Bible Dictionary: Imagination

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) The imagine-making power of the mind; the power to create or reproduce ideally an object of sense previously perceived; the power to call up mental imagines.

2. (n.) The representative power; the power to reconstruct or recombine the materials furnished by direct apprehension; the complex faculty usually termed the plastic or creative power; the fancy.

3. (n.) The power to recombine the materials furnished by experience or memory, for the accomplishment of an elevated purpose; the power of conceiving and expressing the ideal.

4. (n.) A mental image formed by the action of the imagination as a faculty; a conception; a notion.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

IMAGINATION

i-maj-i-na'-shun (yetser, sheriruth; dianoia): "Imagination" is the translation of yetser, properly "a shaping," hence, "a thought" (Genesis 6:5; Genesis 8:21 Deuteronomy 31:21 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Chronicles 29:18). In Isaiah 26:3 yetser is translated "mind" (King James Version margin "thought" or "imagination"), "whose mind is stayed on thee" (the Revised Version margin "or imagination"); in Psalm 103:14 it is "frame"; of sheriruth, "obstinacy," "stubbornness" (Deuteronomy 29:19 Jeremiah 3:17; Jeremiah 7:24; Jeremiah 9:14; Jeremiah 11:8; Jeremiah 13:10; Jeremiah 16:12; Jeremiah 18:12; Jeremiah 23:17); in Psalm 81:12 the King James Version it is, "lust," margin "hardness or imaginations"; 3 times of machashebheth, "thought" or "purpose" in the King James Version (Proverbs 6:18 Lamentations 3:60, 61); once of dianoia, "mind," "understanding" (Luke 1:51); of logismos, "reasoning" (2 Corinthians 10:5); and of dialogismos, "reasoning through" (Romans 1:21 the King James Version).

The Revised Version (British and American) gives "stubbornness" in each instance where sheriruth is in the King James Version translated "imagination"; in Proverbs 6:18 the American Standard Revised Version has "purposes"; the Revised Version (British and American) has "devices" (Lamentations 3:60, 61) and "reasonings" (Romans 1:21), "imagination" for "conceit" (Proverbs 18:11), and (English Revised Version) for "device" (Lamentations 3:62).

"Imagination" is frequent in Apocrypha, e.g. Ecclesiasticus 22:18 (dianoema); 37:3 (enthumema, "wicked imagination"); 40:2 (dialogismos, the Revised Version (British and American) "expectation").

W. L. Walker

Greek

5325. phantasia -- imagination, show, display
... imagination, show, display. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: phantasia
Phonetic Spelling: (fan-tas-ee'-ah) Short Definition: show, display, pomp ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5325.htm - 6k

1271. dianoia -- the mind, disposition, thought
... thoughts (1), understanding (2). imagination, mind, understanding. From
dia and nous; deep thought, properly, the faculty (mind ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1271.htm - 8k

3053. logismos -- a reasoning, a thought
... imagination, thought. From logizomai; computation, ie (figuratively) reasoning
(conscience, conceit) -- imagination, thought. see GREEK logizomai. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3053.htm - 7k

1261. dialogismos -- a reasoning
... thinking (2). imagination, reasoning. From dialogizomai; discussion, ie (internal)
consideration (by implication, purpose), or (external ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1261.htm - 7k

3196. melos -- a member or limb (of the body)
... 3196 -- properly, a () belonging to the whole; (figuratively) any function of ,
such as "sanctified imagination" (Ro 6:13; Col 3:5; Js 4:1). 3196 () also ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3196.htm - 7k

Topical Bible Verses

1 Chronicles 28:9
And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 5:28
But I say to you, That whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Topicalbible.org

2 Corinthians 10:3
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
Topicalbible.org

1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Topicalbible.org

Genesis 6:5
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Topicalbible.org

Strong's Hebrew

4906. maskith -- a showpiece, figure, imagination
... 4905b, 4906. maskith. 4907 . a showpiece, figure, imagination. Transliteration:
maskith Phonetic Spelling: (mas-keeth') Short Definition: images. ...
/hebrew/4906.htm - 6k

3336. yetser -- a form, framing, purpose
... frame, thing framed, imagination, mind, work. From yatsar; a form; figuratively,
conception (ie Purpose) -- frame, thing framed, imagination, mind, work. ...
/hebrew/3336.htm - 6k

4284. machashabah -- thought, device
... 4), thoughts (19), ways (1). cunning work, curious work, imagination, invented,
means, purpose, thought. Or machashebeth {makh-ash ...
/hebrew/4284.htm - 6k

8307. sheriruth -- firmness, stubbornness
... imagination, lust. From sharar in the sense of twisted, ie Firm; obstinacy --
imagination, lust. see HEBREW sharar. 8306, 8307. sheriruth. 8308 . ...
/hebrew/8307.htm - 6k

3820. leb -- inner man, mind, will, heart
... 1), doing* (1), double heart (1), encouragingly* (1), heart (396), heart's (2),
hearts (40), Himself (1), himself (6), imagination (1), inspiration (2 ...
/hebrew/3820.htm - 7k

Library

The Imagination.
... CHAPTER X. THE IMAGINATION. The ... brightness. Your imagination is the working bee
of this hive, which resounds with the humming of the senses. ...
/.../sainte-foi/serious hours of a young lady/chapter x the imagination.htm

