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חׇכְמָה

𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤄

chokmâh

H2451 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חכם to be wise, to act wisely, to be skilled, to be prudent

Definition

Cognitive and experiential capacity encompassing understanding, discernment, practical skill, and moral insight; the ability to apply knowledge effectively in decision-making, craft, leadership, religious observance, and everyday life. In biblical usage, denotes not only intellectual acumen but also skillfulness in crafts, governance, or ethical living, often linked with an aptitude for navigating complex situations or adhering to social and divine order.

Semantic Range

wisdom, practical skill, expert ability in crafts or governance, discernment, shrewdness, moral insight, prudent judgment, learnedness

Root / Etymology

From the root חכם (ḥ-k-m), which fundamentally means "to be wise," "to act wisely," or "to become skilled." The noun חׇכְמָה is a feminine abstract form meaning "wisdom" or "skill," denoting both general and specialized knowledge or competence, whether moral, intellectual, or practical in scope.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חׇכְמָה was used broadly in the Hebrew Bible, referring variously to artisan skill (as in the construction of the Tabernacle), administrative judgment (in royal courts), or ethical discernment (especially in Wisdom Literature such as Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes). It was a quality attributed to craftsmen (Exod 28:3, 31:3), leaders, counselors, and sages. In later post-exilic and Second Temple texts, חׇכְמָה came to be more strongly associated with the pursuit of understanding divine order and living justly. English 'wisdom' partially renders the range but often misses the practical, technical, or craft-oriented senses. Not synonymous with mere intelligence or learning; closely tied to socially valued skills and the ability to act appropriately within particular contexts. In contrast to תְּבוּנָה (tevunah, "understanding"), which emphasizes discernment or reason, and דַּעַת (da‘at, "knowledge"), which stresses knowledge as a possession. The early term does not carry the connotation of formal 'philosophy' as in later Hellenistic contexts, nor does it denote mystical or esoteric knowledge, though later Jewish and Christian traditions sometimes interpreted it that way.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָכַם; wisdom (in a good sense); skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חכם (ḥ-k-m) — to be wise, to act wisely, to be skilled, to be prudent

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2445 חַכִּים the wise ones
H2449 חָכַם wise man of
H2450 חָכָם wise one of
H2452 חׇכְמָה the wisdom
H2453 חַכְמוֹנִי Hachmonite clansman

Word Forms

28 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2451-06 חָכְמָ֑ה chakhemah HNcfsa wisdom wisdom 74
H2451-07 חָכְמַת chakhemat HNcfsc wisdom wisdom-of 12
H2451-02 בְּ/חָכְמָ֛ה bechakhemah HR/Ncfsa by wisdom in wisdom 9
H2451-09 חָכְמָתֶֽ/ךָ chakhematekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms your wisdom your wisdom 8
H2451-25 וְ֝/חָכְמָ֗ה vechakhemah HC/Ncfsa and wisdom wisdom-skill 6
H2451-14 הַ/חָכְמָ֤ה hachakhemah HTd/Ncfsa the wisdom the wisdom 5
H2451-05 בְּ/חָכְמָת֔/וֹ bechakhemato HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms by his wisdom by his wisdom 4
H2451-01 בַּֽ/חָכְמָ֔ה bachakhemah HRd/Ncfsa of skill in wisdom 3
H2451-17 לַֽ/חָכְמָ֣ה lachakhemah HRd/Ncfsa to wisdom to the wisdom 3
H2451-13 חָכְמָתֽ/וֹ chakhemato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his wisdom his wisdom 3

Occurrences in Scripture

149 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2451-06 Exodus 28:3 חָכְמָ֑ה chakhemah HNcfsa of-wisdom wisdom
H2451-02 Exodus 31:3 בְּ/חָכְמָ֛ה bechakhemah HR/Ncfsa in wisdom in wisdom
H2451-06 Exodus 31:6 חָכְמָ֑ה chakhemah HNcfsa wisdom wisdom
H2451-02 Exodus 35:26 בְּ/חָכְמָ֑ה bechakhemah HR/Ncfsa with wisdom in wisdom
H2451-02 Exodus 35:31 בְּ/חָכְמָ֛ה bechakhemah HR/Ncfsa with wisdom in wisdom
H2451-07 Exodus 35:35 חָכְמַת chakhemat HNcfsc with wisdom wisdom-of
H2451-06 Exodus 36:1 חָכְמָ֤ה chakhemah HNcfsa skill wisdom
H2451-06 Exodus 36:2 חָכְמָ֖ה chakhemah HNcfsa wisdom wisdom
H2451-11 Deuteronomy 4:6 חָכְמַתְ/כֶם֙ chakhematekhem HNcfsc/Sp2mp your wisdom your wisdom
H2451-06 Deuteronomy 34:9 חָכְמָ֔ה chakhemah HNcfsa of wisdom wisdom
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