Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) That which moves; a mover. 2. (n.) That which incites to action; anything prompting or exciting to choice, or moving the will; cause; reason; inducement; object. 3. (n.) The theme or subject; a leading phrase or passage which is reproduced and varied through the course of a movement; a short figure, or melodic germ, out of which a whole movement is developed. See Leading. 4. (n.) That which produces conception, invention, or creation in the mind of the artist in undertaking his subject; the guiding or controlling idea manifested in a work of art, or any part of one. 5. (a.) Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move; as, a motive argument; motive power. 6. (v. t.) To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.

Multi-Version Concordance Motive (3 Occurrences) Ephesians 6:5 Slaves, be obedient to your earthly masters, with respect and eager anxiety to please and with simplicity of motive as if you were obeying Christ. (WEY) 1 Timothy 4:10 and here is the motive of our toiling and wrestling, because we have our hopes fixed on the ever-living God, who is the Saviour of all mankind, and especially of believers. (WEY) 1 Chronicles 28:9 You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. (See NIV)