Topic study
Wisdom in the Bible
Understanding, counsel, discretion and instruction.
920 King James verses match this subject. The chapters below hold the heaviest concentration of them, so you can read each passage where it actually sits.
Chapters to read
Matched on the words themselves in the King James text. Where a word is also a name, it can point to more than one person or place, so read the chapter to see which.
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
Key verses
- Isaiah 11:2
And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
- Isaiah 29:14
Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
- Isaiah 40:14
With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
- Daniel 2:21
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
- 1 Corinthians 1:19
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
- Deuteronomy 4:6
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
- Proverbs 18:15
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
- Proverbs 1:5
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
- Proverbs 21:11
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
- Jeremiah 49:7
Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?
- Exodus 31:3
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
- Exodus 35:31
And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
- Exodus 36:1
Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.
- Job 12:13
With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
- Proverbs 1:2
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
- Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
- Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
- Proverbs 8:14
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
- Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
- Proverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.