Original Word: חָכָם
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: chakam
Pronunciation: khaw-KAHM
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-kawm')
Definition: Wise, skillful, learned
Meaning: wise

Word Origin: Derived from the root חָכַם (chakam), meaning "to be wise" or "to become wise."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G4680 (σοφός, sophos): Often used in the New Testament to describe wisdom, particularly in the context of spiritual and moral insight.

Usage: The Hebrew word "chakam" primarily denotes wisdom, skill, or expertise. It is used to describe individuals who possess wisdom in various contexts, including practical skills, moral insight, and intellectual understanding. In the Old Testament, "chakam" often refers to those who are wise in heart, possessing a deep understanding of God's ways and the ability to apply knowledge effectively in life.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, wisdom was highly valued and considered a divine gift. The concept of wisdom encompassed not only intellectual knowledge but also practical skills and moral discernment. Wisdom literature, such as Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job, reflects the importance of living wisely according to God's principles. The wise person, or "chakam," was often seen as a leader or advisor, someone who could guide others in making righteous decisions.

Word Origin
from chakam
Definition
wise
NASB Translation
expert (1), men who are skillful (1), sage (1), shrewd (2), skilled (2), skilled men (3), skilled men and with those (1), skilled* (1), skillful (1), skillful man* (1), skillful men (1), skillful men* (1), skillful persons* (1), skillful* (3), unwise* (1), wailing women (1), who (1), who are wise (1), wise (64), wise man (21), wise man's (2), wise men (22), wise son (1), wisehearted (1), wiser (2), wisest (1).

חָכָם adjective wise, ׳ח Deuteronomy 4:6 67t.; construct חֲכַם Isaiah 3:3 9t.; plural חֲכָמִים Deuteronomy 1:13 39t.; construct חַכְמֵי Exodus 28:3 4t.; suffix חֲכָמֶיךָ Isaiah 19:12 etc. + 8 t.; feminine חֲכָמָה 2 Samuel 14:2; 2 Samuel 20:16; construct חַכְמַת Exodus 35:25; plural חֲכָמוֺת Jeremiah 9:16; construct חַכְמוֺת Judges 5:29; Proverbs 14:1(but read חָכְמוֺת De) —

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

2 wise in the administration of affairs: Joseph in Egypt Genesis 41:33,39 (E); heads of tribes Deuteronomy 1:13,15; Judges 16:19; David 2 Samuel 14:20, of Solomon 1 Kings 2:9; 1 Kings 3:12; 1 Kings 5:21 2Chron 2:11; the prince of Tyre, in satire Ezekiel 28:3; of kings in General Proverbs 20:26; class of political advisers of Judah Isaiah 29:14; Jeremiah 18:18, apparently also Isaiah 5:21; of Egypt Isaiah 19:11 (twice in verse); Isaiah 19:12, Edom Obadiah 8, the nations Jeremiah 10:7; so of God Isaiah 31:2.

3 shrewd, crafty, cunning: Jonadab 2 Samuel 13:3; the princesses Judges 5:29; אשׁה חכמה wise woman 2 Samuel 14:2; 2 Samuel 20:16; Generally, Jeremiah 9:22; intelligent animals Proverbs 30:24; בערמם ׳לכד ח taking the cunning in their craft Job 5:13; חכם בעיני wise in one's own eyes Proverbs 3:7; Proverbs 26:5,12,16; Proverbs 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 Genesis 41:8 (E), Exodus 7:11 (P; compare Isaiah 19:11 (twice in verse); Isaiah 19:12); Babylon Isaiah 44:25; Jeremiah 50:35; Jeremiah 51:57; Persia Esther 1:13; Esther 6:13.

5 prudent, towards king Proverbs 16:14; in controversies Proverbs 11:29; Proverbs 29:8,9,11; religious affairs Hosea 13:13; Hosea 14:10; Jeremiah 4:22; Jeremiah 8:8,9; Deuteronomy 4:6; Deuteronomy 32:6; Psalm 107:43; אישׁ ׳ח Jeremiah 9:11.

6 wise, ethically and religiously,. in Wisdom Literature:

a. as adjective, חֲכַם לֵב wise of mind Proverbs 10:8; Proverbs 16:21; לֵב חָכָם Ecclesiastes 8:5; of the son Proverbs 10:1 = Proverbs 15:20; Proverbs 13:1; Proverbs 23:24; Ecclesiastes 2:19; ׳ילד ח Ecclesiastes 4:13 wise boy; ׳גבר ח Job 34:34 wise man; ׳מוכיח ח wise reprover Proverbs 25:12.

