Device
King James Dictionary [1]
DEVICE, n. L.
1. That which is formed by design, or invented scheme artificial contrivance stratagem project sometimes in a good sense more generally in a bad sense, as artifices are usually employed for bad purposes.
In a good sense:
His device is against Babylon, to destroy it. Jeremiah 51 .
In a bad sense:
He disappointeth the devices of the crafty. Job 5 .
They imagined a mischievous device. Psalms 212 .
2. An emblem intended to represent a family, person, action or quality, with a suitable motto used in painting, sculpture and heraldry. It consists in a metaphorical similitude between the things representing and represented, as the figure of a plow representing agriculture.
Knights-errant used to distinguish themselves by devices on their shields.
3. Invention genius faculty of devising as a man of noble device.
4. A spectacle or show.
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [2]
"a cogitation, an inward reasoning" (generally, evil surmising or supposition), is formed from en, "in," and thumos, "strong feeling, passion" (cp. thumoo, in the Middle Voice, "to be wroth, furious"); Eng., "fume" is akin; the root, thu---, signifies "to rush, rage." The word is translated "device" in Acts 17:29 , of man's production of images; elsewhere, "thoughts," Matthew 9:4; 12:25; Hebrews 4:12 , where the accompanying word ennoia denotes inward intentions, See Thought.
denotes "thought, that which is thought out" (cp. noeo, "to understand"); hence, "a purpose, device;" translated "devices" in 2 Corinthians 2:11; "minds" in 2 Corinthians 3:14; 4:4; 11:3; in 2 Corinthians 10:5 , "thought;" in Philippians 4:7 , AV, "minds," RV, "thoughts" See Mind , Thought.
Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types [3]
Psalm 21:11 (a) This describes the schemes and plans of wicked men to attack GOD and His people.
Daniel 11:24 (b) This refers to the wicked plans of men who have a desire to shut GOD out from their arrangements.
2 Corinthians 2:11 (a) This describes the devil's clever schemes to prevent Christians from walking with the Lord in happy fellowship and profitable service.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [4]
dē̇ -vı̄s ´: "A scheme," "invention," "plot." In the Old Testament it stands for six Hebrew words, of which the most common is maḥăshebheth (from ḥāshabh , "to think," "contrive"). In the New Testament it occurs only twice, once for Greek enthúmēsis ( Acts 17:29 ), and once for nóēma ( 2 Corinthians 2:11 ). Sometimes the word means simply that which is planned or invented, without any evil implication, as in 2 Chronicles 2:14; Acts 17:29 (of artistic work or invention), and Ecclesiastes 9:10 (in the general sense of reasoning or contriving). But more frequently it is used in an evil sense, of a wicked purpose or plot, "Let us devise devices against Jeremiah" ( Jeremiah 18:18 ); "For we are not ignorant of his (i.e. Satan's) devices" ( 2 Corinthians 2:11 ), etc.
