'Mean' in the Bible

And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

Then Laban said to Jacob, “What do you mean by deceiving me and leaving without my knowledge, and carrying off my daughters as if [they were] captives of the sword?

So Esau said, “What do you mean by this whole procession I met?”“To find favor with you, my lord,” he answered.

Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.

The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads are seven years. The dreams mean the same thing.

And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?

“In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘By the strength of His hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.

And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you?

The most refined and the very sensitive man among you {shall be mean with his brother} and {against his beloved wife} and against the rest of his children that he has left over,

The most refined and the [most] delicate [woman] among you, who shall not venture to put the sole of her foot on the ground from being [so] delicate and from [such] gentleness, {shall be mean to her beloved husband} and against her son and against her daughter,

All the nations will say, ‘Why has the Lord done this thing to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?’

That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?

And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?

When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp.

When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What does the noise of this commotion mean?” Then the man came hurriedly and told Eli.

And Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and oxen, and beasts of the second bearing, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not devote them to destruction; but everything that was mean and weak, that they destroyed utterly.

Samuel said, "Then what does this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the cattle which I hear mean?"

If he says 'Good,' [it will mean] peace for your servant; but if he [is] very angry, know that {he has decided to do me harm}.

The name of the man [was] Nabal, and the name of his wife [was] Abigail. Now the woman [was] wise and beautiful, but the man [was] stubborn and {mean}, and he [was] as his heart.

The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household (family) to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine is for anyone to drink who becomes weary in the wilderness.”

You love your enemies and hate those who love you! Today you have made it clear that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. In fact, today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would be fine with you!

Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the trumpet sound, he said, “Why is the city in such an uproar?”

And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

We are informing the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls finished, it will mean that you will have no possession in the province west of the [Euphrates] River.”

"What is mankind, that he can be blameless? Or does being born of a woman mean he'll be in the right?

Help me to understand what your precepts mean! Then I can meditate on your marvelous teachings.

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

The wounds of a friend mean well, but the kisses of an enemy are profane.

And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.

What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:

However he doesn't mean so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off not a few nations.

The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning the Valley of Vision:What is the matter with you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops,

Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.

How can you say, "We are wise! We have the law of the Lord"? The truth is, those who teach it have used their writings to make it say what it does not really mean.

"Go and tell Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, 'The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, "I will carry out against this city what I promised. It will mean disaster and not good fortune for it. When that disaster happens, you will be there to see it.

Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;

What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

Then I said to them, What does the high place where you go mean? So its name is called Bamah to this day.

"Cry and wail, you Son of Man! It's headed against my people. It's also against all the princes of Israel, who have been tossed to the sword, along with my people. So it's time to grieve like you mean it,

Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean for us?”

When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you explain to us what you mean by these things?’—

The ten horns mean that ten kings will arise from that kingdom. Another king will arise after them, but he will be different from the earlier ones. He will humiliate three kings.

So the captain came up to him and said, “How can you stay asleep? Get up! Call on your god! Perhaps your god will give a thought to us so that we will not perish.”

The angel who had been speaking with me answered by asking, "You don't know what these mean, do you?" So I responded, "No, sir."

He answered them, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them.

But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.”

And all were amazed and awe-struck, so they began to ask one another, "What does this mean? Here is a new sort of teaching--and a tone of authority! And even to foul spirits he issues orders and they obey him!"

He answered them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables

And when the sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, Whence hath this man these things? and, What is the wisdom that is given unto this man, and what mean'such mighty works wrought by his hands?

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

But he denied [it], saying, "I neither know nor understand what you mean!" And he went out into the gateway, and a rooster crowed.

But she was greatly perplexed at what he said, and kept carefully considering what kind of greeting this was.

But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean.

Then His disciples asked Him, “What does this parable mean?”

In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

But Jesus looked at them and asked, "What does this text mean: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?

"Man, I don't know what you mean," replied Peter. No sooner had he spoken than a cock crowed.

In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

They kept asking, "Is not this man Joseph's son? Is he not Jesus, whose father and mother we know? What does he mean by now saying, 'I have come down out of Heaven'?"

What does this statement mean that he said, "You'll look for me but won't find me,' and, "Where I am, you cannot come'?"

They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone. What do You mean by saying, ‘You will be set free’?”

Jesus answered, "If I were trying to glorify myself, my glory would mean nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, "He is our God.'

"I have told you already," he replied, "and you did not listen to me. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also mean to be disciples of his?"

when the Jews gathered round Him and kept asking Him, "How long do you mean to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us so plainly."

Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works [and many acts of mercy] from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”

I am not speaking of all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but [this has happened] in order that the Scripture may be fulfilled: ‘He who eats My bread has raised up his heel against Me [as My enemy].’

The disciples began looking at one another, puzzled and disturbed as to whom He could mean.

At this point, some of his disciples asked each other, "What does he mean by telling us, "In a little while you will no longer see me, then in a little while you will see me again,' and, "because I am going to the Father'?"

So they were saying, “What does He mean when He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.”

"Brethren, it was necessary that the Scripture should be fulfilled--the prediction, I mean, which the Holy Spirit uttered by the lips of David, about Judas, who acted as guide to those who arrested Jesus.

All of them continued to be stunned and puzzled, and they kept asking one another, "What can this mean?"

You do not mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?’

Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

the story, I mean, which has spread through the length and breadth of Judaea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism which John proclaimed.

and yet by His beneficence He has not left His existence unattested--His beneficence, I mean, in sending you rain from Heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and joyfulness."

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

The men standing near him asked, "Do you mean to insult God's high priest?"

but as regards the holiness of His Spirit was decisively proved by His Resurrection to be the Son of God--I mean concerning Jesus Christ our Lord,

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

What, then, does this mean? Are we Jews any better off? Not at all! For we have already accused everyone, both Jews and Greeks, of being under the power of sin.

What, then, does this mean? Should we go on sinning because we are not under Law but under grace? Of course not!

And the very commandment which was intended to bring life, actually proved to bring death for me.

Now we know that for those who love God all things are working together for good--for those, I mean, whom with deliberate purpose He has called.

What, then, does this mean? It means that Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking, but the selected group obtained it while the rest were hardened.

Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their fall means riches for the gentiles, how much more will their full participation mean!

For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

For there is a truth, brethren, not revealed hitherto, of which I do not wish to leave you in ignorance, for fear you should attribute superior wisdom to yourselves--the truth, I mean, that partial blindness has fallen upon Israel until the great mass of the Gentiles have come in;

This is what I mean: Each of you is saying, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to the Messiah."

In writing this much, brethren, with special reference to Apollos and myself, I have done so for your sakes, in order to teach you by our example what those words mean, which say, "Nothing beyond what is written!" --so that you may cease to take sides in boastful rivalry, for one teacher against another.

I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.

Now as to the matters of which you wrote: It is good (beneficial, advantageous) for a man not to touch a woman [outside marriage].

This is what I mean, brothers: The time is short. From now on, those who have wives should live as though they had none,

Is the cup of blessing which we bless [at the Lord’s Supper] not a sharing in the blood of Christ? [Indeed it is.] Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? [Indeed it is.]

What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

No, I mean that what the pagans sacrifice is to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons.

I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged by another person’s conscience?

What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those [impoverished believers] who have nothing? What will I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? In this I will not praise you!