חָכַם (H2449) — Hebrew Lexicon

חָכַם

𐤇𐤊𐤌

châkam

H2449 verb

SILEX Entry

Root חכם to be wise, be skilled, act with wisdom, exhibit ability

Definition

To be wise, skillful, or adept; to possess and exercise wisdom, particularly in matters of discernment, practical skills, or moral judgment. Also, to act wisely or prudently; sometimes, to show oneself as expert or learned in a field, including craft, governance, or social interaction.

Semantic Range

to be wise; to act wisely; to become wise; to instruct or make wise; to show skill or craft (especially in technical arts or governance); to be shrewd or prudent; to show discernment; to display learned ability

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: From the root חכם (ח-כ-ם), which fundamentally carries the concept of wisdom, skill, or competence. While the root primarily conveys intellectual discernment and the capacity for wise action, the derived verb חָכַם includes nuances of learning, instruction, and practical expertise. There is no evidence for a non-Semitic origin; the root and its forms are attested in various Semitic languages with similar senses.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָכַם appears throughout the Hebrew Bible in both literal and figurative senses. In earlier texts (pre-exilic), it often refers to general wisdom, technical skill (such as craftsmanship in the Tabernacle narratives), or shrewdness in governance (as with Solomon). In wisdom literature, it is the principal verb for wise living, encompassing both divine wisdom (as a gift from YHWH) and human sagacity. The term at times emphasizes moral discernment (knowing right from wrong) and at other times, practical expertise (such as in diplomacy or craftsmanship). It can be both a verb (to be/become wise) and, as a participle or adjective, describe a person who is wise or skillful. In post-exilic and later contexts, the concept expands to include studied learning or scholarly wisdom. Standard English translations render חָכַם variously as 'be wise', 'deal wisely', 'act wisely', or 'to make wise', but this often does not capture the full nuance of practical skill involved. The word is distinct from other terms for understanding or knowledge (e.g., בִּין, יָדַע), as חָכַם tends to emphasize applied or actionable wisdom rather than mere cognition or raw data.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root,; to be wise (in mind, word or act); [idiom] exceeding, teach wisdom, be (make self, shew self) wise, deal (never so) wisely, make wiser.

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Root Family

חכם (ḥ-k-m) — to be wise, to act wisely, to be skillful

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H2445	חַכִּים	the wise ones
H2450	חָכָם	wise one of
H2451	חׇכְמָה	in wisdom
H2452	חׇכְמָה	the wisdom
H2453	חַכְמוֹנִי	Hachmonite clansman
H2454	חׇכְמוֹת	wisdoms of
H8461	תַּחְכְּמֹנִי	the Wise-one

Word Forms

23 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H2449-22`	יֶחְכָּ֑ם	yechekam	`HVqi3ms`	becomes wise	he will be wise	3
`H2449-01`	חָכַ֣ם	chakham	`HVqp3ms`	Be wise	wise man of	2
`H2449-14`	וַ/חֲכָֽם	vachakham	`HC/Vqv2ms`	and be wise	and wise	2
`H2449-02`	חָ֭כַמְתָּ	chakhameta	`HVqp2ms`	you are wise	you acted wisely	2
`H2449-07`	מַחְכִּ֥ימַת	machekimat	`HVhrfsc`	making wise	causing to be wise	1
`H2449-06`	אֶחְכָּ֔מָה	echekamah	`HVqh1cs`		let me act wisely	1
`H2449-23`	יֶחְכָּ֑מוּ	yechekamu	`HVqi3mp`	are wise	they will be wise	1
`H2449-15`	וַ/חֲכָ֗מוּ	vachakhamu	`HC/Vqv2mp`	and be wise	and be wise	1
`H2449-12`	תֶּחְכַּ֥ם	techekam	`HVqi2ms`	you may be wise	you will be wise	1
`H2449-08`	מְחֻכָּֽם	mechukam	`HVPsmpa`	wise ones	made-wise ones	1
`H2449-09`	מְחֻכָּמִֽים	mechukamim	`HVPsmpa`	exceedingly wise	those made wise	1
`H2449-17`	ו/חכם	vchkhm	`HC/Vqv2ms`	will be wise	and be wise	1
`H2449-13`	תִּתְחַכַּ֖ם	titechakam	`HVtj2ms`		show yourself wise	1
`H2449-04`	חָֽכְמָ֖ה	chakhemah	`HVqp3fs`	wise	wisdom-skill	1
`H2449-18`	וְ/שֶׁ/חָכַ֖מְתִּי	veshechakhameti	`HC/Tr/Vqp1cs`		I was wise	1
`H2449-21`	יְחַכְּמֵֽ/נוּ	yechakemenu	`HVpi3ms/Sp1cp`	makes us wiser	he will make us wise	1
`H2449-03`	חָכַ֛מְתִּי	chakhameti	`HVqp1cs`		I became wise	1
`H2449-10`	נִֽתְחַכְּמָ֖ה	nitechakemah	`HVth1cp`	let us deal shrewdly	let us show ourselves wise	1
`H2449-16`	וַ/יֶּחְכַּם֮	vayechekam	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he was made wise	and he became wise	1
`H2449-11`	תְּחַכְּמֵ֣/נִי	techakemeni	`HVpi3fs/Sp1cs`	you have made me wiser	she makes me wise	1
`H2449-19`	וְ/יֶחְכַּם	veyechekam	`HC/Vqi3ms`	and he will be wiser	and he will act wisely	1
`H2449-20`	יְחַכֵּֽם	yechakem	`HVpi3ms`	he might teach wisdom	he will make wise	1
`H2449-05`	חָכְמ֖וּ	chakhemu	`HVqp3cp`	they were wise	they were wise	1

