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Bible Dictionaries
Doubt, Doubtful, Doubting
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words
or always used in the Middle Voice, lit. means "to be without a way" (a, negative, poros, "a way, transit"), "to be without resources, embarrassed, in doubt, perplexity, at a loss," as was Herod regarding John the Baptist, Mark 6:20 (RV, following the most authentic mss., "was much perplexed"); as the disciples were, regarding the Lord's betrayal, John 13:22 , "doubting;" and regarding the absence of His body from the tomb, Luke 24:4 , "were perplexed;" as was Festus, about the nature of the accusations brought against Paul, Acts 25:20 , AV "doubted," RV, "being perplexed;" as Paul was, in his experiences of trial, 2 Corinthians 4:8 , "perplexed," and, as to the attitude of the believers of the churches in Galatia towards Judaistic errors, Galatians 4:20 , AV, "I stand in doubt," RV, "I am perplexed." Perplexity is the main idea. See PERPLEX. Cp. the noun aporia, "distress," Luke 21:25 .
dia, "asunder" (intensive), and No. 1, signifies "to be thoroughly perplexed," with a perplexity amounting to despair, Acts 2:12; 5:24; 10:17 , AV, "were in doubt," "doubted," RV, "were (was) perplexed." See also Luke 9:7 (some mss. have it in Luke 24:4 , where the most authentic have No. 1). See PERPLEX.
see CONTEND and DIFFER, A, No. 2; in Acts 11:12 , AV, "nothing doubting," RV, "making no distinction;" in Jude 1:22 , RV, "who are in doubt" (AV, "making a difference," RV, marg., "while they dispute"); in James 1:6 , AV, "wavereth," RV, "doubteth." This verb suggests, not so much weakness of faith, as lack of it (contrast, Nos. 4 and 5).
"to stand in two ways" (dis, "double," stasis, "a standing"), implying "uncertainty which way to take," is used in Matthew 14:31; 28:17; said of believers whose faith is small. Cp. No. 5.
from meteoros (Eng., "meteor"), signifying "in mid air, raised on high," was primarily used of putting a ship out to sea, or of "raising" fortifications, or of the "rising" of the wind. In the Sept., it is used, e.g., in Micah 4:1 , of the "exaltation" of the Lord's house; in Ezekiel 10:16 , of the "lifting" up of the wings of the cherubim; in Obadiah 1:4 , of the "mounting" up of the eagle; in the NT metaphorically, of "being anxious," through a "distracted" state of mind, of "wavering" between hope and fear, Luke 12:29 , "neither be ye of doubtful mind" (AV, marg., "live not in careful suspense"), addressed to those who have little faith. Cp. No. 4. The interpretation "do not exalt yourselves" is not in keeping with the context.
lit., "to raise the breath, or to lift the soul," signifies "to hold in suspense," RV of John 10:24 (AV, "make us to doubt"), suggestive of "an objective suspense due to lack of light" (Warfield), through a failure of their expectations, rather than, subjectively, through unbelief. The meaning may thus be, "How long dost Thou raise our expectations without satisfying them?"
expresses reasoning or questioning hesitation, 1 Timothy 2:8 . See DISPUTE , A, No. 1.
Note: For AV, "doubtful" in Romans 14:1 see DECISION , B, No. 2.These files are public domain.
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Doubt, Doubtful, Doubting'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ved/d/doubt-doubtful-doubting.html. 1940.
