Bible Dictionary: Intent

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) Closely directed; strictly attentive; bent; -- said of the mind, thoughts, etc.; as, a mind intent on self-improvement.

2. (a.) Having the mind closely directed to or bent on an object; sedulous; eager in pursuit of an object; -- formerly with to, but now with on; as, intent on business or pleasure.

3. (n.) The act of turning the mind toward an object; hence, a design; a purpose; intention; meaning; drift; aim.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

INTEND; INTENT

in-tend', in-tent': Early English words derived from Latin and used in the King James Version, sometimes in the Revised Version (British and American), to translate a number of different expressions of the original.

Intend is sometimes used in English in the literal sense of Latin intendere, "to stretch," but in the English Bible it is used only of the direction of the mind toward an object. Sometimes it is used of mere design (mello), Acts 5:35 the King James Version; Acts 20:13; or of desired action (thelo), Luke 14:28 the King James Version; again of a fixed purpose (boulomai), Acts 5:28; Acts 12:4; or, finally, of a declared intention ('amar), Joshua 22:33 the King James Version; 2 Chronicles 28:13 the King James Version.

Intent is used only of purpose, and is the translation sometimes of a conjunction (lebha`abhur), 2 Samuel 17:14; (lema`an), 2 Kings 10:19; (hina), Ephesians 3:10; sometimes of an infinitive of purpose, 1 Corinthians 10:6; or of a preposition with pronoun (eis touto), Acts 9:21, and sometimes of a substantive (logo), Acts 10:29. This variety of original expressions represented in the English by single terms is an interesting illustration of the extent of interpretation embodied in our English Bible.

Russell Benjamin Miller

Greek

1225. diaballo -- to bring charges (usually with hostile intent)
... to bring charges (usually with hostile intent). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
diaballo Phonetic Spelling: (dee-ab-al'-lo) Short Definition: I slander ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1225.htm - 7k

1618. ektenes -- stretched, fig. zealous, earnest
... zealous, earnest. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: ektenes Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-ten-ace') Short Definition: intent, constant, strenuous, intense ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1618.htm - 7k

1771. ennoia -- thinking, thoughtfulness, ie moral understanding
... intent, mind. From a compound of en and nous; thoughtfulness, ie Moral understanding --
intent, mind. see GREEK en. see GREEK nous. (ennoian) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1771.htm - 7k

1519. eis -- to or into (indicating the point reached or entered ...
... adverbial phrases -- (abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before,
by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1519.htm - 7k

2204. zeo -- to boil, be hot
... be deeply committed to something, with the implication of accompanying desire --
'to be earnest, to set one's heart on, to be completely intent upon' " (, 1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2204.htm - 7k

2443. hina -- in order that, that, so that
... part of heautou (through the demonstrative idea; compare ho); in order that (denoting
the purpose or the result) -- albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2443.htm - 7k

5124. touto -- this; he, she, it
... Neuter singular nominative or accusative case of houtos; that thing -- here (-unto),
it, partly, self(-same), so, that (intent), the same, there(-fore, -unto ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5124.htm - 6k

4820. sumballo -- to throw together, hence to discuss, consider ...
... encounter, confer or dispute with Definition: properly: I throw together, hence:
I ponder, come up with, encounter, with or without hostile intent; I dispute ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4820.htm - 7k

1949. epilambanomai -- to lay hold of
... ban'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I seize, take hold of Definition: I lay hold of,
take hold of, seize (sometimes with beneficent, sometimes with hostile, intent ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1949.htm - 8k

2206. zeloo -- to be jealous
... be deeply committed to something, with the implication of accompanying desire --
'to be earnest, to set one's heart on, to be completely intent upon' " (, 1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2206.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

4616. maan -- purpose, intent
... 4615, 4616. maan. 4617 . purpose, intent. Transliteration: maan Phonetic Spelling:
(mah'-an) Short Definition: so. ... because of, to the end intent that, for to ...
/hebrew/4616.htm - 6k

4209. mezimmah -- purpose, discretion, device
... Word Origin from zamam Definition purpose, discretion, device NASB Word Usage devises
evil (1), discretion (5), evil devices (1), intent (1), plans (1), plot (1 ...
/hebrew/4209.htm - 6k

3336. yetser -- a form, framing, purpose
... 3335, 3336. yetser. 3337 . a form, framing, purpose. Transliteration: yetser
Phonetic Spelling: (yay'-tser) Short Definition: intent. ...
/hebrew/3336.htm - 6k

