What Does Philippians 4:8 Mean?
As for what remains, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is weighty, whatever is aligned, whatever is clean, whatever is dear, whatever is well spoken of; if there is any excellence, if there is any praise, count these things.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.THE KEY
Here, “think” is the language of accounting: the verse names what the mind counts as worthy of attention.
THE MEANING
This verse meets the reader’s mind as a place of discernment, where truth, honor, alignment, purity, beauty, a good report, excellence, and praise gather as things worthy of attention. Thinking here is active weighing: these qualities become part of the mind’s measure.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It dissolves the belief that the mind is only a passive receiver of whatever crosses it; the verse presents thought as a deliberate weighing of what is worthy.
THE ROOT
λογίζεσθε
logizesthe
GROWS FROM
λογ-
log-
to count, reckon, or account
The English “think” can sound like merely having a thought; λογίζομαι (logizomai, to reckon or take into account) is the language of accounting. The list identifies qualities the mind treats as weight-bearing in its discernment.
ALSO GROWS
logismos: reasoning, calculation
λογισμός
This branch shows thought as a process of weighing and reckoning, not just a passing mental event.
logos: word, account, reason
λόγος
This branch links reckoning with an account or reason, giving “think on these things” the sense of taking them into consideration.
δίκαια
dikaia
GROWS FROM
δικ-
dik-
alignment with what is right; right order
“aligned” in this verse is dikaia. “Just” belongs to the same word family as alignment and being set right. The list places alignment beside truth, purity, and beauty as something the mind can recognize and weigh.
ALSO GROWS
dikaiosynē: alignment, righteousness
δικαιοσύνη
This branch makes the shared idea of alignment visible in the quality translated “just.”
dikaioō: to justify, set right
δικαιόω
This branch carries the family’s movement toward being put in right order, deepening “just” beyond a bare label.
THE PATTERN
Attention is a form of orientation: what the mind considers and sets before itself shapes its discernment.
I will set no worthless thing before my eyes. I hate the deed of those who turn aside; it shall not cling to me.Do not take the shape of this age, but be reshaped by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test what is the good, well-pleasing, and complete will of God.Set your mind on the things above, not on the things upon the earth.THE THREAD
For what does the scripture say? Abraham leaned his full weight on God, and it was counted to him for alignment.“Counted” is a form of λογίζομαι (logizomai, to reckon or account), the same verb behind “think” in Philippians 4:8. The same accounting word used for the mind’s consideration here names trust being counted as righteousness, alignment, there.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us