Occurrences in Scripture

28 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H2449-10`	Exodus 1:10	נִֽתְחַכְּמָ֖ה	nitechakemah	`HVth1cp`	let us deal shrewdly	let us show ourselves wise
`H2449-05`	Deuteronomy 32:29	חָכְמ֖וּ	chakhemu	`HVqp3cp`	they were wise	they were wise
`H2449-16`	1 Kings 5:11	וַ/יֶּחְכַּם֮	vayechekam	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he was made wise	and he became wise
`H2449-04`	Zechariah 9:2	חָֽכְמָ֖ה	chakhemah	`HVqp3fs`	wise	wisdom-skill
`H2449-07`	Psalms 19:8	מַחְכִּ֥ימַת	machekimat	`HVhrfsc`	making wise	causing to be wise
`H2449-08`	Psalms 58:6	מְחֻכָּֽם	mechukam	`HVPsmpa`	wise ones	made-wise ones
`H2449-20`	Psalms 105:22	יְחַכֵּֽם	yechakem	`HVpi3ms`	he might teach wisdom	he will make wise
`H2449-11`	Psalms 119:98	תְּחַכְּמֵ֣/נִי	techakemeni	`HVpi3fs/Sp1cs`	you have made me wiser	she makes me wise
`H2449-14`	Proverbs 6:6	וַ/חֲכָֽם	vachakham	`HC/Vqv2ms`	and be wise	and wise
`H2449-15`	Proverbs 8:33	וַ/חֲכָ֗מוּ	vachakhamu	`HC/Vqv2mp`	and be wise	and be wise
`H2449-19`	Proverbs 9:9	וְ/יֶחְכַּם	veyechekam	`HC/Vqi3ms`	and he will be wiser	and he will act wisely
`H2449-02`	Proverbs 9:12	חָ֭כַמְתָּ	chakhameta	`HVqp2ms`	you are wise	you acted wisely
`H2449-02`	Proverbs 9:12	חָכַ֣מְתָּ	chakhameta-2	`HVqp2ms`	you are wise	you acted wisely
`H2449-17`	Proverbs 13:20	ו/חכם	vchkhm	`HC/Vqv2ms`	will be wise	and be wise
`H2449-22`	Proverbs 13:20	יֶחְכָּ֑ם	yechekam	`HVqi3ms`	he will be wise	he will be wise
`H2449-12`	Proverbs 19:20	תֶּחְכַּ֥ם	techekam	`HVqi2ms`	you may be wise	you will be wise
`H2449-22`	Proverbs 20:1	יֶחְכָּֽם	yechekam	`HVqi3ms`	is wise	he will be wise
`H2449-22`	Proverbs 21:11	יֶחְכַּם	yechekam	`HVqi3ms`	becomes wise	he will be wise
`H2449-01`	Proverbs 23:15	חָכַ֣ם	chakham	`HVqp3ms`	is wise	wise man of
`H2449-14`	Proverbs 23:19	וַ/חֲכָ֑ם	vachakham	`HC/Vqv2ms`	and be wise	and wise
`H2449-01`	Proverbs 27:11	חֲכַ֣ם	chakham	`HVqv2ms`	Be wise	wise man of
`H2449-09`	Proverbs 30:24	מְחֻכָּמִֽים	mechukamim	`HVPsmpa`	exceedingly wise	those made wise
`H2449-23`	Job 32:9	יֶחְכָּ֑מוּ	yechekamu	`HVqi3mp`	are wise	they will be wise
`H2449-21`	Job 35:11	יְחַכְּמֵֽ/נוּ	yechakemenu	`HVpi3ms/Sp1cp`	makes us wiser	he will make us wise
`H2449-03`	Ecclesiastes 2:15	חָכַ֛מְתִּי	chakhameti	`HVqp1cs`		I became wise
`H2449-18`	Ecclesiastes 2:19	וְ/שֶׁ/חָכַ֖מְתִּי	veshechakhameti	`HC/Tr/Vqp1cs`		I was wise
`H2449-13`	Ecclesiastes 7:16	תִּתְחַכַּ֖ם	titechakam	`HVtj2ms`		show yourself wise
`H2449-06`	Ecclesiastes 7:23	אֶחְכָּ֔מָה	echekamah	`HVqh1cs`		let me act wisely

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