Hebrew word · Strong's H2451

חׇכְמָה

chokmâh · khok-maw' · noun · “wisdom”

In a sentence

Chokmah means wisdom — practical skill for living well, rooted in the fear of the LORD. It is what Proverbs urges us to seek above silver and gold.

Chokmah is wisdom — and not chiefly abstract intellect. In the Old Testament it is skill: skill at crafts (the artisans of the tabernacle had chokmah), skill at ruling, and supremely skill at life.

The book of Proverbs treats it as a way to walk and a treasure to acquire. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of chokmah”; Christ is later called “the wisdom (sophia) of God,” fulfilling Israel’s wisdom tradition.

Strong's reference

Definition: wisdom (in a good sense)

KJV usage: skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 3:13 “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,” Job 28:28 “And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’””

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.