Biblical Wisdom
Ex 31:1-6
1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
2 See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,
3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and
knowledge in all kinds of crafts —
4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,
5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of
craftsmanship.
6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to
help him.
According to Exodus 31:3, Bezalel was endowed “with wisdom (skill), ability (intelligence) and knowledge.” In the original Hebrew, these are three distinct mental qualities.
A man of wisdom
In the original Hebrew, these are three distinct mental qualities. The first term, “ability” or ‘wisdom’ is chochma חָכְמָה in Hebrew. This is much more than merely possessing facts. Chochma is wisdom, the ability to speak sagely, beyond merely uttering “windy words” (Job 16:3). The biblical paradigm of this “wisdom” is King Solomon, who was known throughout the world for his ingenious ability to judge difficult cases (1 Kgs. 4:34).
A Man of Understanding
The second quality given to Bezalel, is “intelligence,” tevunah תְבוּנָה in Hebrew. This word which comes from the root B.I.N, refers to the ability to discern.
This is a “man of understanding” (Prov. 15:21), a person who can assess a complex situation, take a step back and distinguish right from wrong without losing their cool. This is crucial in times of crisis. It is a person who can work productively while remaining emotionally uninvolved, “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding” (Prov. 14:33).
A man of knowledge
The third quality, “knowledge,” is da’at דַּעַת in Hebrew. Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” This refers to factual knowledge of what is morally right from wrong. Originally, this quality belonged to God alone, and when Adam and Eve ate the fruit and gained this knowledge they were expelled.
Only by exploring these three words in the original Hebrew, we get to the heart of what the Bible really means.