/מַּחְשְׁבֹתֵי/כֶֽם	mimacheshevoteykhem	`HR/Ncfpc/Sp2mp`	than your thoughts	from your plans
`H4284-11`	Isaiah 59:7	מַחְשְׁבֽוֹתֵי/הֶם֙	macheshevoteyhem	`HNcfpc/Sp3mp`	their thoughts	their plans
`H4284-07`	Isaiah 59:7	מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	thoughts	plans of
`H4284-11`	Isaiah 65:2	מַחְשְׁבֹתֵי/הֶֽם	macheshevoteyhem	`HNcfpc/Sp3mp`	their own thoughts	their plans
`H4284-18`	Isaiah 66:18	וּ/מַחְשְׁבֹ֣תֵי/הֶ֔ם	umacheshevoteyhem	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp3mp`	and their thoughts	and their devised plans
`H4284-07`	Jeremiah 4:14	מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	thoughts	plans of
`H4284-08`	Jeremiah 6:19	מַחְשְׁבוֹתָ֑/ם	macheshevotam	`HNcfpc/Sp3mp`	of their thoughts	their plans
`H4284-05`	Jeremiah 11:19	מַחֲשָׁב֗וֹת	machashavot	`HNcfpa`	plans	devised plans
`H4284-02`	Jeremiah 18:11	מַֽחֲשָׁבָ֑ה	machashavah	`HNcfsa`	a-plan	devised plan
`H4284-14`	Jeremiah 18:12	מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵ֨י/נוּ֙	macheshevoteynu	`HNcfpc/Sp1cp`	our plans	our devised plans
`H4284-05`	Jeremiah 18:18	מַחֲשָׁבוֹת֒	machashavot	`HNcfpa`	plans	devised plans
`H4284-01`	Jeremiah 29:11	הַ/מַּחֲשָׁבֹ֗ת	hamachashavot	`HTd/Ncfpa`	plans	the devised plans
`H4284-07`	Jeremiah 29:11	מַחְשְׁב֤וֹת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	plans	plans of
`H4284-17`	Jeremiah 49:20	וּ/מַ֨חְשְׁבוֹתָ֔י/ו	umacheshevotayv	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms`	and His purposes	and his devised plans
`H4284-02`	Jeremiah 49:30	מַחֲשָׁבָֽה	machashavah	`HNcfsa`	a purpose	devised plan
`H4284-17`	Jeremiah 50:45	וּ/מַ֨חְשְׁבוֹתָ֔י/ו	umacheshevotayv	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms`	and His purposes	and his devised plans
`H4284-07`	Jeremiah 51:29	מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	purposes	plans of
`H4284-06`	Ezekiel 38:10	מַחֲשֶׁ֥בֶת	machashevet	`HNcfsc`	plan	plan of
`H4284-07`	Micah 4:12	מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	the thoughts	plans of
`H4284-07`	Psalms 33:10	מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	plans-of	plans of
`H4284-07`	Psalms 33:11	מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	thoughts	plans of
`H4284-19`	Psalms 40:6	וּ/מַחְשְׁבֹתֶ֗י/ךָ	umacheshevoteykha	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms`	and-thoughts-your	and your plans
`H4284-08`	Psalms 56:6	מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֣/ם	macheshevotam	`HNcfpc/Sp3mp`	their thoughts	their plans
`H4284-12`	Psalms 92:6	מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽי/ךָ	macheshevoteykha	`HNcfpc/Sp2ms`	are Your thoughts	your plans
`H4284-07`	Psalms 94:11	מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	thoughts	plans of
`H4284-07`	Proverbs 6:18	מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	wicked plans	plans of
`H4284-07`	Proverbs 12:5	מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	thoughts	plans of
`H4284-05`	Proverbs 15:22	מַ֭חֲשָׁבוֹת	machashavot	`HNcfpa`	plans	devised plans
`H4284-07`	Proverbs 15:26	מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	thoughts	plans of
`H4284-12`	Proverbs 16:3	מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽי/ךָ	macheshevoteykha	`HNcfpc/Sp2ms`	your plans	your plans
`H4284-05`	Proverbs 19:21	מַחֲשָׁב֣וֹת	machashavot	`HNcfpa`	plans	devised plans
`H4284-05`	Proverbs 20:18	מַ֭חֲשָׁבוֹת	machashavot	`HNcfpa`	plans	devised plans
`H4284-07`	Proverbs 21:5	מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	thoughts	plans of
`H4284-07`	Job 5:12	מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	plans	plans of
`H4284-13`	Job 21:27	מַחְשְׁבֽוֹתֵי/כֶ֑ם	macheshevoteykhem	`HNcfpc/Sp2mp`	your thoughts	your plans
`H4284-08`	Lamentations 3:60	מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖/ם	macheshevotam	`HNcfpc/Sp3mp`	their thoughts	their plans
`H4284-08`	Lamentations 3:61	מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖/ם	macheshevotam	`HNcfpc/Sp3mp`	their schemes	their plans
`H4284-04`	Esther 8:3	מַֽחֲשַׁבְתּ֔/וֹ	machashaveto	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	plot	his devised plan
`H4284-06`	Esther 8:5	מַחֲשֶׁ֜בֶת	machashevet	`HNcfsc`	devised	plan of
`H4284-04`	Esther 9:25	מַחֲשַׁבְתּ֧/וֹ	machashaveto	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his scheme	his devised plan
`H4284-10`	Daniel 11:24	מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖י/ו	macheshevotayv	`HNcfpc/Sp3ms`	his plans	his devised plans
`H4284-05`	Daniel 11:25	מַחֲשָׁבֽוֹת	machashavot	`HNcfpa`	devices	devised plans
`H4284-05`	1 Chronicles 28:9	מַחֲשָׁב֖וֹת	machashavot	`HNcfpa`	of thoughts	devised plans
`H4284-07`	1 Chronicles 29:18	מַחְשְׁב֖וֹת	macheshevot	`HNcfpc`	of the thoughts	plans of
`H4284-03`	2 Chronicles 2:13	מַחֲשָׁ֑בֶת	machashavet	`HNcfsa`	design	devised plan
`H4284-06`	2 Chronicles 26:15	מַחֲשֶׁ֣בֶת	machashevet	`HNcfsc`	invented	plan of

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