What is Wisdom?

Posted on: 2025-02-01

I would like to be able to neatly separate the concepts of intelligence, knowledge, skill, and wisdom. They seem distinct to me. For example, an intelligent person may be very good at seeing how to accomplish their goals, but their goals may be vain.

In the Old Testament, the same Hebrew word might stand behind any of these ideas. For example, "Jonadab was a very crafty man" (2 Sam 13:3) who wickedly advised Amnon how to trap Tamar. The word translated "crafty" here is ḥākām, H2450, elsewhere translated "skillful craftsmen" (Ex 35:10) or "wise" (Solomon in 1 Kings 3:12 and the wise throughout Proverbs). In 1 Kings 4:33, Solomon's wisdom was demonstrated in his proverbs and songs, and also in his knowledge of plants and animals.

This linguistic overlap might not mean anything. After all, in English, I can say that I "love" my wife and that I "love" hiking, but I mean very different things. Beyond a a shared element of "enjoyment", they are like two different words masquerading as one.

On the other hand, if the Hebrew word's fluidity is meaningful, maybe we could say that wisdom has several dimensions, and that knowledge and skill are among them. If so, we can be encouraged that curiosity and diligent study, of God's word and His world, really are wise.

Clearly though, in Biblical wisdom, "godwardness" is the most important dimension: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov 9:10), and the command to "get wisdom, get insight" in Prov 4:5 is moral; the verse before it says: "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live" (Prov 4:4). The "knowledge of God" is what we should "call out" for and "seek like silver" in Prov 2:4. And James describes godly wisdom in terms of righteous character.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

If we are impure, inclined to fight, harsh, unable to be reasoned with, merciless or fruitless, biased or insincere, we are not wise.

It also seems to me that an element of wisdom is thinking long term. This will bring enjoyment now, but what will the result be next week? Next year? Next decade? Even secular people can see this; it's unwise to spend your whole paycheck the day you get it, and it's wise to spend years getting an education.

But the godly place God at the center of these questions, and the epitome of folly is sin. Yes, for the moment, there is enjoyment in being lazy, drunk, and gluttonous (Pro 23:21, Pro 26:14), in stealing and cheating (Pro 9:17, Pro 11:18), and in putting people down behind their back (Pro 11:12). But these things will backfire and bring misery.

When the godly think long term, they extend their sights to eternity. Yes, don't waste your paycheck, but even more, don't waste your life. Don't plan and save and for a comfortable life of 70 or 100 years, then depart for eternity in hell. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36)

Fear God. Learn much. Pursue peace. Plan well. Work hard. Flee sin. Cultivate godliness. Think eternally. If that's not a summary of wisdom, it at least hits some of the highlights.