Question 1

What does "Wisdom" mean in the King James Bible?

Accepted Answer

In the KJV, "Wisdom" means "intelligence." The craftsmanship metaphor. Chokmah was the word used for Bezalel's artistry in building the tabernacle -- skilled hands creating something beautiful and functional. Wisdom was not head knowledge but life mastery, the skill of a master craftsman applied to the raw material of daily existence.

Question 2

Why did the word "Wisdom" disappear from modern English?

Accepted Answer

Hebrew chokmah ('skilled living/masterful craftsmanship of life') reduced to 'being smart about things.' Wisdom became intellectual knowledge rather than embodied skill at living well. The word was at peak usage around 1611 and declined by still used but intellectualized (~1800).

Question 3

What modern word replaced "Wisdom"?

Accepted Answer

"Wisdom" was replaced by: "intelligence" (though this cognitive capacity; chokmah was practical life-skill -- the same word described artisans who built the tabernacle); "knowledge" (though this information possession; wisdom was the ability to apply understanding to the craft of daily living); "good judgment" (though this decision-making faculty; chokmah was a comprehensive art of living that included relationships, work, worship, and community).

What Does “Wisdom” Mean in the Bible?

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