dē̇-vı̄s´: “A scheme,” “invention,” “plot.” In the Old Testament it stands for six Hebrew words, of which the most common is maḥăshebheth (from ḥāshabh, “to think,” “contrive”). In the New Testament it occurs only twice, once for Greek enthúmēsis ([Act 17:29]), and once for nóēma ([2Co 2:11]). Sometimes the word means simply that which is planned or invented, without any evil implication, as in [2Ch 2:14]; [Act 17:29] (of artistic work or invention), and [Ecc 9:10] (in the general sense of reasoning or contriving). But more frequently it is used in an evil sense, of a wicked purpose or plot, “Let us devise devices against Jeremiah” ([Jer 18:18]); “For we are not ignorant of his (i.e. Satan’s) devices” ([2Co 2:11]), etc.
