BDB2735
חָכָם adjective wise, ׳ ח Deut 4:6 + 67 t.; construct חֲכַם Isa 3:3 + 9 t.; plural חֲכָמִים Deut 1:13 + 39 t.; construct חַכְמֵי Exod 28:3 + 4 t.; suffix חֲכָמֶיךָ Isa 19:12 etc. + 8 t.; feminine חֲכָמָה 2Sam 14:2; 2Sam 20:16 construct חַכְמַת Exod 35:25 plural חֲכָמוֺת Jer 9:16 construct חַכְמוֺת Judg 5:29; Prov 14:1(but read חָכְמוֺת De) —
1.
skillful in technical work; artificers Isa 3:3 sailors Ezek 27:8, so (probably) Ezek 27:9 mourning women Jer 9:16
artisans of tabernacle and temple and their furniture Exod 28:3; Exod 31:6; Exod 35:10; Exod 36:1; Exod 36:2; Exod 36:4; Exod 36:8 (
P
),
1Chr 22:15;
2Chr 2:6;
2Chr 2:12;
2Chr 2:13 (twice in verse); women in spinning Exod 35:25 (
P
); goldsmiths and other artisans Jer 10:9 makers of idol-images Isa 40:20.
2.
wise in the administration of affairs: Joseph in Egypt Gen 41:33; Gen 41:39 (
E
); heads of tribes Deut 1:13; Deut 1:15; Judg 16:19 David 2Sam 14:20, of Solomon 1Kgs 2:9; 1Kgs 3:12; 1Kgs 5:21 = 2Chr 2:11 the
prince of Tyre, in satire Ezek 28:3 of kings in general Prov 20:26 class of political advisers of
Judah Isa 29:14
; Jer
18:18, apparently also Isa 5:21 of Egypt Isa 19:11 (twice in verse); Isa 19:12, Edom Obad 1:8, the nations Jer 10:7 so of
God Isa 31:2.
3.
shrewd, crafty, cunning: Jonadab 2Sam 13:3 the princesses Judg 5:29
אשׁה חכמה
wise woman
2Sam 14:2;
2Sam 20:16
generally,
Jer 9:22 intelligent animals Prov 30:24
בערמם
׳
לכד ח
taking the cunning in their craft
Job 5:13
חכם בעיני
wise in one's own eyes
Prov 3:7; Prov 26:5;
Prov 26:12
; Prov
26:16;
Prov 28:11
חכמי לב
wise of mind (in their own mind) Job 37:24.
4. plural class of learned and shrewd men, including
astrologers, magicians and the like, of Egypt Gen 41:8 (
E
), Exod 7:11
(
P
; compare
Isa 19:11 (twice in verse); Isa 19:12); Babylon Isa 44:25; Jer 50:35; Jer 51:57 Persia Esth 1:13; Esth 6:13.
5.
prudent, towards king Prov 16:14 in controversies Prov 11:29; Prov 29:8; Prov 29:9; Prov 29:11
religious affairs
Hos 13:13; Hos 14:10; Jer 4:22; Jer 8:8; Jer 8:9; Deut 4:6; Deut 32:6; Ps 107:43
אישׁ
׳
ח
Jer 9:11.
6.
wise, ethically and religiously, in Wisdom Literature:
a. as adjective,
חֲכַם לֵב
wise of mind
Prov 10:8;
Prov 16:21
לֵב חָכָם
Eccl 8:5 of the
son Prov 10:1
= Prov 15:20
; Prov 13:1
; Prov
23:24;
Eccl 2:19
׳
ילד ח
Eccl 4:13
wise boy; ׳
גבר ח
Job 34:34
wise man; ׳
מוכיח ח
wise reprover
Prov 25:12
.
b. = substantive: (1) as a wise learner in school of
wisdom,
he fears God and departs from evil Prov 14:16 is silent Prov 17:28 hearkens to counsel Prov 12:15 hears and
increases in learning
Prov 1:5 his ear seeketh knowledge Prov 18:15 he receives it Prov 21:11 and stores it up Prov 10:14
his ears hearken to the reproof which giveth life Prov 15:31 and he becomes wiser through it Prov 9:8; Prov 9:9. (2)
as a
wise teacher, a sage, he does not answer with windy knowledge Job 15:2 he tells the experience of
the past
Job 15:48
has knowledge Job
34:2 teaches it Eccl 12:9 disperses it Prov 15:7 his tongue is health Prov 12:18 it utters knowledge
aright Prov 15:2
his mind instructs his mouth and adds learning to his lips Prov 16:23 his words are gracious Eccl 10:12
it is good to hear his rebuke Eccl 7:5 his instruction is a fountain of life Prov 13:14 one walking with him
becomes wiser
Prov 13:20. The חכמים recall the Greek σόφοι, having their schools, pupils
(בֵן), discipline (מוּסָר), principles and collections of wisdom, דברי
חכמים
Prov 1:6; Prov 22:17
(compare Prov
24:23),
Eccl 9:17; Eccl 12:11 God himself is חכם לבב
Job 9:4.
(3)
the wise are prosperous: true, in sceptical view of Ecclesiastes, they have no advantage
over the fool Eccl 6:8
but die as the fool Eccl 2:16 (twice in verse); Ps 49:11 they will not be able to find the works of God
Eccl 8:17
like others are in the hands of God Eccl 9:1 they do not secure bread Eccl 9:11 but elsewhere reverse is true:
precious treasure is in his dwelling Prov 21:20 his lips preserve him Prov 14:3 they inherit glory Prov 3:35 wealth is their
crown Prov
14:24 the wise man is strong Prov 24:5; Eccl 7:19 his eyes are in his head Eccl 2:14 his mind is at his right
hand Eccl 10:2
he interprets things Eccl 8:1
(4) the wise man is a blessing to others: he
wins men Prov
11:30 scales the city of the mighty Prov 21:22 though poor he delivers the city Eccl 9:15 is a reproof to
scorners Prov
15:12 his mind is in the house of mourning Eccl 7:4 injustice makes him foolish Eccl 7:7 Job finds no wise men among his
cruel friends
Job 17:10.