νομ-ίζω G3543
To think, suppose, or assume; in the passive, to be commonly thought or regarded as something.
Derived from νόμος ('custom, law'), νομίζω carries an undertone of conventional or expected thinking — what one customarily assumes or supposes. Jesus uses it pointedly in Matt 5:17 and 10:34: 'Do not suppose that I came to...' — correcting mistaken popular assumptions. Luke employs it for the natural but incorrect assumption of Jesus' parents that he was in the caravan (Luke 2:44). The single passive occurrence in Luke 3:23, 'he was supposed to be the son of Joseph,' is theologically loaded, quietly distinguishing public opinion from divine reality.
Senses
1. think, suppose, consider — To hold a belief, opinion, or supposition about something — often one that proves mistaken or needs correction. Jesus opens key teachings with 'do not suppose' (Matt 5:17; 10:34), while Luke records ordinary assumptions (Luke 2:44) and Paul's confidence that Moses' kinsmen would understand (Acts 7:25). Spanish 'pensaba/pienso,' French 'croire/supposer,' and German 'meinen' all capture the quality of subjective assumption rather than certain knowledge. This active-voice sense dominates with 14 occurrences across varied tenses and persons. 14×
AR["أَظُنُّ", "أَن-نَظُنَّ", "تَظُنُّوا", "تَظُنّوا", "ظَنَنّا", "ظَنَنْتَ", "ظَنَّ", "ظَنَّا", "ظَنُّوا", "ظَنّوا", "يَظُنُّ", "يَظُنّونَ"]·ben["আমি-মনে-করি", "তারা-মনে-করত", "মনে-কর", "মনে-করতে", "মনে-করতেন", "মনে-করল", "মনে-করলাম", "মনে-করলে", "মনে-করে", "মনে-করে,", "মনে-করো"]·DE["meinen", "meint"]·EN["I-think", "having-supposed", "he-was-supposing", "supposed", "supposing", "they-supposed", "think", "thinks", "to-think", "we-supposed", "you-thought"]·FR["croire", "supposer"]·heb["חִשְּׁבוּ", "חָשְׁבוּ", "חָשַׁב", "חָשַׁבְנוּ", "חָשַׁבְתָּ", "חוֹשְׁבִים", "חוֹשֵׁב", "לַחֲשֹׁב", "תַּחְשְׁבוּ"]·HI["समझकर", "समझता-हूं", "समझता-है", "समझते-थे", "समझते-हुए", "समझना", "समझने-वअलोन", "सोच", "सोचता-था", "सोचा", "सोचो"]·ID["Aku-pikir", "Dia-menyangka", "berpikir,", "engkau-mengira", "kami-mengira", "mengira", "menyangka", "mereka-kira", "yang-menganggap"]·IT["nomizontōn", "pensare"]·jav["Kawula-rumaos", "Nganggep", "kinten", "kita-ngira", "ngin-ten", "nginten", "nginten-panjenengan", "ngira", "piyambakipun-sedaya-ngira", "rumaos,"]·KO["그들이-생각했다", "생각하라", "생각하며", "생각하여", "생각하지-말라", "생각하지-말지니", "생각한다", "생각했다", "여기는-자들"]·PT["Penso", "pensa,", "pensando", "pensaram", "pensaste", "pensava", "penseis", "supondo", "supunham", "supuníamos"]·RU["Думаю", "думайте", "думал", "думали", "думать", "думающих", "думая", "считает,"]·ES["Pienso", "habiendo-pensado", "pensaba", "pensaban", "pensando", "pensar", "pensaron", "pensaste", "pensábamos", "penséis", "piensa"]·SW["Nadhani", "akidhani", "alidhani", "anadhani,", "dhani", "kudhani", "kwamba", "tulidhani", "ulidhani", "wakidhani", "walidhani"]·TR["sanan", "sanarak", "sandılar", "sandın", "sanmak", "sanımayın", "sanın", "sanıp", "sanıyordu", "sanıyorduk", "sanıyorlardı", "sanıyorsa", "sanıyorum"]·urd["سمجھا", "سمجھتا-تھا", "سمجھتا-ہوں", "سمجھتا-ہے", "سمجھتے-تھے", "سمجھتے-ہوئے", "سمجھنا", "سمجھو"]
Matt 5:17, Matt 10:34, Matt 20:10, Luke 2:44, Acts 7:25, Acts 8:20, Acts 14:19, Acts 16:13, Acts 16:27, Acts 17:29, Acts 21:29, 1 Cor 7:26 (+2 more)
2. be supposed, be considered — The passive sense of being thought, regarded, or commonly supposed to be something. Its sole NT occurrence in Luke 3:23 — 'Jesus was supposed (ἐνομίζετο) to be the son of Joseph' — carries profound theological weight: the public assumption of Josephine paternity stands in quiet tension with the virgin birth. Spanish 'se pensaba' and the passive framing across languages signal communal assumption rather than established fact, making this a remarkably loaded single-verse sense. 1×
AR["كَانَ-يُظَنُّ"]·ben["মনে-করা-হত"]·DE["meint"]·EN["was-supposed"]·FR["supposer"]·heb["נֶחְשָׁב"]·HI["समझा-जाता-था"]·ID["disangka"]·IT["pensare"]·jav["dipun-kinten,"]·KO["생각되었다"]·PT["se-pensava"]·RU["считалось"]·ES["se-pensaba"]·SW["ilidhaniwa"]·TR["sanılıyordu"]·urd["سمجھا-جاتا-تھا"]
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
νομ-ίζω, future νομιῶ Refs 5th c.BC+; Ionic dialect 1st pers. plural νομιοῦμεν Refs 5th c.BC+aorist ἐνόμισα, poetry νόμισα Refs 5th c.BC+: perfect νενόμικα Refs 4th c.BC+:—passive, future νομισθήσομαι Refs 5th c.BC+future middle νομιοῦμαι in passive sense, Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἐνομίσθην (see. below Refs: perfect νενόμισμαι, 3rd.pers. plural νενομίδαται Refs 2nd c.AD+; Doric dialect infinitive…