Original Word: חָכְמָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: chokmah
Pronunciation: khok-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (khok-maw')
KJV: skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit
NASB: wisdom, skill, wisely, wits'
Word Origin: [from H2449 (חָכַם - wise)]

1. wisdom (in a good sense)

skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit

From chakam; wisdom (in a good sense) -- skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.

see HEBREW chakam

Word Origin
from chakam
Definition
wisdom
NASB Translation
skill (5), skill* (1), wisdom (143), wisely (3), wits' (1).

חָכְמה noun feminine wisdom, ׳ח Exodus 28:3 106t.; construct חָכְמַת Exodus 35:35 15t.; suffix חָכְמָתִי Ecclesiastes 2:9, etc. + 25 t. suffix; plural abstract emphatic חָכְמוֺת Psalm 49:4; Proverbs 1:20; Proverbs 9:1; Proverbs 24:7; חַכְמוֺת Proverbs 14:1 (in correctly pointed as adjective construct f.; read חָכְמוֺת De); —

1 skill in war Isaiah 10:13; in technical work Exodus 28:3; Exodus 31:3,6; Exodus 35:26,31,35; Exodus 36:1,2(P), compare 1 Kings 7:14; 1 Chronicles 28:21; of sailors Psalm 107:27.

2 wisdom, in administration Deuteronomy 34:9; Isaiah 29:14; Jeremiah 49:7 (twice in verse); 2 Samuel 14:20; of prince of Tyre Ezekiel 28:4,5,7,12; Ezekiel 29:12,17; Solomon's wisdom included this with other forms of cleverness and shrewdness 1 Kings 2:6; 1 Kings 3:28; 1 Kings 5:9; 1 Kings 5:10; 1 Kings 5:14 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 5:26; 1 Kings 10:4,6,7,8,23,24 2Chron 9:3; 9:5; 9:6; 9:7; 9:22; 9:23, 1 Kings 11:41; 2Chron 1:10; 1:11; 1:12; the Messiah is to have רוּחַ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה Isaiah 11:2.

3 shrewdness, wisdom, 2 Samuel 20:22; 1 Kings 5:10 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 9:22; withheld by God from the ostrich Job 39:17; of magicians and prophets Isaiah 47:10; Daniel 1:4,17,20.

4 wisdom, prudence in religious affairs Deuteronomy 4:6; Psalm 37:30; Psalm 51:8; Psalm 90:12; Proverbs 10:31; Isaiah 33:6; Jeremiah 8:9

5 wisdom, ethical and religious:

a. of God, as a divine attribute or energy; his wisdom is in the skies Job 38:36; by it he numbers the clouds Job 38:37; founded the earth Proverbs 3:19; and made all things Jeremiah 10:12 = Jeremiah 51:15, Psalm 104:24; it is with him Job 12:13; not to be found by the most persevering human search Job 28:12,20; he alone knows it Job 28:23; gives it Proverbs 2:6; and shows its secrets Job 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 (Proverbs 8:22-31); she builds a palace and spreads a feast for those who will receive her instruction Proverbs 9:1 (compare Proverbs 9:2-5); she teaches in public Proverbs 1:20; Proverbs 8:1,5,11,12 (see context); gives her pupils the divine spirit Proverbs 1:23; by her discipline simple become wise, rulers rule wisely, and those seeking her are richly rewarded Proverbs 8:14 (compare Proverbs 8:1-21).

c. of man: to get wisdom is principal thing Proverbs 4:7 (twice in verse); its fundamental principle is to fear God Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 15:33; Job 28:18 ("" סוּר מֵרַע בִּינָה); and know ׳י, the All Holy Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 30:3; it is of inestimable worth Job 28:18; Proverbs 8:11; Proverbs 16:16; Proverbs 17:16; Proverbs 23:23; Proverbs 24:7; beyond the reach of scorners Proverbs 14:6; God giveth it to the good Ecclesiastes 2:26; men are to incline the ear Proverbs 2:2; attend unto wisdom Proverbs 5:1; seek Ecclesiastes 7:25; know Proverbs 24:14; Ecclesiastes 1:17; Ecclesiastes 8:16; behold Ecclesiastes 2:12; Ecclesiastes 9:13; get her Proverbs 4:5,7; treat her as sister Proverbs 7:4; happy the man who finds her Proverbs 3:13; he who has wisdom is אִישׁ תְּבוּנָה Proverbs 10:23; נָבוֺן Proverbs 10:13; Proverbs 14:33; מֵבִין Proverbs 17:24; compare also Psalm 49:4; Job 4:21; Job 12:2,12; Job 13:5; Job 15:8; Job 26:3; Job 32:7,13; Job 33:33; Proverbs 1:2,7; Proverbs 2:10; Proverbs 4:11; Proverbs 11:2; Proverbs 13:10; Proverbs 14:1,8; Proverbs 18:4; Proverbs 21:30; Proverbs 24:3; Proverbs 28:26; Proverbs 29:3,15; Proverbs 31:26; Ecclesiastes 1:13,16 (twice in verse); Ecclesiastes 1:18; Ecclesiastes 2:3,9,13,21; Ecclesiastes 7:10,11,12,19,23; Ecclesiastes 8:1; Ecclesiastes 9:10,15,16 (twice in verse); Ecclesiastes 9:18; Ecclesiastes 10:1,10 — on solomon's wisdom see above

Definition and Scope

חָכְמָה (chokmah) is the comprehensive, God-centered quality of mind and life that discerns what is truly right and acts accordingly. While fundamentally moral and spiritual, it embraces practical insight, technical skill, administrative aptitude, and relational discernment. Appearing about 149 times in the Old Testament, it undergirds Israel’s worship, ethics, statecraft, and artistry.

Wisdom as Divine Attribute

Scripture first grounds all true wisdom in the character of God. “With Him are wisdom and strength; counsel and understanding belong to Him” (Job 12:13). Divine wisdom is eternal (Job 12:16), inscrutable (Job 28:23), righteous (Psalm 104:24), and saving (Isaiah 31:2). Because God is wise, His revelation is trustworthy, and His redemptive purposes are sure.

Wisdom in Creation

Wisdom is portrayed as God’s master craftsman in forming the cosmos: “The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding” (Proverbs 3:19). In Proverbs 8, wisdom speaks of being “brought forth” before the world and “rejoicing always in His presence” (Proverbs 8:30). Creation itself thus testifies that order and goodness flow from divine wisdom.

Wisdom Granted to Humanity

Though sourced in God alone, wisdom is offered generously to people who fear Him. “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). Solomon famously asked for it and “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight” (1 Kings 4:29). Moses, Joshua, David, Daniel, and Ezra likewise exemplify men endowed with wisdom for leadership and ministry.

Wisdom in Skill and Craftsmanship

חָכְמָה often denotes technical expertise. Bezalel and Oholiab were “filled…with wisdom” to build the tabernacle (Exodus 31:3; 35:31). The wise women of Tekoa used rhetorical skill (2 Samuel 14:2). Sailors of Tyre were “wise men” at sea (Ezekiel 27:8). This vocational aspect affirms that God values excellence in every sphere of life.

Wisdom in Governance and Leadership

Kings sought wise counselors (2 Chronicles 22:5). Proverbs was written “to bestow wisdom to the simple” (Proverbs 1:4), equipping rulers for just judgments (Proverbs 8:15-16). When leaders forsook wisdom, the nation suffered (Jeremiah 8:9). God’s people are repeatedly urged to pray for leaders to exercise wisdom.

Wisdom Literature

Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes constitute Israel’s primary wisdom corpus, with Psalms and Song of Songs sharing themes. Proverbs articulates foundational principles; Job explores righteous suffering; Ecclesiastes warns against merely human striving. Together they teach that reverent obedience is the only path to lasting joy. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).

Personification of Wisdom

Proverbs 1–9 depicts wisdom as a woman calling in the streets, offering life to all who heed. She stands in contrast to Folly, who lures the naïve to death (Proverbs 9:13-18). This literary device heightens the moral urgency of choosing God’s way.

Wisdom and Torah

Wisdom is not autonomous philosophy but is inseparable from God’s law. Deuteronomy 4:6 declares that obedience to the statutes will display Israel’s “wisdom and understanding” before the nations. Psalms 19 and 119 celebrate the law as wiser than enemies and sweeter than honey. Wisdom is thus covenantal, rooted in revelation.

Wisdom and the Prophets

Prophets expose counterfeit wisdom that trusts idols or political alliances (Isaiah 19:11-14; Jeremiah 8:8-9). True prophetic insight is a facet of wisdom given by the Spirit (Micah 3:8). Prophetic critique reveals that rejecting God’s word is the essence of folly.

Wisdom in Post-Exilic and Intertestamental Thought

Books like Ezra-Nehemiah highlight scribal wisdom in interpreting the law (Ezra 7:25). Later writings (e.g., Ecclesiasticus) continue the biblical conviction that wisdom is both ethical and theological, preparing the way for the New Testament revelation.

Wisdom and Christological Fulfillment

Though חָכְמָה is an Old Testament term, the New Testament identifies Jesus Christ as “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). Colossians 2:3 affirms that “in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” The personified Wisdom of Proverbs foreshadows Christ, who invites all to receive life (compare Proverbs 9:5 with John 6:35).

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Preaching and Teaching: Present wisdom as grounded in surrender to Christ, not mere cleverness (James 3:13-17).
2. Discipleship: Guide believers to memorize and meditate on Proverbs and James, fostering skill in godliness.
3. Counseling: Apply wisdom principles to family, finances, speech, and conflict resolution.
4. Leadership Development: Encourage emerging leaders to pray as Solomon did (1 Kings 3:9), seeking discernment for just decisions.
5. Worship and Arts: Affirm artistic craftsmanship as a Spirit-empowered expression of wisdom (Exodus 35:31-35).
6. Evangelism: Contrast God’s wisdom with the wisdom of the world (1 Corinthians 1:20-25), showing the gospel as ultimate wisdom.

Key Texts

Exodus 31:3; 1 Kings 4:29; Job 28:12-28; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 3:13-19; Proverbs 8; Proverbs 9:10; Isaiah 11:2; Daniel 1:17; Micah 6:9; Matthew 12:42 (implicit fulfillment); 1 Corinthians 1:24; James 1:5.

Frequency and Distribution

חָכְמָה clusters densely in Proverbs (over forty times), Job (twenty-three), and Ecclesiastes (twenty-seven), with strategic occurrences in Pentateuchal craftsmanship passages, historical narratives about leaders, and prophetic indictments of folly.

Summary

חָכְמָה encompasses the fear of the Lord, righteous living, intellectual insight, skilled workmanship, and Spirit-guided leadership. Rooted in God’s character and revealed in His word, it is fulfilled in Christ and remains indispensable for effective ministry and faithful living today.

