(Part 1)

JBTM Daniel I. Block
69
Of all the expressions concentrated in this text, “wisdom” (ḥokmâ) deserves a brief
comment. The verb, ḥākam, “to be wise occurs 26 times in the Hebrew Bible, and the
adjective/noun, ḥākām, “wise, wise person,” occurs 135 times, though to this number we
should add the Aramaic counterpart ḥakkîn, “wise men,” which occurs 14 times in the
Aramaic of Daniel, and refers to the college of magicians and soothsayers to whom people
go for the interpretation of dreams. The abstract noun, ḥokmâ, “wisdom,” occurs 151
times (4 of which are plural).
However, this is an interesting word with a considerable range of meanings (Fig. 1)
Good sense
Moral understanding
Understanding the profound issues
of life and death
Intelligence
Shrewdness
Skill in a craft
Technical expertise
Figure 1:
The Semantic Range of ḥokmâ̂
1. Skill in a craft
Fundamentally ḥokmâ, “wisdom,” denotes the skill of an artisan. The range of application
is wide: skill in a craft (Bezalel, Exod 35:10; 30–35); metal working talent (2 Kgs 7:14, brass;
Jer 10:9, gold); expertise in lamenting (Jer 9:17); dream interpretation, professionals skilled
in the reading of the signs and in the manipulation of deity. (Gen 41:8; Exod 7:11; Isa 44:25;
47:9–12; Esth 1:3).
2. Intelligence, Shrewdness
These appear in several sub-types, positive academic wisdom, and negative scheming,
cunning. First Kings 4:29–34 [Heb 5:9–14] presents Solomon as a master of the first kind,
which he demonstrated by organizing observable data of the world in lists and categories
(cf. Prov 30:15–33). His opposite is a stupid person, who is like the ostrich in Job 39:15, 17.
The second kind of wisdom is represented by Pharaoh who plotted to get rid of the Hebrew
children (Exod 1:10), and David, with his counsel to Solomon to plot the death of Joab (1
Kgs 2:6, 9).