Original Word: σοφίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: sophizó
Pronunciation: so-FEE-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (sof-id'-zo)
KJV: cunningly devised, make wise
NASB: cleverly devised, give wisdom
Word Origin: [from G4680 (σοφός - wise)]

1. to render wise
2. (in a sinister context) to form "sophisms", i.e. to continue plausible error
3. (absolutely) to pursue wisdom, be well instructed

cunningly devise, make wise.

From sophos; to render wise; in a sinister acceptation, to form "sophisms", i.e. Continue plausible error -- cunningly devised, make wise.

see GREEK sophos

Word Origin
from sophos
Definition
to make wise
NASB Translation
cleverly devised (1), give...wisdom (1).

STRONGS NT 4679: σοφίζω

σοφίζω: 1 aorist infinitive σοφίσαι; (σοφός);

1. to make wise, teach: τινα, 2 Timothy 3:15 (Psalm 18:8 (); ἐσόφισάς με τήν ἐντολήν σου, Psalm 118:98 (); οὔτε τί ναυτιλιης σεσοφισμενος, οὔτε τί νηῶν, Hesiod, Works, 647).

2. Middle in Greek writings from Herodotus down, mostly as a deponent, to become wise, to have understanding (ἐσοφίσατο ὑπέρ πάντας ἀντρωπους, 1 Kings 4:27(31); add, Ecclesiastes 2:15, etc.; frequent in Sir.); to invent, play the sophist; to devise cleverly or cunningly: perfect passive participle σεσοφίσμενοι μυθοι, 2 Peter 1:16. (Compare: κατασοφίζομαι.)

Overview

Strong’s Greek 4679 occurs only twice in the New Testament, yet its twofold appearance encapsulates the decisive biblical contrast between wisdom that leads to salvation and cunning that corrupts truth. The verb is rendered once in a positive sense—“to make wise”—and once in a negative sense—“cleverly devised.” By tracing these occurrences, the word becomes a lens through which Scripture exposes both genuine, God-given enlightenment and the deceptive ingenuity of false teaching.

Historical Backdrop: Hellenistic Sophistry

In the Greco-Roman world, itinerant rhetoricians—known as sophists—were celebrated for eloquence but notorious for manipulating arguments for fame or gain. New Testament writers, immersed in this milieu, employ Strong’s 4679 to engage their readers’ familiarity with such figures. The term therefore carries cultural weight: it evokes the popular admiration for intellectual brilliance while simultaneously warning of its susceptibility to pride and error.

Positive Usage: Wisdom That Leads to Salvation (2 Timothy 3:15)

Writing to his younger coworker, Paul reminds Timothy that “from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Here Strong’s 4679 points to a divinely directed process. The Scriptures do not merely inform; they actively impart wisdom that results in deliverance. Several truths surface:
• Scripture is the primary agent—“able to make you wise.”
• The goal is explicitly soteriological—“for salvation.”
• The means is faith—“through faith in Christ Jesus.”

This verse therefore positions biblical revelation as the only sure path to authentic wisdom, tethered inseparably to the gospel.

Negative Usage: Cunningly Devised Myths (2 Peter 1:16)

Peter counters accusations that apostolic preaching rested on fabricated legends: “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). Here the perfect participle carries a sinister nuance—human cleverness employed to construct persuasive but false narratives. In the wider context of 2 Peter, such ingenuity paves the way for destructive heresies (2 Peter 2:1) and moral license (2 Peter 2:18-19). The apostle’s appeal to eyewitness testimony and prophetic Scripture (2 Peter 1:19-21) sharply contrasts with the hollow brilliance of invented tales.

Theological Contrast: Revelation Versus Rationalism

The paired uses of Strong’s 4679 underline a crucial biblical dichotomy:

1. God’s self-disclosure in Scripture produces wisdom oriented toward faith and obedience.
2. Humanly contrived systems, no matter how sophisticated, generate spiritual blindness and error.

Thus the term warns believers against undue trust in intellectual novelty while encouraging reverent submission to the written Word.

Implications for Christian Ministry

1. Reliance on Scripture: Effective ministry depends on the formative power of the sacred writings to produce wisdom, not on human ingenuity or pulpit theatrics.
2. Discernment of Teaching: Church leaders must distinguish revelatory wisdom from the polished but empty rhetoric that often infiltrates Christian discourse.
3. Apologetic Integrity: As Peter models, defense of the faith rests on historical facts and prophetic fulfillment, not on rhetorical embellishment.
4. Educational Strategy: Parents and teachers, following the pattern of Timothy’s upbringing, should saturate the next generation with Scripture from early childhood, trusting the Spirit to “make them wise for salvation.”

Practical Application for Every Believer

• Daily Scripture Intake: Regular reading and meditation nourish true wisdom.
• Humble Learning Posture: Genuine wisdom begins with “the fear of the LORD” (Proverbs 9:10) and resists the pride that spawns sophistry.
• Vigilance Against Spiritual Fads: Believers must evaluate new teachings by their fidelity to the apostolic witness.
• Evangelistic Confidence: The gospel, though simple in form, embodies the highest wisdom; it needs no embellishment to be effective.

Christ as the Fulfillment of Wisdom

Ultimately, the stark contrast drawn by Strong’s 4679 converges on Jesus Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). To receive Him is to embrace the wisdom that saves; to reject Him in favor of cleverly crafted alternatives is to forfeit truth.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 4679 serves as a scriptural indicator light, flashing either green or red depending on its context. In 2 Timothy it signals the green path of Scripture-wrought wisdom leading to salvation. In 2 Peter it warns of the red danger of sophisticated falsehood. Its rarity in the New Testament heightens its impact, reminding the church in every age that true enlightenment flows from the inspired Word and centers on the person and work of Jesus Christ.

εσοφισάμην εσόφισάς εσοφίσατο σεσοφισμενοις σεσοφισμένοις σοφίζου σοφίζουσα σοφισαι σοφίσαι σοφισθήσεται σοφισθήσομαι σοφίσθητε σοφιστάς sesophismenois sesophisménois sophisai sophísaiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts