WISDOM: Understanding Wisdom from Biblical Perspective

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Wisdom is often understood as “applied knowledge.” Sometimes, it is contrasted with knowledge itself: for some, intelligence is measured by how much a person knows, while wisdom is seen in practical decisions and actions. Most people—even believers—value wisdom more than knowledge, even though the two words are nearly synonymous in dictionaries. But the real question is: How does the Bible define wisdom? How was it understood in the ancient world? And how should we understand it today whenever we encounter it in Scripture? Let’s take a closer look.

WISDOM IN THE ANCIENT WORLD

Writings from the ancient Near East—as well as the Old Testament—show that wisdom carried a very similar meaning across different cultures. Wisdom literature often contained instructions on proper conduct, speech, and behavior. In the Old Testament, wisdom appeared in many different areas:

  • Skilled craftsmen were considered wise (Exod. 31:6; 35:10; 1 Chron. 22:15).
  • Those who could govern or lead were seen as wise (Gen. 41:39; Deut. 1:13).
  • Administering justice was wisdom (1 Kings 3:28).
  • Military strategy required wisdom (Isa. 10:13).
  • Solomon’s wisdom was displayed in poetry, botany, and his knowledge of animals (1 Kings 4:32–33).

At first glance, it seems difficult to find the common thread between carpentry, politics, justice, poetry, botany, and military leadership. But the ancients understood them all as wisdom because they shared one key principle: order.

WISDOM: THE PURSUIT OF ORDER

Ancient people valued order above all. For them, wisdom meant seeking, preserving, and living according to order. Craftsmanship brought order to raw materials by forming them into useful creations. Politics and justice brought order to society. Etiquette brought order to human relationships.This helps us understand why the Old Testament gives wisdom instructions not only about religious matters, but also about marriage (Prov. 12:4; 18:22), parenting (Prov. 13:24), table manners (Prov. 23:1–3), and even business (Eccl. 11:2). Simply put, the goal of wisdom is to bring order into every area of life.

WISDOM AND GOD

The Bible reveals that God is the true source of wisdom (Prov. 2:6). Therefore, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 1:7; 9:10). Reverence for God is the foundation of all order in life. Because wisdom was highly valued, the ancient Jews often personified it in their writings (Prov. 8:1–21). Wisdom was described as being with God from the very beginning (vv. 22–31), through which He created the world (Prov. 3:19–20). Creation itself displayed God’s wisdom, for in creating, He brought order out of chaos. To give Israel order, God gave them the Law of Moses (Deut. 4:6; Ps. 19:7). Thus, obedience to the Law was seen as wisdom, while rejecting the Law was rejecting wisdom (Jer. 8:8–9). God’s people were called to pursue wisdom—that is, to live in obedience to God and apply His order in every aspect of their lives.

WISDOM AND JESUS

The New Testament continues the Old Testament teaching on wisdom, but also takes it further. Wisdom is not only an idea—it is a Person. John declares that Jesus is the Word (Greek: Logos), who was with God in the beginning and through whom all things were made (John 1:1–3). For John’s original readers, logos also carried the meaning of “wisdom.” In other words, Jesus is the true Wisdom who was with God from the start. Paul affirms the same truth, calling Christ “the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24, 30) and declaring that in Him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3).

WISDOM AND BELIEVERS

Since God is the source of wisdom, true wisdom is His gift to us (Eph. 1:8; Col. 1:9). Genuine wisdom results in righteous conduct (James 3:13–15), for it is always directed toward what is good (Rom. 16:19). That is why Christ commanded His disciples to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matt. 10:16). Believers are called to live wisely (Col. 4:4–6), pursuing what is good and rejecting what is evil (Rom. 16:19). Stay Curious. 

Sources and Studies:

Walton, J.H, and, Keener C., (2016). “What is Wisdom?” π˜•π˜π˜ 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘡𝘢𝘳𝘒𝘭 𝘚𝘡𝘢π˜₯𝘺 π˜‰π˜ͺ𝘣𝘭𝘦. (p. 1040). Zondervan
Vine. W.E. (1999). “Wisdom, Wise, Wiser, Wisely.” 𝘝π˜ͺ𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘀π˜ͺ𝘴𝘦 π˜‹π˜ͺ𝘀𝘡π˜ͺ𝘰𝘯𝘒𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 π˜‰π˜ͺ𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳π˜₯. (pp. 414-415). Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Russel , E.. (1986). “Wisdom”. π˜•π˜¦π˜Έ 𝘐𝘯𝘡𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘒𝘡π˜ͺ𝘰𝘯𝘒𝘭 π˜‰π˜ͺ𝘣𝘭𝘦 π˜‹π˜ͺ𝘀𝘡π˜ͺ𝘰𝘯𝘒𝘳𝘺. In Douglas, J.D & Tenney M. (Eds). (pp.1066-1067). Zondervan
McKenzie, J.L. (1965). “Wisdom, Wisdom Literature.” π˜‹π˜ͺ𝘀𝘡π˜ͺ𝘰𝘯𝘒𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘡𝘩𝘦 π˜‰π˜ͺ𝘣𝘭𝘦. (pp. 929-932). Macmillan Publishing

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