Meditate Study Notes

med•i•tate  ˈme-də-ˌtāt

-tat•ed; -tat•ing [L meditatus, pp. of meditari, freq. of medēri to remedy — more at medical] vi 1560

1           : to engage in contemplation or reflection

2           : to engage in mental exercise (as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness vt

1           : to focus one’s thoughts on : reflect on or ponder over

2           : to plan or project in the mind : intend, purpose syn see ponder [1]

MEDITATES. (Ps. 1:2) hagah (hah-gah); Strong’s #1897: To reflect; to moan, to mutter; to ponder; to make a quiet sound such as sighing; to meditate or contemplate something as one repeats the words. Hagah represents something quite unlike the English “meditation,” which may be a mental exercise only. In Hebrew thought, to meditate upon the Scriptures is to quietly repeat them in a soft, droning sound, while utterly abandoning outside distractions. From this tradition comes a specialized type of Jewish prayer called “davening,” that is, reciting texts, praying intense prayers, or getting lost in communion with God while bowing or rocking back and forth. Evidently this dynamic form of meditation-prayer goes back to David’s time.[2]

 15. Meditate (μελέτα). Only here and Acts 4:25 (citation). Often in Class. and LXX. Most translators reject the A. V. meditate, and substitute be diligent in, or practise, or take care for. Meditate, however, is legitimate, although in Class. the word commonly appears in one of the other senses. The connection between the different meanings is apparent. Exercise or practice applied to the mind becomes thinking or meditation. In LXX it represents seven Hebrew equivalents, and signifies to meditate, talk of, murmur, delight one’s self in, attend to. Often to meditate, Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1:2; 2:1; 37:12; 72:6; Sir. 6:7. Meditation is a talking within the mind, and issues in speech; hence to speak, as Ps. 34:28; 36:30; Isa. 69:3. Similarly, λόγος signifies both reason and discourse. In Lat. meditari, “to reflect,” is also “to exercise in,” “to practise,” as Virgil, Ecl. i. 2. In the Vulg. meditabor is the translation of murmur or mourn in Isa. 38:14. The Heb. הָגָֽה means to murmur, whisper; hence the inner whispering of the heart; hence to think, meditate, consider, as Ps. 63:7; 78:13.[3]

MEDITATION. Josh. 1:8; Psa. 1:2; Psa. 4:4; Psa. 19:14; Psa. 39:3; Psa. 49:3; Psa. 63:5, 6; Psa. 73:12–22; Psa. 77:10–12; Psa. 104:34; Psa. 119:11, 16, 23, 48, 55, 59, 78, 97–99,148; Psa. 139:17, 18; Psa. 143:5; 1 Tim. 4:13–15 [4]

MEDITATION — the practice of reflection or contemplation. The word “meditation” or its verb form, “to meditate,” is found mainly in the Old Testament. The Hebrew words behind this concept mean “to murmur,” “a murmuring,” “sighing,” or “moaning.” This concept is reflected in Psalm 1:2, where the “blessed man” meditates on God’s law day and night. The psalmist also prayed that the meditation of his heart would be acceptable in God’s sight (Ps. 19:14). Joshua was instructed to meditate on the Book of the Law for the purpose of obeying all that was written in it (Josh. 1:8).

The Greek word translated as “meditate” occurs only twice in the New Testament. In Luke 21:14 Jesus instructed His disciples not “to meditate beforehand” in answering their adversaries when the end of the age comes. The word may be understood in this passage as the idea of preparing a defense for a court appearance. Paul, in 1 Timothy 4:15, urged Timothy to meditate, or take pains with, the instructions he gives. The idea of meditation is also found in Philippians 4:8 and Colossians 3:2.

Meditation is a lost art for many Christians, but the practice needs to be cultivated again. [5]

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L Latin

pp past participle

freq frequentative

[1]Merriam-Webster, Inc: Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Eleventh ed. Springfield, Mass. : Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003

[2]Hayford, Jack W. ; Thomas Nelson Publishers: Hayford's Bible Handbook. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995

A. V. Authorized Version.

Vulg. Vulgate or Latin Translation of the New Testament.

[3]Vincent, Marvin Richardson: Word Studies in the New Testament. Bellingham, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2002, S. 4:253

[4]Swanson, James ; Nave, Orville: New Nave's. Oak Harbor : Logos Research Systems, 1994

[5]Youngblood, Ronald F. ; Bruce, F. F. ; Harrison, R. K. ; Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville : T. Nelson, 1995