Wisdom and Discernment

† חָכְמָה n.f. wisdom, ח׳ Ex 28:3 + 106 times; cstr. חָכְמַת Ex 35:35 + 15 times; sf. חָכְמָתִי Ec 2:9, etc. + 25 times sf.; pl. abst. חָכְמוֹת ψ 49:4 Pr 1:20; 9:1; 24:7 (GK§ 861); חַכְמוֹת Pr 14:1 (incorrectly pointed as adj. cstr. f.; read חָכְמוֹת De);— 1. skill in war Is 10:13; in technical work Ex 28:3; 31:3, 6; 35:26, 31, 35; 36:1, 2 (P), cf. 1 K 7:14, 1 Ch 28:21; of sailors ψ 107:27. 2. wisdom, in administration Dt 34:9 Is 29:14 Je 49:7(×2) 2 S 14:20; of prince of Tyre Ez 28:4, 5, 7, 12, 17; Sol.’s wisdom included this with other forms of cleverness and shrewdness 1 K 2:6; 3:28; 5:9, 10, 14(×2), 26; 10:4, 6, 7, 8, 23, 24 = 2 Ch 9:3, 5, 6, 7, 22, 23, 1 K 11:41 2 Ch 1:10, 11, 12; the Messiah is to have רוּחַ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה Is 11:2. 3. shrewdness, wisdom, 2 S 20:22 1 K 5:10(×2) Je 9:23; withheld by God from the ostrich Jb 39:17; of magicians and prophets Is 47:10 Dn 1:4, 17, 20. 4. wisdom, prudence in religious affairs Dt 4:6 ψ 37:30; 51:8; 90:12 Pr 10:31 Is 33:6 Je 8:9. 5. wisdom, ethical and religious: a. of God, as a divine attribute or energy; his wisdom is in the skies Jb 38:36; by it he numbers the clouds Jb 38:37; founded the earth Pr 3:19; and made all things Je 10:12 = 51:15, ψ 104:24; it is with him Jb 12:13; not to be found by the most persevering human search Jb 28:12, 20; he alone knows it Jb 28:23; gives it Pr 2:6; and shews its secrets Jb 11:6. b. the divine wisdom is personified: she was begotten before all things to be the architect and counsellor of God in the creation (Pr 8:22–31); she builds a palace and spreads a feast for those who will receive her instruction 9:1 (cf. v2–5); she teaches in public places 1:20; 8:1, 5, 11, 12 (v. context); gives her pupils the divine spirit 1:23; by her discipline simple become wise, rulers rule wisely, and those seeking her are richly rewarded 8:14 (cf. v1–21). c. of man: to get wisdom is principal thing Pr 4:7(×2); its fundamental principle is to fear God ψ 111:10 Pr 15:33 Jb 28:28 (‖ סוּר מֵרַע בִּינָה); and know י׳, the All Holy Pr 9:10; 30:3; it is of inestimable worth Jb 28:18 Pr 8:11; 16:16; 17:16; 23:23; 24:7; beyond the reach of scorners Pr 14:6; God giveth it to the good Ec 2:26; men are to incline the ear Pr 2:2; attend unto wisdom Pr 5:1; seek Ec 7:25; know Pr 24:14 Ec 1:17; 8:16; behold Ec 2:12; 9:13; get her Pr 4:5, 7; treat her as sister Pr 7:4; happy the man who finds her Pr 3:13; he who has wisdom is אִישׁ תְּבוּנָה Pr 10:23; נָבוֹן Pr 10:13; 14:33; מֵבִין Pr 17:24; cf. also ψ 49:4 Jb 4:21; 12:2, 12; 13:5; 15:8; 26:3; 32:7, 13; 33:33 Pr 1:2, 7; 2:10; 4:11; 11:2; 13:10; 14:1, 8; 18:4; 21:30; 24:3; 28:26; 29:3, 15; 31:26 Ec 1:13, 16(×2), 18; 2:3, 9, 13, 21; 7:10, 11, 12(×2), 19, 23; 8:1; 9:10, 15, 16(×2), 18; 10:1, 10;—on Solomon’s wisdom v. supr.

