It is time to bring the discussion on wisdom, knowledge, and understanding (WKU) to a close. Not that it is complete by any means, but I’m not certain that we will ever come to any definitive conclusions here. I encourage you to continue to look at scripture and discover for yourself. Know that I have looked at over 400 different passages in scripture as relates to this topic. I am certainly more knowledgeable than I was before but I don’t know that I have a complete understanding by any means, and wisdom is of course a long stretch.
Did I somehow prioritize these words in that last sentence? Perhaps you can take it that way. I’m not sure it is necessarily a correct priority. But we will delve into some of the different nuances.
One of the first things that I have noted in studying passages about this topic is that there are other frequently occurring words that we need to address. Also I will share with you a few of the passages that really struck me. I will not share with you anywhere near all the ones that discuss wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. (Breathe a sigh of relief••• not a really long one.)
You, as the reader, may think it odd that I begin here. Hopefully, it will soon become clear why. This passage from the GS has none of our words in it. But if you recall that Paul was a “Pharisee of Pharisees” (Acts 23:6), and know this would mean he likely had the Hebrew Scriptures memorized and would be referring to them continually in his teaching, you would know to look for the Hebrew connections.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
g4336. προσεύχομαι proseuchomai ➔ h6419. פָּלַל p̱âlal
p.202 mediate; bring together;; CM integrate disparate elements (B30)
g0089. ἀδιαλείπτως adialeiptōs; from g3007. λείπω leipō ➔ h6504. פָּרַד p̱âraḏ p.206 פרדsever; split off voluntarily;; CM פרד separate/highlight (B38)
I am taking this slowly, in a stepwise fashion, so all can follow. My apologies to those far advanced. The next step is to look at a verse (verse 20 below) that has raised questions in my mind for years. (See early on in LogAndSpeck, techniques used in Scripture that make us “wonder,” which should lead us to dig deeper.) One of my recent gleanings has been helpful, which I want to share. That will lead us more directly to WKU. This Hebrew word is most often translated as “fear.” A form of this word appears often in the WKU context.
Strong’s listing, which shows the KJV has 314 occurrences of this word, and common interpretations:
h3372. יָרֵא yârê’; a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten: — affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), x see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).
AV (314) – fear 188, afraid 78, terrible 23, terrible thing 6, dreadful 5, reverence 3, fearful 2, terrible acts 1, misc 8;
Exodus 20:18-21 – (The People Afraid of God’s Presence) NKJV
18 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” 20 And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.
Exodus 20:20
20 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֣ה אֶל־הָעָם֮ אַל־תִּירָאוּ֒ כִּ֗י לְבַֽעֲבוּר֙ נַסֹּ֣ות אֶתְכֶ֔ם בָּ֖א הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וּבַעֲב֗וּר תִּהְיֶ֧ה יִרְאָתֹ֛ ועַל־פְּנֵיכֶ֖ם לְבִלְתִּ֥י תֶחֱטָֽאוּ׃
Both times NKJV uses the English “fear,” but it should make one pause and question. Why would Moses say first do not fear, and in the same sentence say the purpose is to fear? Notice the two words in Hebrew. Both are listed in the BDB and Strong’s reference as h3372. יָרֵא yârê’. Indeed the root for both is very possibly the same, ירא, but if we get our deeper understanding by looking a little further, including bringing in some meaning for the Tav, it may open up some other possibilities.
יראת ➔ look at יר + את
GV p.61 הרר isolate [protrude]; p.61 הרה implant [and absorb seed]; p.110 ירה cast [shoot]; p.110 ירא fear [call to constant attention]; ¿ p.150 נהר stream forth ?
CM הרר and אהר isolate (A54); הרה absorb/expel (A51); ירה and ירא limit activity (C40); נהר discharge smoothly/violently (D61)
+
GV p.19 אתת cut [penetrate]; p.19 אתה come [to someone]; p.6 אות communicate [project symbol to one’s intelligence]
CM אתת pierce (A31); אתה retain/relinquish (A57); אות constrain by external force (A2)
I have underlined what seems to me most appropriate to me when talking about God/יהוה – as a clear reminder to constantly keep our focus on God (in all our daily decisions, large and small). But look at all the words; be your own interpreter. Don’t take my word for it.
ת – mark, sign or signature
ת – The symbol of truth and perfection
If you have a means of looking up all the times יראת appears, you will see patterns, which, to me, reinforce this meaning of a very focused, constant attention. By far, the majority of the occurrences of יראת are positive and speak of the “fear of” אלוהים, יהוה, or אדני – YHWH, God, or Lord/my Lord. Of the 54 occurrences of יראת, in the software I have available, 42 are speaking of the One God, in the various ways denoted. There are negative occurrences, two examples below:
Genesis 31:31 BHS
31 וַיַּ֥עַן יַעֲקֹ֖ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְלָבָ֑ן כִּ֣י יָרֵ֔אתִי כִּ֣י אָמַ֔רְתִּי פֶּן־תִּגְזֹ֥ל אֶת־בְּנוֹתֶ֖יךָ מֵעִמִּֽי׃
Genesis 31:31
31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’
“I had a constant focus of attention on ‘me, me, me’”
1 Samuel 15:24 BHS
24 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֤וּל אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל֙ חָטָ֔אתִי כִּֽי־עָבַ֥רְתִּי אֶת־פִּֽי־יְהוָ֖ה וְאֶת־דְּבָרֶ֑יךָ כִּ֤י יָרֵ֨אתִי֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם וָאֶשְׁמַ֖עבְּקוֹלָֽם׃
1 Samuel 15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
“I was constantly focused on the people”
Does this help explain the 1 Thessalonians passage above? If we are “praying without ceasing,” we are constantly focused on bringing ourselves closer to God,” and we will be less focused on ourselves, which seems to be one of our world’s biggest issues, self-focus.
OK, so remember this word יראת when you read a passage talking about “the ‘fear’ of the Lord, the ‘fear’ of God, the ‘fear’ of YHWH, the ‘fear’ of the Almighty. And this brings us to some critical passages in our WKU discussion.
● Proverbs 1:7 BHS
7 יִרְאַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה רֵאשִׁ֣ית דָּ֑עַת חָכְמָ֥ה וּ֝מוּסָ֗ר אֱוִילִ֥ים בָּֽזוּ׃ פ
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD (is) the beginning of knowledge (h1847. דַּעַת ḏa‘aṯ),
(But) fools despise wisdom (h2451. חָכְמָה ḥâḵemâ) and instruction (h4148. מוּסָר mûsâr).
Proverbs 9:10
10 תְּחִלַּ֣ת חָ֭כְמָה יִרְאַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה וְדַ֖עַת קְדֹשִׁ֣ים בִּינָֽה׃
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD (is) the beginning of wisdom (h2451. חָכְמָה ḥâḵemâ),
And the knowledge (h1847. דַּעַת ḏa‘aṯ) of the Holy One (is) understanding (h0998. בִּינָהḇiynâ).
Psalms 111:10
10 רֵ֘אשִׁ֤ית חָכְמָ֨ה ׀ יִרְאַ֬ת יְהוָ֗ה שֵׂ֣כֶל טֹ֖וב לְכָל־עֹשֵׂיהֶ֑ם תְּ֝הִלָּתֹ֗ו עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃
Psalms 111:9-10
9 He has sent redemption to His people;
He has commanded (h6680. צָוָה ṣâwâ) His covenant (h1285. בְּרִית ḇerîyṯ) forever:
Holy and awesome is His name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (h2451. חָכְמָה ḥâḵemâ);
A good understanding (h7922. שֶׂכֶל śeḵel) have all those who do (His commandments).
His praise endures forever.
Job 28:28
28 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר ׀ לָֽאָדָ֗ם הֵ֤ן יִרְאַ֣ת אֲ֭דֹנָי הִ֣יא חָכְמָ֑ה וְס֖וּר מֵרָ֣ע בִּינָֽה׃ ס
Job 28:28 And to man He said,
‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that (is) wisdom (h2451. חָכְמָה ḥâḵemâ),
And to depart from evil (is) understanding (h0998. בִּינָה ḇiynâ).’ ”
● Proverbs 1:7 above introduced another of the recurring words in our WKU investigation, h4148. מוּסָר mûsâr. Here interpreted as instruction, overall, perhaps the best interpretation is discipline.
h4148. מוּסָר mûsâr two ways to look at it:
p.299 –מ that which emanates from an object or person
+
p.106 יסר restrain; set limits
GV p.176 סרר rebel; p.176 סרה decay; p.169 סור separate [distance]; p.170 סיר contain [enclose and protect]; p.106 יסר restrain [set limits]
DV p.176 סרר rebel; p.176 סרה decay; p.169 סור separate [distance];p.106 יסר restrain [set limits] > p.14 אסר restrain; bind
DV סהר – p.176 סרר rebel; p.176 סרה decay; p.169 סור separate [distance];p.106 יסרlimit [restrain; set limits] > p.168 סהר encircle and enclose
CM סרר apply/withhold pressure (E34); סרה decay (E30); סור unity/separate (E14); סירengage in/block movement (E18); יסר expand/limit (C22); אסר limit and hold together (A28); סהר complete/limit (E10)
OR מוס + סר
p.137 מוס abandon; deny
GV p.141 מסס melt [dissolve]; p.141 מסה melt away; p.137 מוס abandon [deny]
DV המס – p.141 מסס melt [dissolve]; p.141 מסה melt away; p.137 מוס abandon [deny] > p.60 המס liquefy
DV מאס – p.141 מסס melt [dissolve]; p.141 מסה melt away; p.137 מוס abandon [deny] > p.135 despise; objectively find defect
CM מסס move slowly (B68); מסה melt away (B61); מוס forsake (B59); המס effect graduated change (A41); מאס act negatively (B50)
+
GV p.176 סרר rebel; p.176 סרה decay; p.169 סור separate [distance]; p.170 סיר contain [enclose and protect]; p.106 יסר restrain [set limits]
DV p.176 סרר rebel; p.176 סרה decay; p.169 סור separate [distance];p.106 יסר restrain [set limits] > p.14 אסר restrain; bind
DV סהר – p.176 סרר rebel; p.176 סרה decay; p.169 סור separate [distance];p.106 יסרlimit [restrain; set limits] > p.168 סהר encircle and enclose
CM סרר apply/withhold pressure (E34); סרה decay (E30); סור unity/separate (E14); סירengage in/block movement (E18); יסר expand/limit (C22); אסר limit and hold together (A28); סהר complete/limit (E10)
First use of h4148. מוּסָר mûsâr:
Deuteronomy 11:1-2 ESV
1 “You shall therefore love the LORD your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always. 2 And consider today (since I am not speaking to your children who have not known or seen it), consider the discipline (h4148. מוּסָר mûsâr) of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm,
// chastening in NKJV //
Not too much interest in discipline these days. Might be why we are short of good leaders. Discipline brings humility, a highly-favored quality to God.
Proverbs 15:33 The fear (יִֽרְאַ֣ת) of the LORD is the instruction (h4148. מוּסָר mûsâr) of wisdom (h2451. חָכְמָה ḥâḵemâ),
And before honor (h3519. כָּבוֹד ḵâḇôḏ) is humility (h6038. עֲנָוָה ‘ănâwâ).
When we learn wisdom, we learn to abandon/deny our rebellious nature. We learn to control our emotions. We learn self-discipline.
I encourage everyone to read this very short children’s book. Pictured is the village wise man, teaching some “other-focus” to a villager. Image by Caldecott medalist Simms Taback. The book: Too Much Noise by Ann McGovern.
Proverbs 1:1-7
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom (h2451. חָכְמָה ḥâḵemâ) and instruction (h4148. מוּסָר mûsâr),
To perceive (h0995. בִּין ḇiyn) the words of understanding (h0998. בִּינָה ḇiynâ), ,
3 To receive the instruction (h4148. מוּסָר mûsâr) of wisdom (h7919. שָׂכַל śâḵal),
Justice, judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence (h6195. עָרְמָה ‘ormâ) to the simple,
To the young man knowledge (h1847. דַּעַת ḏa‘aṯ) and discretion (h4209. מְזִמָּה mezimâ)—
5 A wise (h2450. חָכָם ḥâḵâm) man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding (h0995. בִּין ḇiyn) will attain wise counsel,
6 To understand (h0995. בִּין ḇiyn) a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise (h2450. חָכָם ḥâḵâm) and their riddles.
7 The fear of the LORD (is) the beginning of knowledge (h1847. דַּעַת ḏa‘aṯ),
(But) fools despise wisdom (h2451. חָכְמָה ḥâḵemâ) and instruction (h4148. מוּסָר mûsâr).
Other recurring words are seen here: h6195. עָרְמָה ‘ormâ is often translated as cunning, same root describing the serpent in Genesis 3:1, and the Septuagint word there (g5429. φρόνιμος phronimos) is used in – Matthew 10:16
(Persecutions Are Coming) – NKJV
16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Discretion, h4209. מְזִמָּה mezimâ, can be positive or negative, as we often see, but here obviously more positive, which is most of planning or having purpose (can be scheming).
I’ll just share a few more that really spoke to me, and leave you to your thoughts.
It seems that we as people can be a part of the “message” to teach wisdom to others:
Psalms 105:16-22
16 Moreover He called for a famine in the land;
He destroyed all the provision of bread.
17 He sent a man before them—
Joseph—who was sold as a slave.
18 They hurt his feet with fetters,
He was laid in irons.
19 Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the LORD tested him.
20 The king sent and released him,
The ruler of the people let him go free.
21 He made him lord of his house,
And ruler of all his possessions,
22 To bind his princes at his pleasure,
And teach his elders wisdom (h2449. חָכַם ḥâḵam piel: make wise; teach).
Heart, h3824. לֵבָב lêḇâḇ and h3820. לֵב lēḇ, come up a lot, especially with wisdom and understanding.
Psalms 90:12
12 So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart (h3824. לֵבָב lêḇâḇ) of wisdom (h2451. חָכְמָה ḥâḵemâ).
Proverbs 20:5
5 Counsel in the heart (h3824. לֵבָב lêḇâḇ) of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding (h8394. תָּבוּן ṯâḇûn) will draw it out.
Here h3820. לֵב lēḇ is even translated as wisdom.
Proverbs 19:8 NKJV
8 He who gets wisdom (h3820. לֵב lēḇ) loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding (h8394. תָּבוּן ṯâḇûn) will find good.
Job has some of my favorites:
In this one, Job, bereft and ill, is in a very dependent state, and the young man, Elihu is trying to make a point to Job and his friends who have been little support. In these chapters, it is easy to see that Elihu is speaking for God, as his name implies:
Job 33:32-33
32 If you have anything to say, answer me;
Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, listen to me;
Hold your peace, and I will teach (h0502. אָלַף ’âlap̱) you wisdom (h2451. חָכְמָה ḥâḵemâ).”
p.10 אלף receive from others; lack independence;; אלף impact on others (A36)
We learn wisdom when we know pain and dependence, our own or in those that we know and love.
Job 32:6-8
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
7 I said, ‘Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit רֽוּחַ in man בֶאֱנֹ֑ושׁ,
And the breath נִשְׁמַ֖ת of the Almighty שַׁדַּי gives him understanding (h0995. בִּין ḇiyn).
אֱנֹ֑ושׁ is a common word for humankind, but it is not “the strong man;” it is:
From p.13 of EDBH
נִשְׁמַ֖ת is what the LORD God breathed into our nostrils in Genesis 2:7.
It is not that God’s spirit is not always speaking to us, but often only in our frailty can we hear. And when we gain understanding and wisdom.
One last thought, to add into the mix, as I don’t think knowledge got an equal presentation here. Recall something we have looked at before, p.299 “In addition, words that contain similar consonants have similar meanings irrespective of the order of the consonants.”
For knowledge, h1847. דַּעַת ḏa‘aṯ, there is actually root that we will call a “twin,” same consonants in a different order, that helped me.
p.195 עתד prepare thoroughly;; CM עתד pervade (A30) [אטד penetrate]
Recall our first verse in the look at WKU, Proverbs 1:7
7 The fear of the LORD (is) the beginning of knowledge (h1847. דַּעַת ḏa‘aṯ),
(But) fools despise wisdom (h2451. חָכְמָה ḥâḵemâ) and instruction (h4148. מוּסָר mûsâr).
Constantly focusing our attention on the LORD is the beginning of our preparation to know the LORD (our purpose in this life). Part of that constant focus is the study of God’s Word.
This image is a gift from a dear friend when I left one of the many places I have dwelt. The inscription says “copyright pending, 1995, Rab Nat Lehrer.” Not certain if this is same as the beloved Rab Nathan Lehrer that was the mentor and friend of our beloved mentor and friend.
One final verse, as we desire stability in a time of turmoil.
Isaiah 33:6 וְהָיָה֙ אֱמוּנַ֣ת עִתֶּ֔יךָ חֹ֥סֶן יְשׁוּעֹ֖ת חָכְמַ֣ת וָדָ֑עַת יִרְאַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה הִ֥יא אוֹצָרֹֽו׃ ס
Isaiah 33:6 NKJV
6 Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times,
And the strength of salvation;
The fear of the LORD is His treasure.
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