δοκῐμάζω G1381
To test, examine, prove; to discern or interpret; to approve as worthy after scrutiny
The verb δοκιμάζω originates in the world of metallurgy — assaying gold and silver for purity — and carries that testing imagery into every New Testament use. At its most concrete, it describes putting something to the test: a man proving new oxen (Luke 14:19), fire testing each builder's work (1 Cor 3:13). The word sharpens into the intellectual realm when it means to discern or interpret what is fitting, as when Jesus challenges the crowds to 'interpret' the present time (Luke 12:56). In its highest register, it means to approve or endorse as worthy, as when God tests and approves those entrusted with the gospel (1 Thess 2:4).
Senses
1. test, examine, prove — The foundational sense of testing, examining, or proving the quality and genuineness of something or someone. From the assaying of metals in classical usage to Paul's exhortation 'let a person examine himself' (1 Cor 11:28), this sense pervades the NT. The multilingual glosses consistently show testing vocabulary — Spanish 'examinad,' 'a probarlas'; French 'éprouver'; German 'prüfen.' In 2 Cor 8:22 Paul speaks of a brother 'whom we have tested many times,' and in 2 Cor 8:8 he 'tests' the genuineness of the Corinthians' love. 12×
AR["اختَبَرْناهُ", "المُمتَحَنِ", "المُمْتَحِنِ", "امتَحِنوا", "امْتَحِنوا", "اِمْتَحِنوا", "سَتَمْتَحِنُ", "فَليَمتَحِن", "لِأُجَرِّبَهَا", "لِيُمْتَحَنوا", "مُختَبِرًا"]·ben["আমরা-পরীক্ষা-করেছি", "পরীক্ষা-কর", "পরীক্ষা-করতে", "পরীক্ষা-করতে।", "পরীক্ষা-করবে।", "পরীক্ষা-করুক", "পরীক্ষা-করো", "পরীক্ষাকারী", "পরীক্ষিত", "পরীক্ষিত-হোক", "যাচাই-কর।"]·DE["pruefen", "prüft"]·EN["being-tested", "let-be-tested", "let-examine", "let-test", "prove", "test", "testing", "to-test", "we-proved", "will-test"]·FR["éprouver"]·heb["בְּחַנוּ", "בִּחְנוּ", "בִּחֲנוּ", "בָּחַנּוּ", "בּוֹחֵן", "יִבְחַן", "יִבְחַן-אָדָם", "יִבְחָן", "יִבָּחֲנוּ", "לְ-בַחֹן", "נִבְחָן"]·HI["जअनचो", "जांचता-हुआ", "जांचो", "परअखने-वअले", "परअखे-जअयेइन", "परखने", "परखा-जाता-है", "परखे", "परखेगी", "परखो", "हमने-परखा"]·ID["Hendaklah-menguji", "akan-menguji", "hendaklah-diuji", "hendaklah-menguji", "kami-telah-uji", "menguji", "ujilah", "yang-diuji"]·IT["approvare", "dokimasai", "provare"]·jav["badhé-nguji.", "cobènana", "kang-diuji,", "kawula-uji", "nguji", "nitia", "nyobi", "padha-dipun-uji", "padha-nguji."]·KO["분별하라.", "시험받게-하라", "시험받는", "시험하라", "시험하러", "시험하리라", "시험하며", "시험하시는", "시험할지니라", "시험했다", "확인하라"]·PT["Examine-se", "examinai", "experimentá-las", "provai", "provamos", "provando", "provará", "que-prova", "sejam-provados", "sendo-provado,"]·RU["Испытывай-же", "да-испытываются", "испытает", "испытали", "испытать", "испытываемого,", "испытывайте", "испытываю", "испытывающему", "исследуйте", "пусть-испытывает"]·ES["Examínese", "a-probarlas", "examinad", "probad", "probado", "probamos", "probando", "probará", "pruebe", "que-prueba", "sean-probados"]·SW["ajipime", "anayejaribu", "ikijaribiwa", "jaribuni", "jipimeni.", "kuzijaribu", "na-ajaribu", "nikijaribu.", "tulimjaribu", "utaijaribu.", "wajaribiwe", "zipime"]·TR["denemek", "denesin", "deneyin", "kimi", "o-", "sınanmış", "sınansınlar", "sınasın", "sınayan", "sınayın"]·urd["آزمائے-جائیں", "آزمانے", "آزمایا-جاتا-ہے،", "جانچو", "جانچے", "پرکھا", "پرکھتا-ہوں", "پرکھتا-ہے", "پرکھو", "پرکھے-گی"]
