"pr. thought, intention; the mind, intellect, understanding, Mt. 22:37; Mk. 12:30; Lk. 10:27; an operation of the understanding, thought, imagination, Lk. 1:51; insight, comprehension, 1 Jn. 5:20; mode of thinking and feeling, disposition of mind and heart, the affection, Eph. 2:3..."
Definition and meaning
pr. thought, intention; the mind, intellect, understanding, Mt. 22:37; Mk. 12:30; Lk. 10:27; an operation of the understanding, thought, imagination, Lk. 1:51; insight, comprehension, 1 Jn. 5:20; mode of thinking and feeling, disposition of mind and heart, the affection, Eph. 2:3; Col. 1:21
In the original Greek the word is written: διάνοια
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of dianoia (G1271) across the King James Bible.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
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Common questions
Strong's G1271 (dianoia) is a Greek word that means: pr. thought, intention; the mind, intellect, understanding, Mt. 22:37; Mk. 12:30; Lk. 10:27; an operation of the understanding, thought, imagination, Lk. 1:51; insight, comprehension, 1 Jn. 5:20; mode... It appears 13 times in the King James Bible.
The word dianoia (G1271) appears 13 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1271 is dianoia, a Greek word defined as: pr. thought, intention; the mind, intellect, understanding, Mt. 22:37; Mk. 12:30; Lk. 10:27; an operation of the understanding, thought, imagination, . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
dianoia is a Greek word found in the New Testament.