בְּ֝חָכְמָ֗ה בְּ֭חָכְמָה בְּחָכְמָ֑ה בְּחָכְמָ֛ה בְּחָכְמָ֣ה בְּחָכְמָ֥ה בְּחָכְמָֽתְךָ֙ בְּחָכְמָת֑וֹ בְּחָכְמָת֔וֹ בְּחָכְמָתָ֗הּ בְחָכְמָ֑ה בְחָכְמָֽה׃ בַּֽחָכְמָ֔ה בַּֽחָכְמָה֙ בַֽחָכְמָ֑ה בחכמה בחכמה׃ בחכמתה בחכמתו בחכמתך הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה הַֽחָכְמָ֥ה הַחָכְמָ֤ה החכמה וְ֝חָכְמָ֗ה וְֽ֭הַחָכְמָה וְחָכְמַ֤ת וְחָכְמַֽת־ וְחָכְמָ֑ה וְחָכְמָ֔ה וְחָכְמָֽה׃ וְחָכְמָת֑וֹ וּבְחָכְמָתִ֖י וּלְחָכְמָֽה׃ ובחכמתי והחכמה וחכמה וחכמה׃ וחכמת וחכמת־ וחכמתו ולחכמה׃ חָ֝כְמָ֗ה חָ֝כְמָתָ֗ם חָ֭כְמָה חָכְמַ֣ת חָכְמַ֤ת חָכְמַ֥ת חָכְמַ֧ת חָכְמַתְכֶם֙ חָכְמַת־ חָכְמָ֑ה חָכְמָ֔ה חָכְמָ֖ה חָכְמָ֗ה חָכְמָ֣ה חָכְמָ֤ה חָכְמָ֥ה חָכְמָ֧ה חָכְמָ֨ה ׀ חָכְמָֽה׃ חָכְמָה֙ חָכְמָה֮ חָכְמָת֔וֹ חָכְמָתְךָ֖ חָכְמָתְךָ֛ חָכְמָתִ֖י חָכְמָתֵ֥ךְ חָכְמָתֶ֑ךָ חָכְמָתֶ֔ךָ חָכְמָתֶֽךָ׃ חָכְמָתָֽם׃ חָכְמָתֽוֹ׃ חכמה חכמה׃ חכמת חכמת־ חכמתו חכמתו׃ חכמתי חכמתך חכמתך׃ חכמתכם חכמתם חכמתם׃ כְּחָכְמַת֙ כְּחָכְמָתֶ֑ךָ כחכמת כחכמתך לְחָכְמָֽה׃ לְחָכְמָתִ֣י לַֽ֭חָכְמָה לַֽחָכְמָ֖ה לַֽחָכְמָ֣ה לחכמה לחכמה׃ לחכמתי מֵֽחָכְמַ֖ת מֵחָכְמָ֖ה מֵחָכְמָ֥ה מחכמה מחכמת ba·ḥā·ḵə·māh ḇa·ḥā·ḵə·māh bachacheMah baḥāḵəmāh ḇaḥāḵəmāh bə·ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯāh bə·ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯə·ḵā bə·ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯōw bə·ḥā·ḵə·māh ḇə·ḥā·ḵə·māh bechacheMah bechachemaTah bechachemateCha bechachemaTo bəḥāḵəmāh ḇəḥāḵəmāh bəḥāḵəmāṯāh bəḥāḵəmāṯəḵā bəḥāḵəmāṯōw chachemat chachemaTam chachematChem chachemaTech chachemaTecha chachemaTi chachemaTo chochmah ha·ḥā·ḵə·māh ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯām ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯe·ḵā ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯə·ḵā ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯêḵ ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯî ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯōw ḥā·ḵə·maṯ ḥā·ḵə·maṯ- ḥā·ḵə·maṯ·ḵem hachacheMah haḥāḵəmāh ḥāḵ·māh ḥāḵəmaṯ ḥāḵəmaṯ- ḥāḵəmāṯām ḥāḵəmāṯêḵ ḥāḵəmāṯeḵā ḥāḵəmāṯəḵā ḥāḵəmāṯî ḥāḵəmaṯḵem ḥāḵəmāṯōw ḥāḵmāh kə·ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯe·ḵā kə·ḥā·ḵə·maṯ kechacheMat kechachemaTecha kəḥāḵəmaṯ kəḥāḵəmāṯeḵā la·ḥā·ḵə·māh lachacheMah laḥāḵəmāh lə·ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯî lə·ḥā·ḵə·māh lechacheMah lechachemaTi ləḥāḵəmāh ləḥāḵəmāṯî mê·ḥā·ḵə·māh mê·ḥā·ḵə·maṯ mechacheMah mechacheMat mêḥāḵəmāh mêḥāḵəmaṯ ū·ḇə·ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯî ū·lə·ḥā·ḵə·māh ūḇəḥāḵəmāṯî ulechacheMah ūləḥāḵəmāh uvechachemaTi vachacheMah vechacheMah vechacheMat vechachemaTo Vehachachemah wə·ha·ḥā·ḵə·māh wə·ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯōw wə·ḥā·ḵə·māh wə·ḥā·ḵə·maṯ wə·ḥā·ḵə·maṯ- wəhaḥāḵəmāh wəḥāḵəmāh wəḥāḵəmaṯ wəḥāḵəmaṯ- wəḥāḵəmāṯōwInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts