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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 “without doubt†is to be taken in the common sense of “certainlyâ€; in in the sarcastic sense of “indeed!†In , , 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 διαποÏεÌω, diaporeÌoÌ„, and διακÏιÌνω, diakrıÌnoÌ„, and their cognates. The first means “to be without resource,†“utterly at a loss,†“nonplussedâ€; and the second, “to judge diversely.†For the first, see ; the King James Version; the King James Version; the King James Version; the King James Version; and the King James Version. For the second see ; ; ; . The last-named is deserving of particular attention. “He that doubteth is condemned (the King James Version “damnedâ€) 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 “to be of doubtful mind†(μετεωÏιÌζω, meteoÌ„rıÌzoÌ„, literally, “to suspendâ€; see Thayer, under the word), means “to be driven by gusts,†or “to fluctuate in mid-air.â€
Here, as in , “doubt†does not indicate a lack of faith, but rather “a state of qualified faithâ€: its weakness, but not its absence.
In “doubt†translates αἰÌÏω ψυχηÌν, aıÌroÌ„ psucheÌ„Ìn, which literally means “to lift up the soul†or “to keep one in suspenseâ€; so the Revised Version (British and American). See also DISPUTATION.