Bible Dictionary

DOUBT

Christian Life • Both

Doubt may mean uncertainty, perplexity, hesitation, or divided judgment. In some passages it describes weak faith; in others, uncertainty about conduct that should lead a believer to refrain.

Definition

Doubt may mean uncertainty, perplexity, hesitation, suspense, or divided judgment. It can describe being without resource, judging in different ways, fluctuating, or lacking settled conviction. In some passages “without doubt” means certainly, while in another it introduces a difficult problem or mystery.

Biblical Usage

New Testament usage includes perplexity, as in the disciples’ uncertainty, and qualified faith rather than total unbelief. In Romans 14:23, a person who doubts is to refrain from eating because uncertain Christian liberty should be met with restraint. “Doubtful mind” can picture fluctuation, while other passages describe being kept in suspense.

Historical Background

The English word translates several Hebrew and Greek originals with distinct meanings. The underlying Greek verbs include being without resource and judging diversely, explaining the variety of contexts and translations.

Related Figures

Historical Bible Dictionaries

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)

dout: This word, found only a score of times in the Bible, translates nevertheless about half as many different Hebrew and Greek originals with a corresponding variety of meanings.In Ge 37:33 "without doubt" is to be taken in the common sense of "certainly"; in Job 12:2 in the sarcastic sense of "indeed!" In Da 5:12,16, it is used as a difficult problem or mystery to be explained, and these are the only cases of its employment in the Old Testament.In the New Testament it is about equally used to translate diaporeo, and diakrino, and their cognates. The first means "to be without resource," "utterly at a loss," "nonplussed"; and the second, "to judge diversely." For the first, see Joh 13:22; Ac 2:12 the King James Version; Ac 5:24 the King James Version; Ac 10:17 the King James Version; Ac 25:20 the King James Version; and Ga 4:20 the King James Version. For the second see Mt 21:21; Mr 11:23; Ac 10:20; Ro 14:23. The last-named is deserving of particular attention. "He that doubteth is condemned (the King James Version "damned") if he eat," means that in a case of uncertainty as to one's Christian liberty, it were better to err on the side of restraint. In Lu 12:29 "to be of doubtful mind" (meteorizo, literally, "to suspend"; see Thayer, under the word), means "to be driven by gusts," or "to fluctuate in mid-air."Here, as in Mt 14:31, "doubt" does not indicate a lack of faith, but rather "a state of qualified faith": its weakness, but not its absence.In Joh 10:24 "doubt" translates airo psuchen, which literally means "to lift up the soul" or "to keep one in suspense"; so the Revised Version (British and American). See also DISPUTATION.James M. Gray

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