What does חָכַם mean in the Bible?
חָכַם is a Hebrew word meaning "to be wise (in mind, word or act)".
Hebrew · H2449
חָכַם
To be wise (in mind, word or act)
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חָכַםH2449
What does חָכַם mean in the Bible?
חָכַם is a Hebrew word meaning "to be wise (in mind, word or act)".
Full entry for חָכַם (H2449) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2449?
The BSB source-word alignment has 27 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and be wise (2), wise (2), you are wise (2), and become wise (1), and he will be wiser (1).
Where does חָכַם appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 1:10. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (13), Ecclesiastes (4), Psalms (4), Job (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand be wise2×Proverbs 8:33, Proverbs 23:19
wise2×Proverbs 20:1, Ecclesiastes 7:16
you are wise2×Proverbs 9:12
and become wise1×Proverbs 6:6
and he will be wiser1×Proverbs 9:9
and makes us wiser1×Job 35:11
and teach1×Psalms 105:22
are exceedingly1×Proverbs 30:24
Be wise1×Proverbs 27:11
by being wise1×Ecclesiastes 2:15
gain wisdom1×Proverbs 21:11
He was wiser1×1 Kings 4:31
is wise1×Proverbs 23:15
let us deal shrewdly1×Exodus 1:10
make me wiser1×Psalms 119:98
making wise1×Psalms 19:7
shrewd1×Zechariah 9:2
skillfully1×Ecclesiastes 2:19
they were wise1×Deuteronomy 32:29
to be wise1×Ecclesiastes 7:23
who are wise1×Job 32:9
who skillfully1×Psalms 58:5
will become wise1×Proverbs 13:20
you may be wise1×Proverbs 19:20
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 1:10נִֽתְחַכְּמָ֖הtolet us deal shrewdlyVerb - Hitpael - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common pluralDeuteronomy 32:29חָכְמ֖וּtothey were wiseVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural1 Kings 4:31וַיֶּחְכַּם֮toHe was wiserConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularJob 32:9יֶחְכָּ֑מוּtowho are wiseVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralJob 35:11יְחַכְּמֵֽנוּ׃toand makes us wiserVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common pluralPsalms 19:7מַחְכִּ֥ימַתtomaking wiseVerb - Hifil - Participle - feminine singular constructPsalms 58:5מְחֻכָּֽם׃towho skillfullyVerb - Pual - Participle - masculine singularPsalms 105:22יְחַכֵּֽם׃toand teachVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 119:98תְּחַכְּמֵ֣נִיtomake me wiserVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | first person common singularProverbs 6:6וַחֲכָֽם׃toand become wiseConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 1:10
Aligned rows27
Books represented8
Exodus1Deuteronomy11 Kings1Job2Psalms4Proverbs13Ecclesiastes4Zechariah1
Source forms
אֶחְכָּ֔מָה1x’eḥ·kā·māhEcclesiastes 7:23
וַחֲכָם1xwa·ḥă·ḵå̄mProverbs 13:20
וַחֲכָ֑ם1xwa·ḥă·ḵāmProverbs 23:19
וַחֲכָֽם׃1xwa·ḥă·ḵāmProverbs 6:6
וַחֲכָ֗מוּ1xwa·ḥă·ḵā·mūProverbs 8:33
וַיֶּחְכַּם֮1xway·yeḥ·kam1 Kings 4:31
וְיֶחְכַּם־1xwə·yeḥ·kam-Proverbs 9:9
וְשֶׁחָכַ֖מְתִּי1xwə·še·ḥā·ḵam·tîEcclesiastes 2:19
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular3xProverbs 13:20, Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 21:11
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular2xProverbs 6:6, Proverbs 23:19
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular2xProverbs 9:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xProverbs 9:9
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1x1 Kings 4:31
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural1xProverbs 8:33
Conjunctive waw, Pr | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1xEcclesiastes 2:19
Verb - Hifil - Participle - feminine singular construct1xPsalms 19:7
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to be wise (in mind, word or act)
Source Gloss
to be wise (in mind, word or act)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to be wise (in mind, word or act) BDB: be wise Usage: × exceeding, teach wisdom, be (make self, shew self) wise, deal (never so) wisely, make wiser.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups5Aligned forms19
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense13×
PerfectProv 9:12 · Deut 32:29 · Eccl 2:15 · Prov 23:15 · Zech 9:26×
ImperfectProv 13:20 · Prov 20:1 · Prov 21:11 · Job 32:9 · Prov 19:205×
CohortativeEccl 7:231×
Sequential imperfectProv 27:111×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject2×
Participle passiveProv 30:24 · Ps 58:62×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others2×
JussiveEccl 7:161×
CohortativeExod 1:101×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action1×
Participle activePs 19:81×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
ImperfectPs 105:221×
Word Origins
חָכַם is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.