What is wisdom according to the Bible? Is it different from worldly wisdom? Is there a clear definition of wisdom from the Bible? Is it different from knowledge? Are there certain people praised in the Bible for possessing wisdom? Do the Scriptures advise how to get wisdom?
In fact, the Bible does provide answers to all these questions. The subject is complex, but we can find the information we seek if we look closely enough.
Does Any Bible Verse Give a Definition of Wisdom?
Wisdom is not a simple concept. It is not summed up by one verse. Across the Bible, we see several verses that give definitions of wisdom.
James 3:17 states, “But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest.”
1 Corinthians 1:30 has a much more personal definition of wisdom. It states, “And Christ has become for us wisdom from God.” According to this verse, wisdom is not defined by traits. Wisdom is a being: Jesus. Wisdom from God is God himself. 1 Corinthians 1:24 is a little more specific, though, saying that Jesus is God’s power and wisdom to the people God has chosen—both Jews and Greeks (or Gentiles).
Job also gives his take on wisdom. In Job 28:28, he states, “To fear and respect the Lord is wisdom.” Here, wisdom is an attitude. King Solomon essentially agrees, saying that wisdom begins with fear and respect for God (Proverbs 9:10).
King Solomon, the wisest person to ever live, naturally has lots more to say on wisdom. In his twenty-second wise saying, Solomon states that wisdom is unable to be understood by fools (Proverbs 24:7). He also says that stubborn fools hate wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). In his twenty-sixth wise saying, Solomon states that wisdom is good for you (Proverbs 24:14).
Solomon also wrote that wisdom is worth more than fine jewels (Proverbs 3:15) and much more than gold (Proverbs 16:16). Along with careful planning, it is a bringer of a long life filled with honor (Proverbs 3:22).
How Does the Bible’s Definition of Wisdom Separate It from Knowledge?
Wisdom and knowledge share many similarities. However, the Bible defines wisdom differently from knowledge. Knowledge involves intelligence, while wisdom is deeper than that. It involves understanding and discernment.
Also, in the Bible, wisdom is never regarded as something bad. Knowledge, too, is seen as something good in the Bible. But 1 Corinthians 8:1 states, “It is certainly true that ‘we all have knowledge,’ as you say. But this knowledge only fills people with pride.” Here, knowledge is not seen as sin but presented as something used poorly that can lead to sin.
Based on several Bible verses, there are specific things that wisdom is that knowledge is not. Knowledge is not necessarily pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to please, ready to help people who have trouble and do good to others, fair, honest, Jesus (especially to people God has chosen, both Greeks and Jews), fearing and respecting God, worth more than fine jewels and much more than gold, or a bringer of a long life filled with honor. These are things that wisdom is, though.
Who Does the Bible Praise for Having Great Wisdom?
The Bible mainly praises two people for having great wisdom: Jesus and Solomon.
In 1 Kings 3, God gives Solomon wisdom. 1 Kings 3:12 states, “So I will give you what you asked for. I will make you wise and intelligent. I will make you wiser than anyone who ever lived or ever will live.” The Bible states that Solomon officially was and always will be the wisest person ever.
1 Kings 10:23 states that Solomon had greater wisdom “than any other king on earth.” 1 Kings 4:29 takes it further: thanks to God, Solomon's wisdom was beyond what we can imagine.
The Bible also praises Jesus for his great wisdom. Luke 2:52 states, “As Jesus grew taller, he continued to grow in wisdom.” While Solomon was praised for having great wisdom, Jesus is stated to be wisdom itself in 1 Corinthians 10:30 and 1 Corinthians 1:24. Jesus became wisdom. He is the embodiment of God’s wisdom.
Does the Bible Tell Us How to Gain Wisdom?
Proverbs 2:6 states, “The Lord is the source of wisdom; knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.” Wisdom comes from God. But how do we gain this wisdom from God? Jesus and Solomon have the answers.
Wisdom begins with fearing and respecting God (Proverbs 9:10, Psalms 111:10). Solomon wrote about it and lived it out. Jesus also lived it out, as in verses Hebrews 5:7, where he sought God’s help and advice. Jesus respected God and modeled wisdom. He was wisdom itself (1 Corinthians 1:30).
Solomon feared and respected God. 1 Kings 3:6-8 states,
Solomon answered, ‘You were very kind and loyal to your servant, my father David. He was faithful to you and lived a good, honest life. And you showed him the greatest kindness when you let his son take his place as king. Lord my God, you have made me the king in my father’s place, but I am like a small child. I don’t have the wisdom I need to do what I must do. I am your servant here among your chosen people. There are so many that they cannot be counted.’”
Fearing and respecting God is the first step to receiving wisdom. Another first step is to look for wisdom (Proverbs 4:7).
But those are only the first steps, the beginning. Just fearing and respecting God and looking for wisdom is not all it takes to receive wisdom from him. We must take action to gain wisdom.
To gain wisdom, we must ask God for it (James 1:5). 1 Kings 3:9-12 shows what happened after Solomon for wisdom:
“The Lord was happy that Solomon asked for wisdom. So God said to him, ‘You did not ask for long life and riches for yourself. You did not ask for the death of your enemies. You asked for the wisdom to listen and make the right decisions. So I will give you what you asked for. I will make you wise and intelligent. I will make you wiser than anyone who ever lived or ever will live.’”
Solomon asked for wisdom, and therefore, he received it from God.
As Proverbs 4:7 says, we must look for wisdom, and there are many ways to do this. According to Proverbs 1:5, we could become wiser by listening to the proverbs of the Bible, where there are the most examples of God’s wisdom definition. 2 Timothy 3:15 has a similar take: it says that knowing the Scriptures can make one wise. Deuteronomy 4:6 states that obeying God’s laws shows others that one is wise. According to Proverbs 13:20, being friends with wise people will make one wise.
Wisdom can also come from outside help. 1 Corinthians 1:9 states, “Since the day we heard these things about you, we have continued praying for you. This is what we pray: that God will make you completely sure of what he wants by giving you all the wisdom and spiritual understanding you need.” So, wisdom comes from God and can come from others praying for one.
While all these steps are useful, we remember what the New Testament says about Jesus and wisdom: following Jesus is following wisdom itself Only by pursuing a relationship with him, seeking to become “little Christs” (what the word “Christian” originally meant) is how we become wise.
Photo Credit: Unsplash.com
Jared Salomon is a writer and editor, with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing from Taylor University. He is an associate product developer for Childress Ink. He writes Christian fiction, realistic fiction, and fantasy. In his free time, Jared enjoys hanging out with his friends and playing sports (especially tennis).
This article is part of our Christian Terms catalog, exploring words and phrases of Christian theology and history. Here are some of our most popular articles covering Christian terms to help your journey of knowledge and faith:
The Full Armor of God
The Meaning of "Selah"
What Is Grace? Bible Definition and Christian Quotes
What is Discernment? Bible Meaning and Importance
What Is Prophecy? Bible Meaning and Examples
