Lexical Definition

‎חָכָם‎ châkâm (khaw-kawm') wise ^H:A
from ‎חָכַם‎

cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man).

• wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)

1) wise, wise (man)
1a) skilful (in technical work)
1b) wise (in administration)
1c) shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle
1d) learned, shrewd (class of men)
1e) prudent
1f) wise (ethically and religiously)

See Greek: ἀληθής · κατασοφίζομαι · πανοῦργος · σοφίζω · σοφός · σοφός · σοφός · συνετός · συνετός · φρονέω · φρόνιμος

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎חָכָם‎ adjective wise, ‎׳‎‎ח‎ Deut 4:6 + 67 t.; construct ‎חֲכַם‎ Isa 3:3 + 9 t.; plural ‎חֲכָמִים‎ Deut 1:13 + 39 t.; construct ‎חַכְמֵי‎ Exod 28:3 + 4 t.; suffix ‎חֲכָמֶיךָ‎ Isa 19:12 etc. + 8 t.; feminine ‎חֲכָמָה‎ 2Sam 14:2; 2Sam 20:16 construct ‎חַכְמַת‎ Exod 35:25 plural ‎חֲכָמוֺת‎ Jer 9:16* construct ‎חַכְמוֺת‎ Judg 5:29; Prov 14:1(but read ‎חָכְמוֺת‎ De) —

1. skilful in technical work; artificers Isa 3:3 sailors Ezek 27:8, so (probably) vEzek 27:9 mourning women Jer 9:16* artisans of tabernacle and temple and their furniture Exod 28:3; Exod 31:6; Exod 35:10; Exod 36:1; Exod 36:2; Exod 36:4; Exod 36:8 (P), 1Chr 22:15; 2Chr 2:6*; 2Chr 2:12*; 2Chr 2:13* (twice in verse); women in spinning Exod 35:25 (P); goldsmiths and other artisans Jer 10:9 makers of idol-images Isa 40:20.

2. wise in the administration of affairs: Joseph in Egypt Gen 41:33; Gen 41:39 (E); heads of tribes Deut 1:13; Deut 1:15; Judg 16:19 David 2Sam 14:20, of Solomon 1Kgs 2:9; 1Kgs 3:12; 1Kgs 5:21* = 2Chr 2:11* the prince of Tyre, in satire Ezek 28:3 of kings in general Prov 20:26 class of political advisers of Judah Isa 29:14; Jer 18:18, apparently also Isa 5:21 of Egypt Isa 19:11 (twice in verse); Isa 19:12, Edom Obad 1:8, the nations Jer 10:7 so of God Isa 31:2.

3. shrewd, crafty, cunning: Jonadab 2Sam 13:3 the princesses Judg 5:29 ‎אשׁה חכמה‎ wise woman 2Sam 14:2; 2Sam 20:16 generally, Jer 9:22* intelligent animals Prov 30:24 ‎בערמם‎ ‎׳‎‎לכד ח‎ taking the cunning in their craft Job 5:13 ‎חכם בעיני‎ wise in one's own eyes Prov 3:7; Prov 26:5; Prov 26:12; Prov 26:16; Prov 28:11 ‎חכמי לב‎ wise of mind (in their own mind) Job 37:24.

4. plural class of learned and shrewd men, including astrologers, magicians and the like, of Egypt Gen 41:8 (E), Exod 7:11 (P; compare Isa 19:11 (twice in verse); Isa 19:12); Babylon Isa 44:25; Jer 50:35; Jer 51:57 Persia Esth 1:13; Esth 6:13.

5. prudent, towards king Prov 16:14 in controversies Prov 11:29; Prov 29:8; Prov 29:9; Prov 29:11 religious affairs Hos 13:13; Hos 14:10*; Jer 4:22; Jer 8:8; Jer 8:9; Deut 4:6; Deut 32:6; Ps 107:43 ‎אישׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎ח‎ Jer 9:11*.

6. wise, ethically and religiously,. in Wisdom Literature:
a. as adjective, ‎חֲכַם לֵב‎ wise of mind Prov 10:8; Prov 16:21 ‎לֵב חָכָם‎ Eccl 8:5 of the son Prov 10:1 = Prov 15:20; Prov 13:1; Prov 23:24; Eccl 2:19 ‎׳‎‎ילד ח‎ Eccl 4:13 wise boy; ‎׳‎‎גבר ח‎ Job 34:34 wise man; ‎׳‎‎מוכיח ח‎ wise reprover Prov 25:12.
b. = substantive: (1) as a wise learner in school of wisdom, he fears God and departs from evil Prov 14:16 is silent Prov 17:28 hearkens to counsel Prov 12:15 hears and increases in learning Prov 1:5 his ear seeketh knowledge Prov 18:15 he receives it Prov 21:11 and stores it up Prov 10:14 his ears hearken to the reproof which giveth life Prov 15:31 and he becomes wiser through it Prov 9:8; Prov 9:9. (2) as a wise teacher, a sage, he does not answer with windy knowledge Job 15:2 he tells the experience of the past Job 15:48 has knowledge Job 34:2 teaches it Eccl 12:9 disperses it Prov 15:7 his tongue is health Prov 12:18 it utters knowledge aright Prov 15:2 his mind instructs his mouth and adds learning to his lips Prov 16:23 his words are gracious Eccl 10:12 it is good to hear his rebuke Eccl 7:5 his instruction is a fountain of life Prov 13:14 one walking with him becomes wiser Prov 13:20. The ‎חכמים‎ recall the Greek σόφοι, having their schools, pupils (‎בֵן‎), discipline (‎מוּסָר‎), principles and collections of wisdom, ‎דברי‎ ‎חכמים‎ Prov 1:6; Prov 22:17 (compare Prov 24:23), Eccl 9:17; Eccl 12:11 God himself is ‎חכם לבב‎ Job 9:4. (3) the wise are prosperous: true, in sceptical view of Ecclesiastes, they have no advantage over the fool Eccl 6:8 but die as the fool Eccl 2:16 (twice in verse); Ps 49:11* they will not be able to find the works of God Eccl 8:17 like others are in the hands of God Eccl 9:1 they do not secure bread Eccl 9:11 but elsewhere reverse is true: precious treasure is in his dwelling Prov 21:20 his lips preserve him Prov 14:3 they inherit glory Prov 3:35 wealth is their crown Prov 14:24 the wise man is strong Prov 24:5; Eccl 7:19 his eyes are in his head Eccl 2:14 his mind is at his right hand Eccl 10:2 he interprets things Eccl 8:1 (4) the wise man is a blessing to others: he wins men Prov 11:30 scales the city of the mighty Prov 21:22 though poor he delivers the city Eccl 9:15 is a reproof to scorners Prov 15:12 his mind is in the house of mourning Eccl 7:4 injustice makes him foolish Eccl 7:7 Job finds no wise men among his cruel friends Job 17:10.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References