σοφία, Ionic dialect -ιη, ἡ, properly cleverness or skill in handicraft and art, as in carpentry, τέκτονος, ὅς ῥά τε πάσης εὖ εἰδῇ σ. Refs 8th c.BC+; of the Telchines, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡ ἔντεχνος σ., of Hephaestus and Athena, Refs 5th c.BC+; of Daedalus and Palamedes, Refs 5th c.BC+; in music and singing, τέχνῃ καὶ σ. Refs 6th c.BC+; in medicine or surgery, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡ περὶ Ὁμήρου σ. Refs 4th c.BC+: rare in plural, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 skill in matters of common life. sound judgement, intelligence, practical wisdom, etc., such as was attributed to the seven sages, like{φρόνησις}, Refs 6th c.BC+; ἡ τῶν δεινῶν σ., opposed to ἀμαθία, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὴν τότε καλουμένην σ., οὖσαν δὲ δεινότητα πολιτικὴν καὶ δραστήριον σύνεσιν Refs 1st c.AD+; also, cunning, shrewdness, craft, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὸ λοιδορῆς αι θεοὺς ἐχθρὰ σ. Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 learning, wisdom, μείζω τινὰ ἢ κατ᾽ ἄνθρωπον σοφίαν σοφοί Refs 5th c.BC+; frequently in Refs 5th c.BC+; τὸ σοφὸν οὐ σοφία (see. σοφός Refs 4th c.BC+, speculative wisdom, “EN” 1141a19, Refs; defined as θείων τε καὶ ἀνθρωπίνων ἐπιστήμη, Refs; but also of natural philosophy and mathematics, σ. τις καὶ ἡ φυσική Refs 4th c.BC+ __4 among the Jews, ἀρχὴ σοφίας φόβος Κυρίου LXX; Σοφία, recognized first as an attribute of God, was later identified with the Spirit of God,LXX __5 later as a title, ἡ ὑμετέρα, ἡ ὑμῶν σ., Refs 6th c.AD+

† תּוּשִׁיָּה n.f. sound, efficient wisdom, abiding success (on der., v. supr.; according to Fl De proposes advancement, or mental aptitude that advances: for the form, cf. תּוּגָה and תַּאֲנִיָּה; Sta§ 262), a technical term of the WisdLt;— a. sound, efficient wisdom Is 28:29 (of י׳) הפליא עצה הגדיל תושׁיה; Pr 3:21 נְצֹר תּ׳ וּמְזִמָּה; 8:14 (Wisdom speaks) לִי עֵצָה ות׳; 18:1 לכל תּ׳ יִתְגַּלָּ֑ע; Jb 11:6 (of י׳: v. Di), 12:16 עִמּוֹ עֹז ות׳; 26:3 ות׳ לָרֹב הוֹדָ֑עְתָּ (‖ יָעַצְתָּ לְלֹא חָכְמָה). b. of the effect of sound wisdom, abiding success (for the combination of meanings, cf. הִשְׂכִּיל to shew wisdom, and also to achieve success), Jb 5:12 ולא תעשׂינה ידיהם ת׳ do not achieve abiding success; 6:13 and abiding success (‖ עֶזְרָתִי) is driven from me; Pr 2:7 יִצְפֹּן לַיְשָׁרִים ת׳; Mi 6:9 ותושׁיה יראה שׁמך, i.e. (si vera l.) he that seeth (heedeth) thy name is well-advised (Ges§ 155, 2 b 3; Dav§ 29 e).—תֻּשִׁיָּה Jb 30:22, v. sub ii. שׁוא²" dir="rtl" >שׁוא.

† חָכְמָה n.f. wisdom;—ח׳ abs. Dn 2:30 +, emph. חָכְמְתָא Dn 2:20 +, cstr. חָכְמֶת 5:11; Ezr 7:25;—wisdom, attrib. of God Dn 2:20; of gods 5:11; of man 2:30; of God imparted to man Ezr 7:25 (practical wisdom), Dn 2:21; = occult knowledge (v. foregoing) imparted to men v 23; 5:11, 14.

