Bible Dictionary
CAST
To cast generally means to throw, whether with force or by letting something fall, as in casting a net or lots. It can also mean to form metal, reject what is unfit, demolish, or place one’s cares upon God.
Definition
To cast generally means to throw, whether forcefully or by letting something fall. It may also mean to form molten metal, reject what is unfit, demolish, reproach, consider, or place anxiety upon another.
Biblical Usage
Biblical usage includes casting nets or lots, casting reproach, casting down strongholds, casting anxiety upon God, and being cast down without being destroyed. “Castaway” refers to what testing proves rejected, counterfeit, or unfit.
Historical Background
The principal New Testament verb is often compounded with prepositions expressing directions such as away, down, forth, into, out, up, and upon. In some passages the English word translates terms meaning consider, reproach, demolish, or reject.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>In general "to throw," with various degrees of violence; usually, with force, but not so necessarily, as e.g. in "cast a net," "cast lots." When applied to molten metal, as in English, first, "to let run. into molds," with reference to their descent by gravity, and, then, "to form," as in Ex 25:12, etc. Usually in the New Testament for ballo, but not always. Thus, in Lu 1:29 "cast in her mind" means "considered" (dielogizeto); "cast reproach" for Greek oneidizon, "reproached" (Mt 27:44); "casting down" for kathaireo, "demolishing" (2Co 10:4); "casting all anxiety upon" (1Pe 5:7), a still stronger term, as in Lu 17:2 the King James Version; Ac 27:19. As a fundamental Greek word, it is compounded with many prepositions, "about," "away," "down," "forth," "in," "into," "off," "out," "up," "upon." "Cast down" in 2Co 4:9 the King James Version is used in a military sense of one prostrated, but not killed in battle. Compare Ps 42:5 with the Revised Version, margin. "Castaway" of the King James Version in 1Co 9:27, is in the Revised Version (British and American) "rejected" (compare Hebrews 6:8), adokimos, i.e. what the application of a test shows to be counterfeit, or unfit; translated "reprobate" in Ro 1:28; 2Co 13:5,6,7, etc.</p><p>H. E. Jacobs</p>