2. discern, interpret, distinguish — A refined cognitive sense of discernment: the ability to interpret signs, distinguish good from evil, and evaluate what is truly fitting. Luke 12:56 is the defining passage — Jesus rebukes the crowds who can interpret the sky but not the kairos ('this present time'). Rom 12:2 urges believers to 'discern' the will of God by the renewal of the mind. The shift from physical testing to moral-spiritual evaluation is marked in the glosses by words like 'discernir' (Spanish) and 'approve' (English), showing that the object of scrutiny has moved from material to moral. 5×
AR["أَنْ-تَمْتَحِنُوا", "تَختَبِرُ", "مُختَبِرينَ"]·ben["তুমি-পরীক্ষা-কর", "পরীক্ষা-করতে", "পরীক্ষা-করে", "বিচার-করতে"]·DE["pruefen", "prüft"]·EN["approve", "testing", "to-interpret", "to-prove"]·FR["éprouver"]·heb["בָּחֵן-אַתָּה", "בּוֹחֲנִים", "לִבְחֹן"]·HI["परख-ते-हुए", "परखता-है", "परखना", "परखने-को"]·ID["membedakan", "menguji"]·IT["approvare", "dokimazein", "provare"]·jav["mbédak-bédakaken", "nguji", "niteni", "nyobi"]·KO["분별하게-함이라", "분별하기를", "분별하는지", "분별하며"]·PT["aprovas", "examinando", "provar"]·RU["-Бога", "испытывая", "различаешь", "различать"]·ES["apruebas", "discernir", "examinando", "probar"]·SW["kupima", "mkijaribu", "mpate-kujua", "unakubali"]·TR["anlamak", "anlamayı", "deneyerek", "onayliyorsun"]·urd["پرکھتے-ہوئے", "پرکھنا", "پسند-کرتا-ہے"]
3. approve, accept as worthy — The culminating sense of approval after examination — declaring someone or something worthy and fit. In 1 Thess 2:4 Paul says God 'approved' (δεδοκιμάσμεθα) the apostles to be entrusted with the gospel. Rom 14:22 speaks of the blessing of the one who does not condemn himself in what he 'approves.' Spanish 'aprobar/aprobaron' and English 'he approves' make the evaluative verdict explicit. This sense moves beyond testing into the result: a positive judgment rendered. 5×
AR["امْتُحِنّا", "اِخْتَبَرْتُمُوهُمْ", "تَمْتَحِنوا", "يَخْتَبِرُ", "يَستَحسِنوا"]·ben["অনুমোদন-কর,", "অনুমোদিত-হয়েছি", "তারা-যোগ্য-মনে-করল,", "পরীক্ষা-করে।", "বিচার-করতে"]·DE["pruefen"]·EN["he-approves", "they-approved", "to-approve", "we-have-been-approved", "you-approve"]·FR["éprouver"]·heb["בְּחֹן", "בּוֹחֵן", "נִבְחַנְנוּ", "רָאוּ-לְנָכוֹן", "תְּאַשְׁרוּ"]·HI["उचित-समझा", "तुम-मान्य-ठहराओ", "परअखे-गये-हैन", "परख", "परखता-है"]·ID["ia-setujui.", "kami-diuji", "kamu-setujui,", "menganggap-baik,", "menguji"]·IT["approvare", "provare"]·jav["kaanggep-pantes,", "kita-dipun-uji", "nguji", "panjenengan-sayogya", "piyambakipun-nyobi."]·KO["분별하기", "시험하는", "우리가-인정-받았으므로", "인정하면", "합당히-여겼으니"]·PT["aprova.", "aprovar", "aprovaram", "fomos-aprovados"]·RU["испытали", "испытаны", "одобрите", "различения"]·ES["aprobar", "aprobareis", "aprobaron", "aprueba", "hemos-sido-aprobados"]·SW["anakubali.", "kuyapima", "mtakaowaidhinisha", "ona-vizuri,", "tumejaribiwa"]·TR["ayirt-etmek-icin", "onayladılar", "onayladığında", "onaylandık", "onaylarsaniz"]·urd["اُنہوں-نے-مناسب-سمجھا", "جانچنا", "منظور-کرتا-ہے", "منظُور-کرو", "ہم-پرکھے-گئے"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
δοκῐμάζω, (δόκιμος) assay, test, πορφύραν καὶ χρυσόν Refs 5th c.BC+:—middle, prove for oneself, choose, χώραν Refs 5th c.BC+:— passive, ἐπειδὰν τὸ ἔργον.. δοκιμασθῇ Refs __2 of persons, δ. αὐτούς put them to the test, make trial of them, Refs 5th c.BC+; also of Apis-bulls, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II approve, sanction, μετὰ δεδοκιμασμένου [λόγου] μὴ ξυνέπεσθαι Refs 5th c.BC+infinitive, ἐκπονεῖν ἐδοκίμαζε…