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חָכָם

𐤇𐤊𐤌

châkâm

H2450 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Possessing wisdom, skill, or discernment; describes a person marked by practical knowledge, insight, prudence, or expertise. Used for those knowledgeable in ethical living, technically proficient artisans, and political or administrative advisors. In some contexts, emphasizes moral and experiential wisdom rather than merely theoretical knowledge.

Semantic Range

wise, skillful, expert, competent, shrewd, prudent, ethically discerning, sagacious, learned, technical artisan, experienced counselor, clever

Root / Etymology

From the root חכם, which at its core means 'to be wise' or 'to act with wisdom.' The adjective חָכָם is derived directly from this root, indicating 'one who is wise' or 'wise person.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, חָכָם is employed broadly, from the 'wise of heart' artisans endowed with skill for constructing the tabernacle (Exodus) to political advisors (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) and those considered skilled in living rightly or with ethical discernment. The term is notably used in wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) to refer to those living with moral and practical discernment, as opposed to the 'fool' (כְּסִיל or אֱוִיל). The term can apply to technical or artisanal skill (as in Bezalel, Exodus 31:6), discernment in governance, or sagacity in interpersonal dealings. In exilic and post-exilic periods, חָכָם comes to stand for sages or learned teachers. English translations sometimes narrow the meaning to 'wise,' but in context the word may signify specialized skill (e.g., craftsman, counselor) or administrative competence. It should be distinguished from mere accumulation of knowledge; the biblical חָכָם is one who acts rightly based on understanding. The rendering 'cunning' or 'subtle' in some translations reflects particular contexts where shrewdness and practical acumen are emphasized. The term is not restricted to Israelite usage—non-Israelites are also described as חָכָם when skilled or insightful (e.g., Egyptian sages in Exodus 7:11).

Translation Consistency

primary "wise" 48 occurrences

"Wise" is the most natural, concise rendering and matches the dominant usage (131 of 137 occurrences). It captures the primary semantic range—practical discernment, prudence, and moral/experiential insight—while still working acceptably for contexts emphasizing skill or expertise (where "wise" conveys seasoned judgment). Choosing "wise" ensures consistency and readability across all forms.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"skillful" (1x) "skilled ones" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָכַם; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful); cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

חכם (Chakhemoni) — to be wise, to act wisely, to be skillful

Root חכם to be wise, to act wisely, to be skillful
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2445 חַכִּים the wise ones
H2449 חָכַם wise man of
H2451 חׇכְמָה in wisdom
H2452 חׇכְמָה the wisdom
H2453 חַכְמוֹנִי Hachmonite clansman

Word Forms

24 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2450-01 חָכָ֖ם chakham HAamsa wise wise one of wise one 57
H2450-07 חֲכָמִ֧ים chakhamim HAampa of the wise wise men wise men 32
H2450-13 הֶֽ/חָכָם֙ hechakham HTd/Aamsa the wise the wise man the wise man 6
H2450-17 לֶ/חָכָ֛ם lechakham HRd/Aamsa a wise man to a wise man to a wise man 6
H2450-09 חַכְמֵי chakhemey HAampc wise wise ones of wise ones of 4
H2450-16 לַ/חֲכָמִ֥ים lachakhamim HRd/Aampa to the wise to the wise ones to the wise ones 4
H2450-22 וְ/חָכָ֑ם vechakham HC/Aamsa and wise and a wise one and a wise one 4
H2450-02 חֲכָמָ֑ה chakhamah HAafsa wise wise woman wise 2
H2450-04 חֲכָמָ֜י/ו chakhamayv HAampc/Sp3ms his wise men his wise men his wise men 2
H2450-05 חֲכָמֶ֑י/הָ chakhameyha HAampc/Sp3fs the wise men her wise men her wise men 2

