'Mean' in the Bible

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!

What does this mean? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing psalms with my spirit, but I will also sing psalms with my mind.

Otherwise, if you bless God in spirit only, how shall he who is in the position of an ungifted man say the 'Amen' to your giving of thanks, when he does not know what your words mean?

What, then, does this mean, brothers? When you gather, everyone has a psalm, teaching, revelation, foreign language, or interpretation. Everything must be done for upbuilding.

Otherwise, what will those do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people even baptized for them?

Brothers, this is what I mean: Mortal bodies cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and what decays cannot inherit what does not decay.

So then, was I indecisive or capricious when I was [originally] planning this? Or the things I plan, do I plan in a self-serving way like a worldly man, ready to say, “Yes, yes” and “No, no” [at the same time]?

But [as surely as] God is faithful and means what He says, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No” [at the same time].

I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.

For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

For against one thing we are on our guard--I mean against blame being thrown upon us in respect to these large and liberal contributions which are under our charge.

But I myself, Paul, entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of the Christ, who, as to appearance, when present am mean among you, but absent am bold towards you;

Now if we, while trying to be justified by the Messiah, have been found to be sinners, does that mean that the Messiah is serving the interests of sin? Of course not!

This is what I mean: The Law that came 430 years later did not cancel the covenant that God ratified previously. The promise was never nullified.

Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything.

This then is what I mean. Let your lives be guided by the Spirit, and then you will certainly not indulge the cravings of your lower natures.

For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.

I mean the truth that the Gentiles are joint heirs with us Jews, and that they form one body with us, and have the same interest as we have in the promise which has been made good in Christ Jesus through the Good News,

But what does “He ascended” mean except that He descended to the lower parts of the earth?

That is a great truth hitherto kept secret: I mean the truth concerning Christ and the Church.

But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.

For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again [wanted to come], but Satan hindered us.

I entreat you on behalf of my own child whose father I have become while in my chains--I mean Onesimus.

By people who live on milk I mean those who are imperfectly acquainted with the teaching concerning righteousness.

Above all, brothers, do not swear oaths by heaven, by earth, or by any other object. Instead, let your "Yes" mean yes and your "No" mean no! Otherwise, you may fall under condemnation.

My dearly-loved friends, it is no new command that I am now giving you, but an old command which you have had from the very beginning. By the old command I mean the teaching which you have already received.