1701. dibrah -- a cause, reason
... intent, sake. (Aramaic) corresponding to dibrah -- intent, sake. see HEBREW
dibrah. 1700, 1701. dibrah. 1702 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1701.htm - 6k

6310. peh -- mouth
... command (45), commandment (6), counsel (1), dictated* (1), dictation (6), edge
(37), edges (2), end (2), evidence (4), face (4), hunger (1), intent (1), jaws ( ...
/hebrew/6310.htm - 7k

2026. harag -- to kill, slay
... A primitive root; to smite with deadly intent -- destroy, out of hand, kill,
murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), X surely. 2025, 2026. ...
/hebrew/2026.htm - 6k

2154. zimmah -- a plan, device, wickedness
... Word Origin from zamam Definition a plan, device, wickedness NASB Word Usage acts
of lewdness (1), crime (1), devising (1), evil intent (1), immorality (2 ...
/hebrew/2154.htm - 6k

6485. paqad -- to attend to, visit, muster, appoint
... A primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy,
to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc. ...
/hebrew/6485.htm - 7k

7291. radaph -- to pursue, chase, persecute
... A primitive root; to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time)
gone by) -- chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under ...
/hebrew/7291.htm - 6k

8245. shaqad -- to watch, wake
... root Definition to watch, wake NASB Word Usage intent on doing (1), keep watch
(1), keeps awake (1), kept the in store (1), lie awake (1), watch (2), watched ( ...
/hebrew/8245.htm - 6k

Library

How Intent the Ruler Ought to be on Meditations in the Sacred Law.
... GREAT BISHOP OF ROME, Chapter XI. How intent the ruler ought to be on
meditations in the Sacred Law. But all this is duly executed ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xi how intent the.htm

How no one Can be Continually Intent Upon that Highest Good.
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter V. How no one can be continually
intent upon that highest good. For who, when "delivering ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter v how no one.htm

That Human Life is a Distraction but that through the Mercy of God ...
... Book XI. Chapter XXIX."That Human Life is a Distraction But that Through the Mercy
of God He Was Intent on the Prize of His Heavenly Calling. 39. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter xxix that human life is.htm

Chapter xiii.
... 44. Rightly, therefore, does he who is intent on cleansing our heart follow up
[360] what He has said with a precept, where He says: "Lay not up [361] for ...
/.../augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xiii 2.htm

Psalm CXLIV.
... "From the sword of ill intent deliver me." "From the sword" is not sufficient; he
addeth, "of ill intent." Without doubt there is a sword of good intent. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxliv.htm

That by virtue of this Word Sin is not Only Destroyed, but Also ...
... AND, therefore, if thou wilt stand and not fall, cease never in thine intent: but
beat evermore on this cloud of unknowing that is betwixt thee and thy God ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the twelfth chapter.htm

Again, on the Words of the Gospel, Luke x. 38, Etc. , About Martha ...
... For Mary was intent on the sweetness of the Lord's word. Martha was intent, how
she might feed the Lord; Mary intent how she might be fed by the Lord. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon liv again on the.htm

Nor did I yet Groan in My Prayers, that Thou Wouldest Help Me...
... Nor did I yet groan in my prayers, that Thou wouldest help me; but my spirit
was wholly intent on learning, and restless to dispute. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter iii nor did i.htm

"In Every Soul that Shall be Saved is a Godly Will that Never ...
... and this endless oneing, yet the redemption and the again-buying of mankind is needful
and speedful in everything, as it is done for the same intent and to the ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter liii in every soul.htm

Sermon for Palm Sunday
... state than that of the traders, which is indicated to us in this Gospel; namely,
that of the men who perform their works with a sincerely good intent, and yet ...
/.../xiii sermon for palm sunday.htm

Thesaurus

Intent (37 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Closely directed; strictly attentive; bent; -- said of the mind, thoughts,
etc.; as, a mind intent on self-improvement. ... INTEND; INTENT. ...
/i/intent.htm - 20k

Mortally (17 Occurrences)
... 35:11 then ye shall appoint for yourselves cities: cities of refuge shall they be
for you; that a manslayer may flee thither, who without intent smiteth a ...
/m/mortally.htm - 11k

Intend (30 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) To fix the mind upon (something to be accomplished); to be intent upon;
to mean; to design; to plan; to purpose; -- often followed by an infinitely ...
/i/intend.htm - 18k

