σοφίαsophía
skill, intelligence, wisdom, ranging from knowledge of the arts and matters of daily life to mental excellence in its highest and fullest sense
Greek (New Testament) · G4678
Meanings
(a) of human wisdom: 1 Corinthians 2:1, 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, James 3:15, Revelation 13:18, Revelation 17:9; σ. Σολομῶνος, Matthew 12:42, Luke 11:31; Αἰγυπτίων, Acts 7:22; Ἕλληνες σ. ζητοῦσιν, 1 Corinthians 1:22; σ. λόγου, 1 Corinthians 1:17; τ. σοφῶν, 1 Corinthians 1:19 (LXX); τ. κόσμου, 1 Corinthians 1:20-21, 1 Corinthians 3:19; ἀνθρωπίνη, 1 Corinthians 2:13; σαρκική, 2 Corinthians 1:12
of wisdom in spiritual things: Luke 21:15, Acts 6:3, Acts 6:10, Acts 7:10, 1 Corinthians 2:6, Colossians 1:28, Colossians 2:23, Colossians 3:16, Colossians 4:5, James 1:5, James 3:13, James 3:17, 2 Peter 3:15; λόγος σοφίας, 1 Corinthians 12:8; πνεῦμα σοφίας, Ephesians 1:17; σ. καὶ φρόνησις, Ephesians 1:8; σ. καὶ σύνεσις, Colossians 1:9
(b) of divine wisdom: of God, Romans 11:33, 1 Corinthians 1:21, 1 Corinthians 1:24, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Revelation 7:12; πολυποίκιλος, Ephesians 3:10
of Christ, Matthew 13:54, Mark 6:2, Luke 2:40, Luke 2:52, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Colossians 2:3, Revelation 5:12
of wisdom personified, Matthew 11:19, Luke 7:35, Luke 11:49.
Synonyms
σύνεσις, intelligence; φρόνησις, prudence, which with σ. make up the three intellectual ἀρεταί. σ. is wisdom primary and absolute; in distinction from which φ. is practical, σύνεσις critical, both being applications of σ. in detail (cf. Lft., and ICC on Colossians 1:9; Lft., Notes, 317 f.; Tr., Syn., § lxxv; Cremer, 870 ff.).
Same root
Where it appears
Appears 51 times in the Bible.
- Matthew 11:19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”
- Matthew 12:42 The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.
- Matthew 13:54 He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?”
- Mark 6:2 The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?”
- Luke 2:40 There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.
- Luke 2:52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.
See every passage
- Matthew 11:19, 12:42, 13:54
- Mark 6:2
- Luke 2:40, 2:52, 7:35, 11:31, 11:49, 21:15
- Acts 6:3, 6:10, 7:10, 7:22
- Romans 11:33
- 1 Corinthians 1:17, 1:19, 1:20, 1:21, 1:22, 1:24, 1:30, 2:1, 2:4, 2:5, 2:6, 2:7, 2:13, 3:19, 12:8
- 2 Corinthians 1:12
- Ephesians 1:8, 1:17, 3:10
- Colossians 1:9, 1:28, 2:3, 2:23, 3:16, 4:5
- James 1:5, 3:13, 3:15, 3:17
- 2 Peter 3:15
- Revelation 5:12, 7:12, 13:18, 17:9
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.