I recall distinctly a few years ago, two of my well-studied female Bible-scholar friends getting into a discussion about the sequencing of these three words, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, in how we look at Scripture: what comes first, what comes last. What is the basis from which we start, and what represents a higher level in our walk with God? Far be it from me to “choose sides” on a Scriptural debate about which two people feel strongly. Better, from my perspective, to simply share what I have found about what Scripture says, and let the words of the Holy Writ speak for themselves. I say, from the beginning, that I have no answer in mind as I write this: I am exploring just as you are. But I do find it very curious that we get such strong “feelings” about such issues. Certainly it is important to get from Scripture what God intended. But also, certainly Scripture is so very applicable in each of our lives that it must be nuanced such that it gets a message across to us that pertains in our own situation. Still, having a common language does facilitate our ability to communicate with one another. So, we will take a stab at this. And may I say, the two remain steadfast friends and may not even recall the importance of the feelings at that time.
When a theme is repeated multiple times in Scripture, it means it is of significance, using the concept of “multiple witnesses” as one of our guides. To be repeated six times (and you will see that there are actually more, though we have chosen one specific English translation for our search) should be signal enough really to focus our attention•••
The Bible software I use allows one to search for verses with multiple words in them. So, six times, throughout the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, the three words, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding appear in the same verse in the ESV translation. Other versions might vary. And the software does not account for “order,” so the three words may appear in any order and still appear in the search.
Bible translation/interpretation is very challenging. There is very little that is “hard and fast” about the rules for interpreting which have been shared earlier in the website. There always seem to be exceptions. We can begin by talking about “order,” which was mentioned in the previous paragraph. There is a “general rule” in Scripture interpretation that “order matters.” We have already spoken earlier in the website that “first mention” of a word is generally weighted more heavily by interpreters in attempting to discern a word’s meaning. And if you have done any significant amount of Scripture reading, especially in the Hebrew Scriptures, you know that birth order is a big thing. In general, the “firstborn” was the one expected to carry on the family traditions and received the larger inheritance. So, when children are mentioned, it is most often in birth order, and there may be a message in a switch in the order of listing.
So, let’s look at these three words. First, I will list in full each of these six verses in English and Hebrew or Greek. The context is included in the English. Note also that the order is not always the same.
➡︎ Proverbs 2:6
6 כִּֽי־יְ֭הוָה יִתֵּ֣ן חָכְמָ֑ה מִ֝פִּ֗יו דַּ֣עַת וּתְבוּנָֽה׃
➡︎ Proverbs 2:1-15 ESV
1 My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
➡︎ 6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
10 for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 discretion will watch over you,
understanding will guard you,
12 delivering you from the way of evil,
from men of perverted speech,
13 who forsake the paths of uprightness
to walk in the ways of darkness,
14 who rejoice in doing evil
and delight in the perverseness of evil,
15 men whose paths are crooked,
and who are devious in their ways.
➡︎ Proverbs 14:6
6 בִּקֶּשׁ־לֵ֣ץ חָכְמָ֣ה וָאָ֑יִן וְדַ֖עַת לְנָבֹ֣ון נָקָֽל׃
➡︎ Proverbs 14:1-12
1 The wisest of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.
2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD,
but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.
➡︎ 6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9 Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
➡︎ Isaiah 11:2
2 וְנָחָ֥ה עָלָ֖יו ר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֑ה ר֧וּחַ חָכְמָ֣ה וּבִינָ֗ה ר֤וּחַ עֵצָה֙ וּגְבוּרָ֔ה ר֥וּחַ דַּ֖עַת וְיִרְאַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃
➡︎ Isaiah 11:1-5
1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
➡︎ 2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
➡︎ Daniel 1:4
4 יְלָדִ֣ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֵֽין־בָּהֶ֣ם כָּל־מֻאום֩* וְטוֹבֵ֨י מַרְאֶ֜ה וּמַשְׂכִּילִ֣ים בְּכָל־חָכְמָ֗ה וְיֹ֤דְעֵי דַ֨עַת֙ וּמְבִינֵ֣י מַדָּ֔ע וַאֲשֶׁר֙כֹּ֣חַ בָּהֶ֔ם לַעֲמֹ֖ד בְּהֵיכַ֣ל הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וּֽלֲלַמְּדָ֥ם סֵ֖פֶר וּלְשֹׁ֥ון כַּשְׂדִּֽים׃
➡︎ Daniel 1:3-4
3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
h4093. מַדָּע maḏâ‘; from h3045. יָדַע yâḏa‘ →
p.101 ידע acquire knowledge; know;; CM ידע acquire/cast off (C10)
➡︎ Daniel 2:21
21 וְ֠הוּא מְהַשְׁנֵ֤א עִדָּנַיָּא֙ וְזִמְנַיָּ֔א מְהַעְדֵּ֥ה מַלְכִ֖ין וּמְהָקֵ֣ים מַלְכִ֑ין יָהֵ֤ב חָכְמְתָא֙ לְחַכִּימִ֔ין וּמַנְדְּעָ֖א לְיָדְעֵ֥יבִינָֽה׃
➡︎ Daniel 2:20-23
20 Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
➡︎ 21 He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
h4486. מַנְדַּע manḏa‘; (Aramaic) corresponding to h4093. מַדָּע maḏâ‘; wisdom or intelligence: — knowledge, reason, understanding.