† חָכְמָה n.f. wisdom, ח׳ Ex 28:3 + 106 times; cstr. חָכְמַת Ex 35:35 + 15 times; sf. חָכְמָתִי Ec 2:9, etc. + 25 times sf.; pl. abst. חָכְמוֹת ψ 49:4 Pr 1:20; 9:1; 24:7 (GK§ 861); חַכְמוֹת Pr 14:1 (incorrectly pointed as adj. cstr. f.; read חָכְמוֹת De);— 1. skill in war Is 10:13; in technical work Ex 28:3; 31:3, 6; 35:26, 31, 35; 36:1, 2 (P), cf. 1 K 7:14, 1 Ch 28:21; of sailors ψ 107:27. 2. wisdom, in administration Dt 34:9 Is 29:14 Je 49:7(×2) 2 S 14:20; of prince of Tyre Ez 28:4, 5, 7, 12, 17; Sol.’s wisdom included this with other forms of cleverness and shrewdness 1 K 2:6; 3:28; 5:9, 10, 14(×2), 26; 10:4, 6, 7, 8, 23, 24 = 2 Ch 9:3, 5, 6, 7, 22, 23, 1 K 11:41 2 Ch 1:10, 11, 12; the Messiah is to have רוּחַ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה Is 11:2. 3. shrewdness, wisdom, 2 S 20:22 1 K 5:10(×2) Je 9:23; withheld by God from the ostrich Jb 39:17; of magicians and prophets Is 47:10 Dn 1:4, 17, 20. 4. wisdom, prudence in religious affairs Dt 4:6 ψ 37:30; 51:8; 90:12 Pr 10:31 Is 33:6 Je 8:9. 5. wisdom, ethical and religious: a. of God, as a divine attribute or energy; his wisdom is in the skies Jb 38:36; by it he numbers the clouds Jb 38:37; founded the earth Pr 3:19; and made all things Je 10:12 = 51:15, ψ 104:24; it is with him Jb 12:13; not to be found by the most persevering human search Jb 28:12, 20; he alone knows it Jb 28:23; gives it Pr 2:6; and shews its secrets Jb 11:6. b. the divine wisdom is personified: she was begotten before all things to be the architect and counsellor of God in the creation (Pr 8:22–31); she builds a palace and spreads a feast for those who will receive her instruction 9:1 (cf. v2–5); she teaches in public places 1:20; 8:1, 5, 11, 12 (v. context); gives her pupils the divine spirit 1:23; by her discipline simple become wise, rulers rule wisely, and those seeking her are richly rewarded 8:14 (cf. v1–21). c. of man: to get wisdom is principal thing Pr 4:7(×2); its fundamental principle is to fear God ψ 111:10 Pr 15:33 Jb 28:28 (‖ סוּר מֵרַע בִּינָה); and know י׳, the All Holy Pr 9:10; 30:3; it is of inestimable worth Jb 28:18 Pr 8:11; 16:16; 17:16; 23:23; 24:7; beyond the reach of scorners Pr 14:6; God giveth it to the good Ec 2:26; men are to incline the ear Pr 2:2; attend unto wisdom Pr 5:1; seek Ec 7:25; know Pr 24:14 Ec 1:17; 8:16; behold Ec 2:12; 9:13; get her Pr 4:5, 7; treat her as sister Pr 7:4; happy the man who finds her Pr 3:13; he who has wisdom is אִישׁ תְּבוּנָה Pr 10:23; נָבוֹן Pr 10:13; 14:33; מֵבִין Pr 17:24; cf. also ψ 49:4 Jb 4:21; 12:2, 12; 13:5; 15:8; 26:3; 32:7, 13; 33:33 Pr 1:2, 7; 2:10; 4:11; 11:2; 13:10; 14:1, 8; 18:4; 21:30; 24:3; 28:26; 29:3, 15; 31:26 Ec 1:13, 16(×2), 18; 2:3, 9, 13, 21; 7:10, 11, 12(×2), 19, 23; 8:1; 9:10, 15, 16(×2), 18; 10:1, 10;—on Solomon’s wisdom v. supr.