---
title: מְזִמָּה — purpose · The Tanakh dictionary
description: מְזִמָּה (4209), a word of Biblical Hebrew, used 19 times: purpose. BDB 1906: n.f. purpose, discretion, device. With 2 verses in Hebrew, word for word and JPS 1917.
---

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# מְזִמָּה

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«מְזִמָּה» in the Tanakh dictionary: **purpose** — how often it is used, MACULA's glosses, its meanings in the printed dictionaries and why they were chosen, and 2 verses in layers.

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**Used:** 19 times · **Key:** 4209 · **BDB:** מְזִמָּה

### Glosses

discretion (4); of.evil.devices (2); schemes (2)

### Meaning (OSHB)

purpose [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1502/4209/#m1)

### Meaning (BDB 1906)

n.f. purpose, discretion, device [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1502/4209/#m2)

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**The whole BDB entry:** n.f. purpose, discretion, device (Je and WisdLt), מְזִמָּה Jb 42:2 + 5 times; הַמְּזִמָּ֫תָה Je 11:15 (but read for המ׳ רַבִּים with 𝔊 הַמְּזִמֹּת הַֽנְדָרִים); altogether עָֽשְׂתָה מְזִמֹּת הַֽנְדָרִים וּבְשַׂר קֹדֶשׁ יַעֲבִרוּ מֵעָלַיִךְ רָעָתֵךְ. מְזִמָּתוֹ Je 51:11; pl. abs. מְזִמּוֹת ψ 37:7 + 7 times; cstr. id. Je 23:20; 30:24; sf. מְזִמּוֹתָיו ψ 10:4;— of י׳’s purposes Jb 42:2; chiefly in punishment (cf. זָמַם, זִמָּה) Je 23:20; 30:24; 51:11 (‖ זמם v 12). power of devising, discretion Pr 1:4 (‖ דַּעַת), 2:11 (‖ תְּבוּנָה), 3:21 (‖ תֻּשִׁיָּה), 5:2 (‖ דַּעַת); דַּעַת מְזִמּוֹת 8:12. evil thoughts of men ψ 10:4, evil devices of men Jb 21:27 (‖ מחשׁבות), ψ 10:2; 21:12 (both c. חָשַׁב. wickedness in act Je 11:15 ψ 37:7 (both c. עָשָׂה), 139:20 לִמְזִמָּה = wickedly;—note phrases: אישׁ מְזִמּוֹת a man of (evil) devices (or practices). Pr 12:2 (opp. טוֹכ) 14:17; בַּעַל־מְזִמּוֹת Pr 24:8 (‖ מְחַשֵּׁב לְהָרֵעַ; v. בַּעַל).

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Why these entries: BDB: headword, part of speech agrees, 19 of its verses cited, 2 words shared with the glosses, lists its Strong's number (2 candidates); OSHB: headword, part of speech agrees, 1 words shared with the BDB entry, 1 with the glosses (1 candidates)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every English meaning of «מְזִמָּה» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1502/4209/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.

### In the verses

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[Proverbs 2:11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.2.11/)

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מְ֭זִמָּה תִּשְׁמֹ֥ר עָלֶ֗יךָ תְּבוּנָ֥ה תִנְצְרֶֽכָּה׃

*Word for word:* discretion it.will.watch over you understanding it will.preserve.you

*JPS 1917:* Discretion shall watch over thee, discernment shall guard thee;

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[Proverbs 5:2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.5.2/)

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לִשְׁמֹ֥ר מְזִמּ֑וֹת וְ֝דַ֗עַת שְׂפָתֶ֥יךָ יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃

*Word for word:* to preserve discretion and knowledge lips your they.will.observe

*JPS 1917:* That thou mayest preserve discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

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