Three kinds of Biblical wisdom

A Man of Wisdom

According to Exodus 31:3, Bezalel was endowed “with ability and intelligence, with knowledge.” In the original Hebrew, these are three distinct mental qualities. The first term, “ability”, is chochma חָכְמָה in Hebrew. This is much more than merely possessing facts. Chochma is wisdom, the ability to speak sagely, beyond merely uttering “windy words” (Job 16:3). The biblical paradigm of this “wisdom” is King Solomon, who was known throughout the world for his ingenious ability to judge difficult cases (1 Kgs. 4:34). 

A Man of Understanding

The second quality given to Bezalel, “intelligence,” is tevunah תְבוּנָה in Hebrew. This word which comes from the root B.I.N, refers to the ability to discern. This is a “man of understanding” (Prov. 15:21), a person who can assess a complex situation, take a step back and distinguish right from wrong without losing their cool. This is crucial in times of crisis. It is a person who can work productively while remaining emotionally uninvolved, “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding” (Prov. 14:33).
 

Find True Wisdom in the Hebrew Bible

The third quality, “knowledge,” is da’at דַּעַת in Hebrew. Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” This refers to factual knowledge of what is morally right from wrong. Originally, this quality belonged to God alone, and when Adam and Eve ate the fruit and gained this knowledge they were expelled. Only by exploring these three words in the original Hebrew, we get to the heart of what the Bible really means. Enroll today in our online Biblical Hebrew course and discover the deepest wisdom of the Bible.