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

cunning man, subtil, wisehearted,

From chakam; wise, (i.e. Intelligent, skilful or artful) -- cunning (man), subtil, ((un-)), wise((hearted), man).

see HEBREW chakam

הֶֽחָכָ֗ם הֶֽחָכָ֤ם הֶֽחָכָם֙ הֶחָכָ֖ם הַ֣חֲכָמִ֔ים הַֽחֲכָמִ֗ים הַחֲכָמ֥וֹת החכם החכמות החכמים וְ֝חָכָ֗ם וְֽחַכְמֵ֔י וְהַחֲכָמִ֛ים וְחָכָ֑ם וְחָכָ֖ם וַ֝חֲכָמִ֗ים וַחֲכַ֥ם וַחֲכָמֶ֙יהָ֙ וַחֲכָמֶ֜יהָ והחכמים וחכם וחכמי וחכמיה וחכמים חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים חֲ֭כָמִים חֲכַ֣ם חֲכַם־ חֲכָ֘מִ֤ים חֲכָמִ֑ים חֲכָמִ֔ים חֲכָמִ֖ים חֲכָמִ֛ים חֲכָמִ֣ים חֲכָמִ֥ים חֲכָמִ֧ים חֲכָמִים֙ חֲכָמֶ֑יהָ חֲכָמֶ֔יךָ חֲכָמֶֽיהָ׃ חֲכָמַ֤יִךְ חֲכָמָ֑ה חֲכָמָ֔יו חֲכָמָ֖ה חֲכָמָ֜יו חַכְמ֥וֹת חַכְמֵ֧י חַכְמֵי֙ חַכְמֵי־ חַכְמַת־ חָ֝כָ֗ם חָ֭כָם חָכָ֑ם חָכָ֔ם חָכָ֖ם חָכָ֗ם חָכָ֛ם חָכָ֡ם חָכָ֣ם חָכָ֥ם חָכָֽם׃ חָכָם֙ חכם חכם־ חכם׃ חכמה חכמות חכמי חכמי־ חכמיה חכמיה׃ חכמיו חכמיך חכמים חכמת־ כְּהֶ֣חָכָ֔ם כהחכם לְ֝חָכָ֗ם לְ֭חָכָם לֶחָכָ֑ם לֶחָכָ֖ם לֶחָכָ֛ם לַֽחֲכָמִ֑ים לַֽחֲכָמִ֖ים לַחֲכַם־ לַחֲכָמִ֖ים לַחֲכָמִ֥ים לחכם לחכם־ לחכמים מֵֽחָכָ֔ם מחכם chacham chachaMah chachaMav chachaMayich chachaMeicha chachaMeiha chachaMim chachmat chachmei chachMot Chachom ha·ḥă·ḵā·mîm ha·ḥă·ḵā·mō·wṯ ḥă·ḵā·ma·yiḵ ḥă·ḵā·māh ḥă·ḵā·māw ḥă·ḵā·me·hā ḥă·ḵā·me·ḵā ḥă·ḵā·mîm ḥă·ḵam ḥā·ḵām ḥă·ḵam- hachachaMim hachachaMot haḥăḵāmîm haḥăḵāmōwṯ ḥaḵ·maṯ- ḥaḵ·mê ḥaḵ·mê- ḥaḵ·mō·wṯ ḥăḵam ḥāḵām ḥăḵam- ḥăḵāmāh ḥăḵāmāw ḥăḵāmayiḵ ḥăḵāmehā ḥăḵāmeḵā ḥăḵāmîm ḥaḵmaṯ- ḥaḵmê ḥaḵmê- ḥaḵmōwṯ he·ḥā·ḵām hechaCham heḥāḵām kə·he·ḥā·ḵām keHechaCham kəheḥāḵām la·ḥă·ḵā·mîm la·ḥă·ḵam- lachacham lachachaMim laḥăḵam- laḥăḵāmîm le·ḥā·ḵām lə·ḥā·ḵām lechaCham Lechachom leḥāḵām ləḥāḵām mê·ḥā·ḵām mechaCham mêḥāḵām vachaCham vachachaMeiha vachachaMim vechaCham vechachMei vehachachaMim wa·ḥă·ḵā·me·hā wa·ḥă·ḵā·mîm wa·ḥă·ḵam waḥăḵam waḥăḵāmehā waḥăḵāmîm wə·ha·ḥă·ḵā·mîm wə·ḥā·ḵām wə·ḥaḵ·mê wəhaḥăḵāmîm wəḥāḵām wəḥaḵmêInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts