'Purpose' in the Bible

The Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.

He shall then look at the mark on the seventh day; if the mark has spread in the garment, whether in the warp or in the woof, or in the leather, whatever the purpose for which the leather is used, the mark is a leprous malignancy, it is unclean.

In Jerusalem he made engines of war invented by skillful men to be on the towers and on the corners for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his fame spread afar, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong.

Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand.

“I know that You can do all things,And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

They hold fast to themselves an evil purpose;They talk of laying snares secretly;They say, “Who can see them?”

The Lord has made everything for its own purpose,Even the wicked for the day of evil.

Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.

So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

Who say, “Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it;And let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw nearAnd come to pass, that we may know it!”

Yet it does not so intend,Nor does it plan so in its heart,But rather it is its purpose to destroyAnd to cut off many nations.

The land of Judah will become a terror to Egypt; everyone to whom it is mentioned will be in dread of it, because of the purpose of the Lord of hosts which He is purposing against them.

Confirming the word of His servantAnd performing the purpose of His messengers.It is I who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited!’And of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built.’And I will raise up her ruins again.

Declaring the end from the beginning,And from ancient times things which have not been done,Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;

Calling a bird of prey from the east,The man of My purpose from a far country.Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.I have planned it, surely I will do it.

“For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from ShebaAnd the sweet cane from a distant land?Your burnt offerings are not acceptableAnd your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me.”

Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers!The Lord has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes,Because His purpose is against Babylon to destroy it;For it is the vengeance of the Lord, vengeance for His temple.

“Behold, the rulers of Israel, each according to his power, have been in you for the purpose of shedding blood.

Slanderous men have been in you for the purpose of shedding blood, and in you they have eaten at the mountain shrines. In your midst they have committed acts of lewdness.

But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.

Alas, you who are longing for the day of the Lord,For what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you?It will be darkness and not light;

“But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord,And they do not understand His purpose;For He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.