pre-zum', pre-zump'-tu-us, pre-zump'-tu-us-li: "To presume" ("to take or go beforehand") is to speak or act without warrant or proudly. In the Old Testament the words are for the most part the translation of zudh, and zidh, "to boil up" (as water), and derivatives; hence, to act proudly, to speak unauthorizedly, etc. (Deuteronomy 18:20,22, of the prophet; Exodus 21:14; Deuteronomy 1:43; 17:12-13; Psalms 19:13, "presumptuous sins" (zedh, "proud"); compare Psalms 86:14; 119:21, etc.; Proverbs 21:24, etc.). Other words are male', "to fill," "to be full" (Esther 7:5, "presume"); `aphal, "to lift oneself up" (Numbers 14:44); beyadh ramah, "with a high hand" (Numbers 15:30, the Revised Version (British and American) "with a high hand"); in 2 Peter 2:10 tolmetes, "bold," "daring," is translated "presumptuous," the Revised Version (British and American) "daring"; in 2 Macc 3:24; 5:15 we have katatolmao; thrasus, is rendered "presumption" in 2 Macc 5:18, the Revised Version (British and American) "daring deed."

W. L. Walker

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

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