Bible Dictionary
IMAGINE
To imagine means to think, devise, meditate on, or plan. In biblical usage it often refers to forming schemes, especially wrongful plans, though it may also describe meditation or reflection.
Definition
To imagine is to think, combine ideas, devise, meditate, mutter, speak, engrave, or plan. The word can describe the formation of a thought or scheme, including a plan directed against another person.
Biblical Usage
In the Old Testament, “imagine” often translates a word meaning to think, combine, or devise, including the devising of wrongful plans. It may also translate a word meaning to meditate, mutter, or speak. In Acts 4:25 it refers to meditation.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>i-maj'-in (chashabh; meletao): The word most frequently translated "to imagine" in the Old Testament, only in the King James Version and the English Revised Version, not in the American Standard Revised Version, is chashabh, "to bind," "combine," "think" (Job 6:26; Ps 10:2; 21:11; 140:2; Ho 7:15; Na 1:9,11; Zec 7:10; 8:17); we have also haghah in the King James Version and the English Revised Version, but not in the American Standard Revised Version, "to meditate," "mutter," "speak" (Ps 2:1; 38:12); zamam, "to devise" (Ge 11:6 the King James Version); charash, "to grave," "devise" (Pr 12:20 the King James Version); hathath, "to break in upon," to "attack unjustly" (Ps 62:3 the King James Version); meletao, "to meditate" (Ac 4:25).</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>