Word Study for H4209 (מְזִמָּה)

mᵉzimmâh /mez-im-maw'/ Ask about this word

Meaninga plan, usually evil (machination), sometimes good (sagacity)

KJV usage(wicked) device, discretion, intent, witty invention, lewdness, mischievous (device), thought, wickedly.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mᵉzimmâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word mᵉzimmâh, represented by H4209, refers to a plan, which can be either an evil machination or a display of good sagacity. It appears 19 times in 19 unique verses. The word's meaning is highly dependent on context, encompassing concepts from "wicked devices" and "lewdness" to "discretion" and "witty inventions."

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H4209 is frequently used to describe the malicious plans of the wicked. These are the "wicked devices" that evil men bring to pass Psalms 37:7 and for which they are hated Proverbs 14:17. The wicked imagine these "devices" against the poor Psalms 10:2. In contrast, H4209 can also signify a positive virtue. Proverbs exhorts the reader to keep "discretion," as it preserves a person Proverbs 2:11 and should be kept alongside sound wisdom Proverbs 3:21. The term is also applied to God's own plans, such as His "device" against Babylon Jeremiah 51:11 and the "intents" of His heart that He will perform Jeremiah 30:24.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words illuminate the different facets of H4209:

H2803 châshab (to devise, imagine, plot): This word often describes the mental act of creating a mᵉzimmâh. The wicked are taken in the devices that they have "imagined" Psalms 10:2, and one who "deviseth" to do evil is called a mischievous person Proverbs 24:8.
H7451 raʻ (evil, wickedness): This term frequently qualifies the negative aspect of mᵉzimmâh. Enemies of God intend "evil" when they imagine a "mischievous device" Psalms 21:11, and in Jeremiah, "lewdness" H4209 is connected to the act of doing "evil" Jeremiah 11:15.
H1847 daʻath (knowledge): When mᵉzimmâh is used positively as discretion, it is closely associated with "knowledge". The book of Proverbs aims to give the young man "knowledge" and "discretion" Proverbs 1:4, and wisdom finds "knowledge" of "witty inventions" Proverbs 8:12.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H4209 lies in its portrayal of intent and planning, both human and divine.

Wicked Machinations: The term is primarily used to describe the evil schemes of humanity. These "wicked devices" are devised by those who oppose God and the righteous (Psalms 10:2, Psalms 37:7). A man of such devices is condemned by the LORD Proverbs 12:2, and his plans are ultimately futile Psalms 21:11.
Godly Discretion: As a positive trait, mᵉzimmâh represents sagacity and prudence. It is something to be guarded, as "discretion" preserves a person and is paired with understanding H8394 Proverbs 2:11. It is a component of a virtuous life, given to the simple alongside "subtilty" H6195 and "knowledge" H1847 Proverbs 1:4.
Divine Sovereignty: The word is also used for God's purposes. His "device" is a tool for His judgment and "vengeance" H5360 upon nations like Babylon Jeremiah 51:11. Job acknowledges that no "thought" H4209 can be withheld from God, affirming His omniscience and sovereign power Job 42:2.

Summary

In summary, H4209 is a multifaceted word for a plan or device, whose moral alignment is revealed by its context. It can represent the "mischievous device" of the wicked, a "lewdness" condemned by God, or the valuable "discretion" and "witty inventions" associated with wisdom. Ultimately, mᵉzimmâh draws a sharp contrast between the hateful and failing schemes of men and the certain, unstoppable "intents" of God's heart.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 19 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מְזִמּוֹת
מְזִמָּה
מְזִמּוֹת
מְזִמָּת

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 19 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (8 verses); never once in the other 35.

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.