Greek · G4678 · unreviewed

σοφία

Wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual)

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σοφία G4678

Pronunciation sophía

What does σοφία (sophía) mean in the Bible?

σοφία (sophía) is a Greek word meaning "wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual)". σοφία, -ας, ἡ [in LXX chiefly for חׇכְמָה ;] skill, intelligence, wisdom, ranging from knowledge of the arts and matters of daily life to mental excellence in its highest and fullest sense; __(a) of human wisdom: 1Co. Highlights the profound wisdom guiding God’s redemptive plan. This term runs through the canonical themes of Revelation, Spirit, Wisdom.

Full entry for σοφία (G4678) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual)

Extended definition

Divine wisdom versus human wisdom: primary absolute knowledge versus practical worldly intelligence.

skill, intelligence, wisdom, ranging from knowledge of the arts and matters of daily life to mental excellence in its highest and fullest sense;

aof human wisdom: 1Co.2:1 2:4-5, Jas.3:15, Rev.13:18 17:9; σ. Σολομῶνος, Mat.12:42, Luk.11:31; Αἰγυπτίων, Act.7:22; Ἕλληνες σ. ζητοῦσιν, 1Co.1:22; σ. λόγου, 1Co.1:17; τ. σοφῶν, 1Co.1:19 (LXX); τ. κόσμου, 1Co.1:20-21 3:19; ἀνθρωπίνη, 1Co.2:13; σαρκική, 2Co.1:12; of wisdom in spiritual things: Luk.21:15, Act.6:3, 10 7:10, 1Co.2:6, Col.1:28 2:23 3:16 4:5, Jas.1:5 3:13, 17, 2Pe.3:15; λόγος σοφίας, 1Co.12:8; πνεῦμα σοφίας, Eph.1:17; σ. καὶ φρόνησις, Eph.1:8; σ. καὶ σύνεσις, Col.1:9;

bof divine wisdom: of God, Rom.11:33, 1Co.1:21 1:24 2:7, Rev.7:12; πολυποίκιλος, Eph.3:10 of Christ, Mat.13:54, Mrk.6:2, Luk.2:40, 52, 1Co.1:30 Col.2:3, Rev.5:12; of wisdom personified, Mat.11:19, Luk.7:35 11:49.

Synonymsσύνεσις, intelligence; φρόνησις, prudence, which with σ. make up (Arist., N. Eth., i, 13) 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 Col.1:9; Lft., Notes, 317 f.; Tr., Syn., § LXXv; Cremer, 870 ff.).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Highlights the profound wisdom guiding God’s redemptive plan. Acts 6:8-15

Refers to practical godly discernment necessary for enduring trials faithfully. James 1:5–8

Spirit-given wisdom renders opposition unable to refute the gospel. Romans 11:33-36

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Feminine Matt 11:19 · Matt 13:54 · Mark 6:2 · Luke 7:35 · Luke 11:49 · 1 Cor 1:30 · 1 Cor 3:19 · Eph 3:10 · Jas 3:15 · Jas 3:17 · Rev 7:12 · Rev 13:18 12×

Genitive · Singular · Feminine Acts 6:3 · Rom 11:33 · 1 Cor 1:21 · 1 Cor 2:1 · 1 Cor 2:4 · 1 Cor 2:13 · 1 Cor 12:8 · Eph 1:17 · Col 2:3 · Col 2:23 · Jas 1:5 · Jas 3:13 12×

Dative · Singular · Feminine Luke 2:40 · Luke 2:52 · Acts 6:10 · Acts 7:22 · 1 Cor 1:17 · 1 Cor 1:21 · 1 Cor 2:5 · 2 Cor 1:12 · Eph 1:8 · Col 1:9 · Col 1:28 · Col 3:16 · Col 4:5 13×

Accusative · Singular · Feminine Matt 12:42 · Luke 11:31 · Luke 21:15 · Acts 7:10 · 1 Cor 1:19 · 1 Cor 1:20 · 1 Cor 1:22 · 1 Cor 1:24 · 1 Cor 2:6 · 1 Cor 2:7 · 2 Pet 3:15 · Rev 5:12 · Rev 17:9 14×

Canonical Themes

Revelation Spirit Wisdom

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

Acts 6:8-15 Wisdom sophía Dative · Singular · Feminine

Insight or skill in applying truth.

James 1:5–8 σοφία sophía Genitive · Singular · Feminine

wisdom

Romans 11:33-36 σοφία sophía Genitive · Singular · Feminine

Wisdom, skillful insight.

Additional Occurrences

James 1:5–8 σοφία sophía

wisdom, practical discernment

Luke 2:41–52 σοφίᾳ sophía

Wisdom

Luke 7:18–35 σοφία sophía

Wisdom

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 1 — The Cross of Christ Against Boasting, Division, and Worldly Wisdom 1 Corinthians 2 — The Spirit Reveals What the Cross Conceals from the Natural Mind Acts 6 — Word Ministry, Servant Leadership, and Stephen’s Faithful Witness Acts 7 — Stephen Testifies to Israel’s Resistance and Christ’s Glory Colossians 1 — The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel of Reconciliation Colossians 2 — Fullness in Christ and Freedom from Christ-Plus Religion Colossians 4 — Prayer, Wise Witness, Faithful Service, and Gospel Fellowship Ephesians 3 — The Mystery Revealed and the Church Strengthened in Christ’s Love Luke 2 — The Savior Born, Revealed, Presented, and Growing in Wisdom Luke 21 — The Widow’s Gift, Jerusalem’s Fall, and Watchfulness before the Son of Man Luke 7 — The Compassionate Lord Who Heals, Raises, Confirms, and Forgives Mark 6 — Rejected Prophet, Sending Lord, Wilderness Shepherd, and Divine Son on the Sea Matthew 11 — The Messiah Question, the Rejected Generation, and Rest for the Weary Matthew 13 — The Kingdom in Parables: Hearing, Hiddenness, Growth, Worth, and Judgment Romans 11 — The Remnant, the Grafted Gentiles, and the Mercy of God Toward Israel

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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