Accommodation (1 Occurrence)
... treatment: (1) the use or application of a Scripture reference in a sense other
than the obvious and literal one which lay in the mind and intent of the writer ...
/a/accommodation.htm - 39k

Smiteth (156 Occurrences)
... 35:11 then ye shall appoint for yourselves cities: cities of refuge shall they be
for you; that a manslayer may flee thither, who without intent smiteth a ...
/s/smiteth.htm - 38k

Jacob (361 Occurrences)
... heel." "To heel" might mean: (a) "to take hold of by the heel" (so probably Hosea
12:3; compare Genesis 27:36); (b) "to follow with evil intent," "to supplant ...
/j/jacob.htm - 77k

Intention (10 Occurrences)

/i/intention.htm - 9k

Purity (16 Occurrences)
... There is no intent and purpose in him. But in the Puritan there is intent and purpose.
He means much. ... That ethical intent and purpose is masterly. ...
/p/purity.htm - 30k

Counsel (192 Occurrences)
... judgment; prudence. 3. (n.) Result of consultation; advice; instruction. 4.
(n.) Deliberate purpose; design; intent; scheme; plan. 5. (n ...
/c/counsel.htm - 39k

Absalom (93 Occurrences)
... neutralize his influence in the selection of a successor, for he fully realized
that the court party, under the influence of Bathsheba, was intent upon having ...
/a/absalom.htm - 50k

Bible Concordance

Intent (37 Occurrences)

Matthew 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test me, you hypocrites?
(See NIV)

John 11:15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
(KJV ASV WBS)

John 13:28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
(KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
(See NAS RSV)

Acts 9:21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
(KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Acts 10:29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
(KJV ASV WBS)

1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Ephesians 3:10 to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places,
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NIV)

Philippians 2:2 make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;
(See NAS)

Titus 2:12 instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world;
(WEB ASV)

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.
(See NAS)

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.
(See NAS)

Exodus 32:12 Why should the Egyptians speak, saying,'He brought them forth for evil, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the surface of the earth?' Turn from your fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against your people.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 35:11 then ye shall appoint for yourselves cities: cities of refuge shall they be for you; that a manslayer may flee thither, who without intent smiteth a person mortally.
(DBY NAS RSV)

Numbers 35:15 For the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them shall these six cities be a refuge, that one who smiteth a person mortally without intent may flee thither.
(DBY NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 31:21 then it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are come upon 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 how they do even now, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.'
(See NAS)

Joshua 20:3 that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there. They shall be to you for a refuge from the avenger of blood.
(Root in WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 20:9 These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stands before the congregation.
(Root in WEB DBY NAS RSV)

2 Samuel 13:32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said: 'Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
(See NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 17:14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel." For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

2 Kings 10:19 Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

1 Chronicles 12:38 All these being men of war, who could order the battle array, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.
(See RSV)

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.
(See NAS)

1 Chronicles 29:17 I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, that are present here, offer willingly to you.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 16:1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
(KJV WBS)

Psalms 139:20 For they go against you with evil designs, and your haters make sport of your name.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 7:10 Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent.
(WEB NIV)

Proverbs 21:27 The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Ecclesiastes 7:14 In a day of prosperity be in gladness, And in a day of evil consider. Also this over-against that hath God made, To the intent that man doth not find anything after him.
(YLT)

Isaiah 29:20 For the cruel one has come to nothing; and those who make sport of the Lord are gone; and those who are watching to do evil are cut off:
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 22:17 But your eyes and your heart are not but for your covetousness, and for shedding innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 30:24 The fierce anger of Yahweh shall not return, until he has executed, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days you shall understand it.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 40:4 The man said to me, Son of man, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart on all that I shall show you; for, to the intent that I may show them to you, you are brought here: declare all that you see to the house of Israel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Daniel 2:30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Daniel 4:17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of men. Jonah
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Daniel 11:27 And both of the kings' hearts 'are' to do evil, and at one table they speak lies, and it doth not prosper, for yet the end 'is' at a time appointed.
(See NAS)

Hosea 5:11 Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; Because he is intent in his pursuit of idols.
(WEB NIV)

Subtopics

Intent

Related Terms

Mortally (17 Occurrences)

Intend (30 Occurrences)

Accommodation (1 Occurrence)

Smiteth (156 Occurrences)

Jacob (361 Occurrences)

Intention (10 Occurrences)

Purity (16 Occurrences)

Counsel (192 Occurrences)