Word studies · Hebrew · Strong's H2451
חׇכְמָה · chokmâh · appears 153 times in the Old Testament
In one line: Skill in living well, under the fear of the LORD.
And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,
Exodus 31:3
Chokmah is wisdom — skill in living well, as practical as a craftsman's hands and as deep as the fear of the LORD.
Chokmah names the skill of artisans building the tabernacle, the shrewdness of good government, and above all the art of living rightly under God that Proverbs teaches. Proverbs personifies her as a woman calling in the street, present with God at creation.
Chokmah comes from chakam, “to be wise,” and its earliest uses are technical rather than philosophical — the wisdom of weavers, metalworkers and sailors. Hebrew treats wisdom as competence, know-how applied to material, before it applies the same word to a life.
Greek wisdom tends toward contemplation; Hebrew wisdom is a hand skill. Exodus calls the tabernacle craftsmen “wise of heart,” which tells you the category — wisdom is what you can actually do well, not merely what you understand.
Chokmah (H2451) appears 143 times in the Hebrew Bible, and Exodus 31:3 uses it for a craftsman's skill in gold, silver and stone.
Rooting wisdom in the fear of the LORD makes competence answerable to reverence: skill without it becomes mere cleverness, which Proverbs treats as folly. The New Testament carries the personification forward, presenting Christ as the wisdom of God and the one in whom its treasures are hidden.
Treat one practical decision this week as a matter of wisdom rather than preference — schedule, money, or speech. Ask what a skilled, God-fearing person would actually do, and do that.
wisdom (in a good sense)
You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make garments for Aaron’s consecration, so that he may serve Me as priest.
Exodus 28:3Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
Deuteronomy 4:6Joab your servant has done this to bring about this change of affairs, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that happens in the land.”
2 Samuel 14:20So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.
1 Kings 2:6The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the service of the house of God, and every willing man of every skill will be at your disposal for the work. The officials and all the people are fully at your command.”
1 Chronicles 28:21Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
2 Chronicles 1:10Press and hold wisdom in any chapter and this study opens on the verse you are reading, with the lexicons, every occurrence and the commentaries beside it. The Bible is free to read.
Scripture quoted from the Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Strong's definitions are public domain. Counts come from The Pillar's own tagged text.