חָכָם

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.