AV (4) – knowledge 2, reason 1, understanding 1;
knowledge, power of knowing
וּמַנְדְּעָ֖א לְיָדְעֵ֥י בִינָֽה
וּמַנְדְּעָ֖א
וְ GLOSS and; but; then PARSING Aramaic, particle, conjunction
+
ָא GLOSS the
PARSING Aramaic, particle, definite article
+
מַנְדַּע GLOSS knowledge; understanding
PARSING Aramaic, noun, common, masculine, singular, determined
לְיָדְעֵ֥י
לְ GLOSS to; for; regarding
PARSING Aramaic, particle, preposition
+
ידע GLOSS peal: know; understand; learn; haphel: make known
PARSING Aramaic, verb, peal, participle, masculine, plural, construct
בִּינָה GLOSS understanding
PARSING Aramaic, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute
This is tricky, partly because it is Aramaic (which EDBH does not deal with, and thus is converted to Hebrew), and partly because there is an extra “know” there that is not reflected in the English of the ESV. Here is the LITV:
Daniel 2:21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He causes kings to pass away, and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who know understanding.
A curious wording that may give a clue•••
➡︎ Colossians 1:9 NA28
9 Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡμεῖς, ἀφʼ ἧς ἡμέρας ἠκούσαμεν, οὐ παυόμεθα ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν προσευχόμενοι ⸋καὶ αἰτούμενοι⸌, ἵνα πληρωθῆτε τὴν ἐπίγνωσιν τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ καὶ συνέσει πνευματικῇ,
➡︎ Colossians 1:9-12
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
As we have done in the past, we will look up the three words knowledge ἐπίγνωσιν, wisdom σοφίᾳ, and understanding συνέσει in the Septuagint to see how they translate to Hebrew. Hopefully we will find consistency with what we have already seen in the Hebrew.
➡︎ ἐπίγνωσις Knowledge
ἐπίγνωσις
G/K NUMBER: 2106
GLOSS knowledge, understanding, insight
PARSING Noun, Accusative, Feminine, Singular
➡︎ 1 Kings 7:1-2 LXX
1 Καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Σαλωμων καὶ ἔλαβεν τὸν Χιραμ ἐκ Τύρου, † 2 υἱὸν γυναικὸς χήρας, καὶ οὗτος ἀπὸ τῆς φυλῆς Νεφθαλι, καὶ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ ἀνὴρ Τύριος, τέκτων χαλκοῦ καὶ πεπληρωμένος τῆς τέχνης καὶ συνέσεως καὶ ἐπιγνώσεως τοῦ ποιεῖν πᾶν ἔργον ἐν χαλκῷ· καὶ εἰσήχθη πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Σαλωμων καὶ ἐποίησεν πάντα τὰἔργα. †
➡︎ 1 Kings 7:1-2 NETS (A New English Translation of the Septuagint)
1 (13 )And King Salomon sent and received Chiram from Tyre, 2 (14)son of a widow, and he was from the tribe of Nephthali, and his father was a Tyrian man, an artisan in bronze and accomplished in skill and understanding and knowledge to perform every work in bronze, and he was brought in to King Salomon, and he made all the works.
➡︎ 1 Kings 7:13-14 ESV
13 And King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre. 14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And he was full of wisdom (h2451. חָכְמָה ḥâḵemâ), understanding (h8394. תְּבוּנָה tbuwnah – feminine form), and skill (h1847. דַּעַת ḏa‘aṯ) for making any work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all his work.
➡︎ 1 Kings 7:14(2 in Septuagint) BHS
14 בֶּן־אִשָּׁה֩ אַלְמָנָ֨ה ה֜וּא מִמַּטֵּ֣ה נַפְתָּלִ֗י וְאָבִ֣יו אִישׁ־צֹרִי֮ חֹרֵ֣שׁ נְחֹשֶׁת֒ וַ֠יִּמָּלֵא אֶת־הַחָכְמָ֤ה וְאֶת־הַתְּבוּנָה֙וְאֶת־הַדַּ֔עַת לַעֲשֹׂ֥ות כָּל־מְלָאכָ֖ה בַּנְּחֹ֑שֶׁת וַיָּבוֹא֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וַיַּ֖עַשׂ אֶת־כָּל־מְלַאכְתֹּֽו׃
➡︎ Proverbs 2:5-6 LXX
5 τότε συνήσεις φόβον κυρίου
καὶ ἐπίγνωσιν θεοῦ εὑρήσεις.
6 ὅτι κύριος δίδωσιν σοφίαν,
καὶ ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ γνῶσις καὶ σύνεσις·
➡︎ Proverbs 2:1-6 NETS
1 My son, if, when you accept the saying of my commandment,
you hide it with yourself,
2 your ear will be attentive to wisdom,
and you shall incline your heart to understanding;
yes, you shall incline it to the admonition of your son.
3 For if you call upon wisdom
and raise your voice for understanding,
as well as seek perception with a loud voice,
4 and if you seek it like silver
and search for it like treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
and you will find divine knowledge.
6 Because the Lord gives wisdom,
also from his presence come knowledge and understanding,
➡︎ Proverbs 2:1-6 ESV
1 My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
➡︎ Proverbs 2:5-6 BHS
5 אָ֗ז תָּ֭בִין יִרְאַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה וְדַ֖עַת אֱלֹהִ֣ים תִּמְצָֽא׃
6 כִּֽי־יְ֭הוָה יִתֵּ֣ן חָכְמָ֑ה מִ֝פִּ֗יו דַּ֣עַת וּתְבוּנָֽה׃
➡︎ Hosea 4:1
1 Ἀκούσατε λόγον κυρίου, υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, διότι κρίσις τῷ κυρίῳ πρὸς τοὺς κατοικοῦντας τὴν γῆν, διότι οὐκ ἔστιν ἀλήθεια οὐδὲ ἔλεος οὐδὲ ἐπίγνωσις θεοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· †
➡︎ Hosea 4:1
1 Hear a word of the Lord, O sons of Israel, for the Lord has a dispute with the inhabitants of the land.
For there is no truthfulness or mercy
or knowledge of God in the land.
➡︎ Hosea 4:1 ESV
The LORD Accuses Israel
1 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel,
for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.
There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,
and no knowledge of God in the land;
➡︎ Hosea 4:1 BHS
1 שִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֣י רִ֤יב לַֽיהוָה֙ עִם־יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֠י אֵין־אֱמֶ֧ת וְֽאֵין־חֶ֛סֶד וְאֵֽין־דַּ֥עַת אֱלֹהִ֖יםבָּאָֽרֶץ׃
➡︎ σοφία Wisdom
σοφία
G/K NUMBER: 5053 GLOSS wisdom (either secular or divine). Christ is called the wisdom of God
PARSING Noun, Dative, Feminine, Singular
➡︎ Exodus 31:3 LXX – first appearance
3 καὶ ἐνέπλησα αὐτὸν πνεῦμα θεῖον σοφίας καὶ συνέσεως καὶ ἐπιστήμης ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ
➡︎ Exodus 31:1-5 NETS
1 And the Lord spoke to Moyses, saying: 2 Look, I have summoned by name Beseleel the son of Ouri son of Hor of the tribe of Ioudas, 3 and I have filled him with a divine spirit of skill and intelligence and knowledge in every work, 4 to be designing and to construct, to fashion the gold and the silver and the bronze and the blue and the purple and the spun scarlet and the twisted linen 5 and the stone works and for the works crafted from wood, to fashion according to all the works.
➡︎ Exodus 31:1-5 ESV
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.
➡︎ Exodus 31:3 BHS
3 וָאֲמַלֵּ֥א אֹתֹ֖ו ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֑ים בְּחָכְמָ֛ה וּבִתְבוּנָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכָל־מְלָאכָֽה׃
➡︎ Deuteronomy 4:6 LXX
6 καὶ φυλάξεσθε καὶ ποιήσετε, ὅτι αὕτη ἡ σοφία ὑμῶν καὶ ἡ σύνεσις ἐναντίον πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὅσοι ἐὰν ἀκούσωσιν πάντα τὰ δικαιώματα ταῦτα καὶ ἐροῦσιν Ἰδοὺ λαὸς σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων τὸ ἔθνος τὸ μέγα τοῦτο. †
➡︎ Deuteronomy 4:5-8 NETS
5 See, I have shown you statutes and ordinances, as the Lord has commanded me, to do so in the land into which you are entering there to inherit it. 6 And you shall keep and do them, because this is your wisdom and discernment before all the nations, as many as might hear all these statutes, and they will say, “Look, this great nation is a wise and understanding people!” 7 For what sort of great nation has a god for itself so near to them as the Lord our God is in everything whenever we invoke him? 8 And what sort of great nation has for itself statutes and righteous judgment in accord with all this law that I am giving before you today?
➡︎ Deuteronomy 4:5-8 ESV
5 See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
➡︎ Deuteronomy 4:6
6 וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֮ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֒ כִּ֣י הִ֤וא חָכְמַתְכֶם֙ וּבִ֣ינַתְכֶ֔ם לְעֵינֵ֖י הָעַמִּ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִשְׁמְע֗וּן אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַחֻקִּ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּהוְאָמְר֗וּ רַ֚ק עַם־חָכָ֣ם וְנָבֹ֔ון הַגֹּ֥וי הַגָּדֹ֖ול הַזֶּֽה׃
➡︎ Proverbs 1:2 LXX
2 γνῶναι σοφίαν καὶ παιδείαν
νοῆσαί τε λόγους φρονήσεως•••
Proverbs 1:5-7
5 τῶνδε γὰρ ἀκούσας σοφὸς σοφώτερος ἔσται, †
† ὁ δὲ νοήμων κυβέρνησιν κτήσεται
† 6 νοήσει τε παραβολὴν καὶ σκοτεινὸν λόγον
ῥήσεις τε σοφῶν καὶ αἰνίγματα.
7 Ἀρχὴ σοφίας φόβος θεοῦ, †
† σύνεσις δὲ ἀγαθὴ πᾶσι τοῖς ποιοῦσιν αὐτήν·
† εὐσέβεια δὲ εἰς θεὸν ἀρχὴ αἰσθήσεως,
† σοφίαν δὲ καὶ παιδείαν ἀσεβεῖς ἐξουθενήσουσιν.
†
➡︎ Proverbs 1:1-6 NETS
1 Proverbs of Salomon son of Dauid, who reigned in Israel:
2 To learn wisdom and discipline
and to understand words of prudence
3 and to grasp subtlety of words
and to understand true righteousness and to direct judgment
4 in order that he might give shrewdness to the innocent
and both perception and insight to the young child,
5 for by hearing these things the wise will become wiser
and the discerning will acquire direction,
6 and he will understand an illustration and an obscure word,
both the sayings and the riddles of the wise.
7 Beginning of wisdom (σοφίας) is fear of God,
and understanding is good for all those who practice it,
and piety unto God is the beginning of perception;
the impious, however, will despise wisdom and discipline.
➡︎ Proverbs 1:1-7 ESV
1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge (דעת);
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
➡︎ Proverbs 1:2-7
2 לָדַ֣עַת חָכְמָ֣ה וּמוּסָ֑ר לְ֝הָבִ֗ין אִמְרֵ֥י בִינָֽה׃
3 לָ֭קַחַת מוּסַ֣ר הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל צֶ֥דֶק וּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט וּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃
4 לָתֵ֣ת לִפְתָאיִ֣ם עָרְמָ֑ה לְ֝נַ֗עַר דַּ֣עַת וּמְזִמָּֽה׃
5 יִשְׁמַ֣ע חָ֭כָם וְיֹ֣וסֶף לֶ֑קַח וְ֝נָבֹ֗ון תַּחְבֻּלֹ֥ות יִקְנֶֽה׃
6 לְהָבִ֣ין מָ֭שָׁל וּמְלִיצָ֑ה דִּבְרֵ֥י חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים וְחִידֹתָֽם׃
7 יִרְאַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה רֵאשִׁ֣ית דָּ֑עַת חָכְמָ֥ה וּ֝מוּסָ֗ר אֱוִילִ֥ים בָּֽזוּ׃ פ
➡︎ σύνεσις Understanding
σύνεσις
G/K NUMBER: 5304 GLOSS understanding, insight; intelligence, the faculty of comprehension, often referring to wisdom and insight in spiritual matters
PARSING Noun, Dative, Feminine, Singular
➡︎ Exodus 31:3 LXX – once again, this verse is the first use of σύνεσις
3 καὶ ἐνέπλησα αὐτὸν πνεῦμα θεῖον σοφίας καὶ συνέσεως καὶ ἐπιστήμης ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ
➡︎ Exodus 31:1-5 NETS
1 And the Lord spoke to Moyses, saying: 2 Look, I have summoned by name Beseleel the son of Ouri son of Hor of the tribe of Ioudas, 3 and I have filled him with a divine spirit of skill and intelligence and knowledge in every work, 4 to be designing and to construct, to fashion the gold and the silver and the bronze and the blue and the purple and the spun scarlet and the twisted linen 5 and the stone works and for the works crafted from wood, to fashion according to all the works.
➡︎ Exodus 31:1-5 ESV
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.
➡︎ Exodus 31:3 BHS
3 וָאֲמַלֵּ֥א אֹתֹ֖ו ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֑ים בְּחָכְמָ֛ה וּבִתְבוּנָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכָל־מְלָאכָֽה׃
➡︎ Deuteronomy 4:6 LXX
6 καὶ φυλάξεσθε καὶ ποιήσετε, ὅτι αὕτη ἡ σοφία ὑμῶν καὶ ἡ σύνεσις ἐναντίον πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὅσοι ἐὰν ἀκούσωσιν πάντα τὰ δικαιώματα ταῦτα καὶ ἐροῦσιν Ἰδοὺ λαὸς σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων τὸ ἔθνος τὸ μέγα τοῦτο. †
➡︎ Deuteronomy 4:5-8 NETS
5 See, I have shown you statutes and ordinances, as the Lord has commanded me, to do so in the land into which you are entering there to inherit it. 6 And you shall keep and do them, because this is your wisdom and discernment before all the nations, as many as might hear all these statutes, and they will say, “Look, this great nation is a wise and understanding people!” 7 For what sort of great nation has a god for itself so near to them as the Lord our God is in everything whenever we invoke him? 8 And what sort of great nation has for itself statutes and righteous judgment in accord with all this law that I am giving before you today?
➡︎ Deuteronomy 4:5-8 ESV
5 See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
➡︎ Deuteronomy 4:6
6 וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֮ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֒ כִּ֣י הִ֤וא חָכְמַתְכֶם֙ וּבִ֣ינַתְכֶ֔ם לְעֵינֵ֖י הָעַמִּ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִשְׁמְע֗וּן אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַחֻקִּ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּהוְאָמְר֗וּ רַ֚ק עַם־חָכָ֣ם וְנָבֹ֔ון הַגֹּ֥וי הַגָּדֹ֖ול הַזֶּֽה׃
➡︎ Proverbs 1:7 LXX
7 Ἀρχὴ σοφίας φόβος θεοῦ, †
† σύνεσις δὲ ἀγαθὴ πᾶσι τοῖς ποιοῦσιν αὐτήν·
† εὐσέβεια δὲ εἰς θεὸν ἀρχὴ αἰσθήσεως,
† σοφίαν δὲ καὶ παιδείαν ἀσεβεῖς ἐξουθενήσουσιν.
†
➡︎ Proverbs 1:7 NETS
7 Beginning of wisdom is fear of God,
and understanding is good for all those who practice it,
and piety unto God is the beginning of perception;
the impious, however, will despise wisdom and discipline.
➡︎ Proverbs 1:7 ESV
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
➡︎ Proverbs 1:7
7 יִרְאַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה רֵאשִׁ֣ית דָּ֑עַת חָכְמָ֥ה וּ֝מוּסָ֗ר אֱוִילִ֥ים בָּֽזוּ׃ פ
NOTE THAT “UNDERSTANDING” is not in this verse in Hebrew or English translated from Hebrew••• thus, we will look at one more example, which will be Isaiah 11:2, which we saw in our original six verses:
➡︎ Isaiah 11:2 LXX
2 καὶ ἀναπαύσεται ἐπʼ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα τοῦ θεοῦ, πνεῦμα σοφίας καὶ συνέσεως, πνεῦμα βουλῆς καὶ ἰσχύος, πνεῦμα γνώσεως καὶ εὐσεβείας· †
➡︎ Isaiah 11:1-5
1 And a rod shall come out of the root of Iessai,
and a blossom shall come up out of his root.
➡︎ 2 And the spirit of God shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and godliness.
3 The spirit of the fear of God will fill him.
He shall not judge on the basis of repute
or convict on the basis of report,
4 but he shall administer justice to a humble one
and convict the humble ones of the earth,
and he shall strike the earth with the word of his mouth,
and with breath through his lips he shall do away with the impious.
5 He shall be girded with righteousness around the waist
and bound with truth around the sides.
➡︎ Isaiah 11:1-5 ESV
1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
➡︎ 2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
➡︎ Isaiah 11:2
2 וְנָחָ֥ה עָלָ֖יו ר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֑ה ר֧וּחַ חָכְמָ֣ה וּבִינָ֗ה ר֤וּחַ עֵצָה֙ וּגְבוּרָ֔ה ר֥וּחַ דַּ֖עַת וְיִרְאַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃
▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎
I encourage you to read a brief history of the Septuagint in the Encyclopedia Britannica. If you will simply glean that the Septuagint was written in the third and second centuries Before the Common Era (BCE/BC), you will see why some authorities seek information from the Septuagint. I use it mostly to make connections between the Greek in the B’rit Hadashah (BH – “New Testament”) and the Hebrew in the TaNaKh (TNK – “Old Testament”). For those who have read the website from the beginning, I generally refer to the Greek Scripture (HS=BH) and the Hebrew Scripture (HS=TNK).
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Septuagint
Our current Hebrew text is what was created by the Masoretes between the sixth and tenth centuries Common Era (CE/AD).
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Masoretic-text
I am making no judgment about authenticity of either document, simply sharing information.
A few examples of different English versions of one of our initial verses:
⦁ Proverbs 14:6 NETS
6 You may seek wisdom with evil men and will not find it,
but perception is easily available among the clever.
⦁ Proverbs 14:6 ESV
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
⦁ Proverbs 14:6 NASB
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and (finds) none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.
⦁ Proverbs 14:6 NKJV
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not (find it),
But knowledge (is) easy to him who understands.
⦁ Proverbs 14:6 LITV
6 A scorner seeks wisdom, but finds it not, yet knowledge is swift to the discerning.
⦁ Proverbs 14:6 NIV
6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
⦁ Proverbs 14:6 Darby
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none [for him]; but knowledge is easy unto the intelligent.
⦁ Proverbs 14:6 Young’s
6 A scorner hath sought wisdom, and it is not, And knowledge to the intelligent [is] easy.
⦁ Proverbs 14:6 JPS Tanakh
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; but knowledge is easy unto him that hath discernment.
⦁ Proverbs 14:6 KJV
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and (findeth it) not:
but knowledge (is) easy unto him that understandeth.
⦁ Proverbs 14:6 CJB
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge comes easily to someone with discernment.
This has been quite enough for today. I hope, at least, it has made you more aware of not being so adamant (or stiff-necked as discussed in the last entry) that you lose a friend or there is a church split over such things. I’m sure I’m leaving you a little unsettled at the moment. Hopefully you are unsettled enough not to be adamant and to want to know more, but not so unsettled that you feel like giving up.
In the next entry, I will go to our resource we have been using most, in recent entries, the Etymological Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew, to see if you can become a little more settled. The other thing that I hope you gleaned from today’s exercise is that all three words seem to be quite important in the eyes of God’s Word.
Next time we will focus on the Hebrew of the first entry of the three words together:
Proverbs 2:6
➡︎ 6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
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