Imagination in Prayer
... PART III. SOME ASPECTS OF THE WAY OF PRAYER XX. IMAGINATION IN PRAYER. "Lord,
teach us to pray.""Luke 11.i. "Full of eyes.""Revelation 4:8. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/whyte/lord teach us to pray/xx imagination in prayer.htm

Concerning Imagination.
... Book II. Chapter XVII."Concerning Imagination. Imagination [1831] is a
faculty of the unreasoning part of the soul. It is through ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xvii concerning imagination.htm

Imagination.
... Book II. Chapter LXI."Imagination. To this Simon answered: "Apply your
mind to those things which I am going to say, and cause ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter lxi imagination.htm

Whether an Angel Can Change Man's Imagination?
... THE ACTION OF THE ANGELS ON MAN (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether an angel can change
man's imagination? Objection 1: It would seem that an ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether an angel can change.htm

Fallacy of Imagination.
... Book II. Chapter LXV."Fallacy of Imagination. "In short, that you may receive
the faith of the matter; concerning Jerusalem, which ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter lxv fallacy of imagination.htm

The Imagination Also Adds Even to Things we have not Seen, those ...
... Book XI. Chapter 10."The Imagination Also Adds Even to Things We Have
Not Seen, Those Things Which We Have Seen Elsewhere. 17. ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 10 the imagination also adds.htm

Peter's Experience of Imagination.
... Book II. Chapter LXII."Peter's Experience of Imagination. When Simon thus spoke,
Peter answered: [668] "Now listen patiently concerning ...
/.../recognitions of clement /chapter lxii peters experience of imagination.htm

Of the First Secondary Power, Imagination by Name; and of the ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE FIVE AND SIXTIETH CHAPTER Of the first secondary power, Imagination
by name; and of the works and the obedience of it unto Reason, before ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the five and 5.htm

That a Man Shall not Take Ensample at the Bodily Ascension of ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE NINE AND FIFTIETH CHAPTER That a man shall not take ensample
at the bodily ascension of Christ, for to strain his imagination upwards bodily ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the nine and 4.htm

Thesaurus

Imagination (20 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A mental image formed by the action of the imagination as a faculty; a
conception; a notion. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. IMAGINATION. ...
/i/imagination.htm - 16k

Intent (37 Occurrences)
... Genesis 6:5 Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that
every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ...
/i/intent.htm - 20k

Imagery (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Fig.: Unreal show; imitation; appearance. 3. (n.) The work of the
imagination or fancy; false ideas; imaginary phantasms. ...
/i/imagery.htm - 10k

Inclination (3 Occurrences)
... Genesis 6:5 Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that
every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ...
/i/inclination.htm - 7k

Inclined (23 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 7:24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the
counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not ...
/i/inclined.htm - 14k

Conscience (36 Occurrences)
... Especially has the remorse of an evil conscience impressed the human imagination,
in such instances as Cain and Judas, Saul and Herod; and the poets, those ...
/c/conscience.htm - 37k

Strong (736 Occurrences)
... 8. (superl.) Adapted to make a deep or effectual impression on the mind or imagination;
striking or superior of the kind; powerful; forcible; cogent; as, a ...
/s/strong.htm - 44k

Imagine (24 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To form in the mind a notion or idea of; to form
a mental image of; to conceive; to produce by the imagination. ...
/i/imagine.htm - 14k

Purposes (67 Occurrences)
... that this song shall testify before them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten
out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they ...
/p/purposes.htm - 25k

Incline (38 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 7:24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the
counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not ...
/i/incline.htm - 18k

Bible Concordance

Imagination (20 Occurrences)

Luke 1:51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS RSV)

Acts 17:29 Being therefore the offspring of God, we ought not to think that which is divine to be like gold or silver or stone, the graven form of man's art and imagination.
(DBY RSV)

Genesis 6:5 Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Genesis 8:21 Yahweh smelled the pleasant aroma. Yahweh said in his heart, "I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake, because the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I ever again strike everything living, as I have done.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT RSV)

Deuteronomy 31:21 It shall happen, when many evils and troubles are come on them, that this song shall testify before them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they frame this day, before I have brought them into the land which I swore."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

1 Chronicles 28:9 You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 29:18 Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart to you;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Proverbs 18:11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
(WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS)

Isaiah 26:3 An imagination supported Thou fortifiest peace -- peace! For in Thee it is confident.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
(KJV WBS)

Jeremiah 7:24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
(KJV WBS)

Jeremiah 9:14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:
(KJV WBS)

Jeremiah 11:8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do: but they did them not.
(KJV WBS)

Jeremiah 13:10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.
(KJV WBS)

Jeremiah 16:12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:
(KJV WBS)

Jeremiah 18:12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
(KJV WBS)

Jeremiah 23:16 Thus says Yahweh of Armies, Don't listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you: they teach you vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Yahweh.
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 23:17 They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.
(KJV WBS)

Ezekiel 13:2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, Hear the word of Yahweh:
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 13:17 You, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy against them,
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Imagination

Imagination: General Scriptures Concerning

Related Terms

Intent (37 Occurrences)

Imagery (5 Occurrences)

Inclination (3 Occurrences)

Inclined (23 Occurrences)

Conscience (36 Occurrences)

Strong (736 Occurrences)

Imagine (24 Occurrences)

Purposes (67 Occurrences)