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מְזִמָּה

𐤌𐤆𐤌𐤄

mᵉzimmâh

H4209 noun

SILEX Entry

Root זמם to plan, to devise, to intend, to consider, to scheme

Definition

Plan, intention, or scheme—especially the deliberate formulation of a course of action. While often connoting cunning, craftiness, or (more commonly) an evil scheme or plot, the term can also denote prudent forethought, shrewdness, or sagacious planning. The semantic range includes not only negative senses like intrigue, machination, or wicked intention, but also positive or neutral renderings such as discretion, prudence, or skillful planning, depending on the context.

Semantic Range

plan, purpose, intention, scheme (often negative: plot, machination, intrigue), skillful planning, prudence, discretion, cunning, shrewdness, wicked device, sagacity, lewdness (interpretive in later or specific contexts)

Root / Etymology

From the root זמם, which fundamentally means 'to devise, plan, intend, consider,' typically with the nuance of mental premeditation or forming a deliberate purpose. מְזִמָּה is a feminine noun formation from this root, emphasizing the result of planning or plotting.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מְזִמָּה is found both in negative and positive contexts. In wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs), it can be praised as a quality associated with wisdom, prudence, and deliberate forethought—a mark of the wise person (see Proverbs 1:4; 2:11; 5:2; 8:12; 24:8). Yet in narrative or legal passages (Job 21:27; Psalm 10:2), it often portrays the mischievous or wicked designs of evildoers. Standard English translations may obscure the versatility of this term, rendering it as 'wicked device,' 'discretion,' or 'plan' without capturing its underlying focus on intentionality and calculated design. The context, especially wisdom versus narrative/law, is crucial for distinguishing its moral valence. Related terms include מַחֲשָׁבָה (machashavah, 'thought' or 'plan'), but מְזִמָּה more emphatically highlights the aspect of intentional deliberation. During the exilic and post-exilic periods, the term retains its dual connotations. Later translations sometimes render it with words indicating sexual impropriety ('lewdness'), but this is an interpretive narrowing rather than a primary lexical sense.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from זָמַם; a plan, usually evil (machination), sometimes good (sagacity); (wicked) device, discretion, intent, witty invention, lewdness, mischievous (device), thought, wickedly.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זמם (z-m-m) — to plan, devise, intend, scheme

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2154 זִמָּה the wicked scheme
H2155 זִמָּה premeditated wicked scheme
H2157 זַמְזֹם Zamzummites
H2161 זָמַם they scheme
H2162 זָמָם his malicious scheme

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4209-06 מְזִמּ֣וֹת mezimot HNcfpc of schemes plans of 8
H4209-04 מְ֝זִמָּ֗ה mezimah HNcfsa a plot deliberate scheme 3
H4209-08 וּ/מְזִמָּֽה umezimah HC/Ncfsa and discretion and a devised plan 2
H4209-03 לִ/מְזִמָּ֑ה limezimah HR/Ncfsa for-deceit for a deliberate plan 1
H4209-07 מְזִמּוֹתָֽי/ו mezimotayv HNcfpc/Sp3ms his-thoughts his devised plans 1
H4209-05 מְזִמָּת֖/וֹ mezimato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his purpose his devised plan 1
H4209-09 וּ֝/מְזִמּ֗וֹת umezimot HC/Ncfpa and the schemes and plans 1
H4209-01 בִּ/מְזִמּ֖וֹת bimezimot HR/Ncfpa in-schemes in deliberate plans 1
H4209-02 הַֽ/מְזִמָּ֨תָ/ה֙ hamezimatah HTd/Ncfsa/Sh many vile deeds her scheme 1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4209-02 Jeremiah 11:15 הַֽ/מְזִמָּ֨תָ/ה֙ hamezimatah HTd/Ncfsa/Sh many vile deeds her scheme
H4209-06 Jeremiah 23:20 מְזִמּ֣וֹת mezimot HNcfpc purposes plans of
H4209-06 Jeremiah 30:24 מְזִמּ֣וֹת mezimot HNcfpc thoughts plans of
H4209-05 Jeremiah 51:11 מְזִמָּת֖/וֹ mezimato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his purpose his devised plan
H4209-01 Psalms 10:2 בִּ/מְזִמּ֖וֹת bimezimot HR/Ncfpa in-schemes in deliberate plans
H4209-07 Psalms 10:4 מְזִמּוֹתָֽי/ו mezimotayv HNcfpc/Sp3ms his-thoughts his devised plans
H4209-04 Psalms 21:12 מְ֝זִמָּ֗ה mezimah HNcfsa a plot deliberate scheme
H4209-06 Psalms 37:7 מְזִמּֽוֹת mezimot HNcfpa wicked schemes plans of
H4209-03 Psalms 139:20 לִ/מְזִמָּ֑ה limezimah HR/Ncfsa for-deceit for a deliberate plan
H4209-08 Proverbs 1:4 וּ/מְזִמָּֽה umezimah HC/Ncfsa and discretion and a devised plan
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