Reference: Experience
Hastings
This word, which plays so large a part in modern philosophy and religion, occurs 4 times (including 'experiment') in English Version. Of these instances only one survives in RV, viz., Ec 1:16, where 'hath had great experience of' = 'hath seen much of (wisdom),' etc. In Ge 30:27 'I have learnt by experience' (= 'experiment') becomes 'I have divined,' the Heb. vb. being the same as in Ge 44:5,15; De 18:10. In Ro 5:4 (RV 'probation') 'experience,' and in 2Co 9:13 (RV 'proving') 'experiment.' was the rendering of a Gr. word borrowed from the assaying of metal, which signified the testing, or test, of personal worth; the same noun appears in AV as 'trial' (RV 'proof') in 2Co 2:9; 8:2, and 'proof' in 2Co 13:3 and Php 2:22. 'Christian experience,' in modern phraseology, covers what is spoken of in Scripture as the knowledge of God, of Christ, etc., and as 'the seal' or 'witness (testimony) of the Holy Spirit,' 'of our conscience,' etc., or as peace, assurance, salvation, and the like. Cf. next article.
G. G. Findlay.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Laban said unto him, If now I have found favor in thine eyes, tarry : for I have divined that Jehovah hath blessed me for thy sake.
Is not this that in which my lord drinketh, and whereby he indeed divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? know ye not that such a man as I can indeed divine?
There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,
I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope:
For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things.
how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all;
seeing that ye seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me; who to you-ward is not weak, but is powerful in you:
But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child'serveth a father,'so he served with me in furtherance of the gospel.