Ponder

I use this word, a lot...and while reading noticed it in this verse:


Pro_5:6  Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. 


Then a variation a few verses later:


Pro 5:21  For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.


Searching for just the word ponder brought up only Proverbs 5:6 and 4:26


Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.


Proverbs 5:6, 21 and 4:26 use the same Hebrew word.


H6424 -  A primitive root; properly to roll flat, that is, prepare (a road); also to revolve, that is, weigh (mentally): - make, ponder, weigh.


So...used elsewhere?


Psa 58:2  Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth. 

Psa 78:50  He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; 

Isa 26:7  The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

Word Study Series offered:

A verb meaning to weigh out, to make level, to ponder. It means to calculate the weight of something. It is used figuratively of weighing out, pondering evil (Ps. 58:2[3]); and of the Lord's leveling or cleansing a path for His anger to pass over in judgment (Ps. 78:50). It means to guard, to watch carefully one's way of life (Prov. 4:26). It describes making one's way of life just, fair, level (Is. 26:7).

Unfortunately, they offered no synonyms; however, synonyms.com had these:

chew over, think over, meditate, ponder, excogitate, contemplate, muse, reflect, mull, mull over, ruminate, speculate
think, cogitate, cerebrate

Meditate...not in the worldly sense of meditation of emptying one's mind...but as we are admonished in these verses:

Psa 1:2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 

Psa 63:6  When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

Psa 77:12  I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. 

Psa 119:15  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

Psa 143:5  I remember the days of old; I meditate (H1897) on all thy works; I muse (H7878) on the work of thy hands.

Which are all:

H1897 - A primitive root (compare H1901); to murmur (in pleasure or anger); by implication to ponder: - imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, X sore, speak, study, talk, utter.

These verses:

Psa 119:23  Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

Psa 119:48  My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. 

Psa 119:78  Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

Which are all:

H7878 - A primitive root; to ponder, that is, (by implication) converse (with oneself, and hence aloud) or (transitively) utter: - commune, complain, declare, meditate, muse, pray, speak, talk (with).

Meditate in the NT:

1Ti 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 

G3191 - From a presumed derivative of G3199; to take care of, that is, (by implication) revolve in the mind: - imagine, (pre-) meditate.

• G3199 - A primary verb; to be of interest to, that is, to concern (only third person singular present indicative used impersonally it matters): - (take) care.

May the Lord of Glory, fill your spirit, soul and mind with HIS goodness.

May HIS attributes continually be reviewed before you.

May you (and I!) ponder, think, muse and meditate upon Him and His word more and more each day.

Blessings ~ Melissa

Closing with this thought:

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. ~ 1 Peter 5:7