Occurrences in Scripture

137 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2450-05 Genesis 41:8 חֲכָמֶ֑י/הָ chakhameyha HAampc/Sp3fs the wise men her wise men her wise men
H2450-22 Genesis 41:33 וְ/חָכָ֑ם vechakham HC/Aamsa and wise and a wise one and a wise one
H2450-22 Genesis 41:39 וְ/חָכָ֖ם vechakham HC/Aamsa and wise and a wise one and a wise one
H2450-16 Exodus 7:11 לַֽ/חֲכָמִ֖ים lachakhamim HRd/Aampa for the wise men to the wise ones to the wise ones
H2450-09 Exodus 28:3 חַכְמֵי chakhemey HAampc wise wise ones of wise ones of
H2450-01 Exodus 31:6 חֲכַם chakham HAamsc wise wise one of wise one of
H2450-01 Exodus 35:10 חֲכַם chakham HAamsc wise wise one of wise one of
H2450-08 Exodus 35:25 חַכְמַת chakhemat HAafsc wise-hearted wisdom-of wise of
H2450-01 Exodus 36:1 חֲכַם chakham HAamsc skillful wise one of wise one of
H2450-01 Exodus 36:2 חֲכַם chakham HAamsc wise wise one of wise one of
H2450-11 Exodus 36:4 הַ֣/חֲכָמִ֔ים hachakhamim HTd/Aampa the wise men the wise men the wise men
H2450-01 Exodus 36:8 חֲכַם chakham HAamsc wise wise one of wise one of
H2450-07 Deuteronomy 1:13 חֲכָמִ֧ים chakhamim HAampa wise wise men wise men
H2450-07 Deuteronomy 1:15 חֲכָמִים֙ chakhamim HAampa wise wise men wise men
H2450-01 Deuteronomy 4:6 חָכָ֣ם chakham HAamsa wise wise one of wise
H2450-07 Deuteronomy 16:19 חֲכָמִ֔ים chakhamim HAampa the wise wise men wise men
H2450-01 Deuteronomy 32:6 חָכָ֑ם chakham HAamsa wise wise one of wise
H2450-10 Judges 5:29 חַכְמ֥וֹת chakhemot HAafpc wisest (ones) wise women of wise women of
H2450-01 2 Samuel 13:3 חָכָ֖ם chakham HAamsa wise wise one of wise
H2450-02 2 Samuel 14:2 חֲכָמָ֑ה chakhamah HAafsa wise wise woman wise
H2450-01 2 Samuel 14:20 חָכָ֗ם chakham HAamsa is wise wise one of wise one of
H2450-02 2 Samuel 20:16 חֲכָמָ֖ה chakhamah HAafsa wise wise woman wise
H2450-01 1 Kings 2:9 חָכָ֖ם chakham HAamsa wise wise one of wise man
H2450-01 1 Kings 3:12 חָכָ֣ם chakham HAamsa wise wise one of wise
H2450-01 1 Kings 5:21 חָכָ֔ם chakham HAamsa wise wise one of wise
H2450-19 Isaiah 3:3 וַ/חֲכַ֥ם vachakham HC/Aamsc and skilled and wise and wise
H2450-07 Isaiah 5:21 חֲכָמִ֣ים chakhamim HAampa wise wise men wise men
H2450-09 Isaiah 19:11 חַכְמֵי֙ chakhemey HAampc wise wise ones of wise ones of
H2450-07 Isaiah 19:11 חֲכָמִ֥ים chakhamim HAampa the wise wise men wise men
H2450-06 Isaiah 19:12 חֲכָמֶ֔י/ךָ chakhameykha HAampc/Sp2ms your wise men your wise ones your wise ones
H2450-04 Isaiah 29:14 חֲכָמָ֔י/ו chakhamayv HAampc/Sp3ms their wise men his wise men his wise men
H2450-01 Isaiah 31:2 חָכָם֙ chakham HAamsa wise wise one of wise one
H2450-01 Isaiah 40:20 חָכָם֙ chakham HAamsa skillful wise one of skillful
H2450-07 Isaiah 44:25 חֲכָמִ֛ים chakhamim HAampa wise men wise men wise men
H2450-07 Jeremiah 4:22 חֲכָמִ֥ים chakhamim HAampa wise wise men wise men
H2450-07 Jeremiah 8:8 חֲכָמִ֣ים chakhamim HAampa wise wise men wise men
H2450-07 Jeremiah 8:9 חֲכָמִ֔ים chakhamim HAampa wise men wise men wise men
H2450-13 Jeremiah 9:11 הֶֽ/חָכָם֙ hechakham HTd/Aamsa the wise the wise man the wise man
H2450-12 Jeremiah 9:16 הַ/חֲכָמ֥וֹת hachakhamot HTd/Aafpa the wise women the wise women the wise women
H2450-01 Jeremiah 9:22 חָכָם֙ chakham HAamsa wise man wise one of wise man
H2450-09 Jeremiah 10:7 חַכְמֵ֧י chakhemey HAampc wise men of wise ones of wise ones of
H2450-07 Jeremiah 10:9 חֲכָמִ֖ים chakhamim HAampa skillful ones wise men skilled ones
H2450-18 Jeremiah 18:18 מֵֽ/חָכָ֔ם mechakham HR/Aamsa from the wise from a wise man from a wise man
H2450-05 Jeremiah 50:35 חֲכָמֶֽי/הָ chakhameyha HAampc/Sp3fs wise-men-of-her her wise men her wise men
H2450-20 Jeremiah 51:57 וַ/חֲכָמֶ֜י/הָ vachakhameyha HC/Aampc/Sp3fs and-wise-men-of-her and her wise men and her wise men
H2450-03 Ezekiel 27:8 חֲכָמַ֤יִ/ךְ chakhamayikhe HAampc/Sp2fs wise men your wise men your wise men
H2450-20 Ezekiel 27:9 וַ/חֲכָמֶ֨י/הָ֙ vachakhameyha HC/Aampc/Sp3fs and its wise men and her wise men and her wise men
H2450-01 Ezekiel 28:3 חָכָ֛ם chakham HAamsa wise wise one of wise one
H2450-01 Hosea 13:13 חָכָ֔ם chakham HAamsa wise wise one of wise
H2450-01 Hosea 14:10 חָכָם֙ chakham HAamsa is wise wise one of wise one
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