Keraia
Lexicon

σοφία

sophiawisdomHow to read Greek
greekNew TestamentNoun · feminine51 occurrences12 books49 verses

Definition

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: 1 Corinthians 2:1; 2:4-5, James 3:15, Revelation 13:18; 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; 3:19; ἀνθρωπίνη, 1 Corinthians 2:13; σαρκική, 2 Corinthians 1:12;

of wisdom in spiritual things: Luke 21:15, Acts 6:3, 10; 7:10, 1 Corinthians 2:6, Colossians 1:28; 2:23; 3:16; 4:5, James 1:5; 3:13, 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; 1:24; 2:7, Revelation 7:12; πολυποίκιλος, Ephesians 3:10

of Christ, Matthew 13:54, Mark 6:2, Luke 2:40, 52, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Colossians 2:3, Revelation 5:12;

of wisdom personified, Matthew 11:19, Luke 7:35; 11:49.

Synonyms: σύνεσις, 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 Colossians 1:9; Lft., Notes, 317 f.; Tr., Syn., § LXXv; Cremer, 870 ff.).

Hebrew words it translates

The Hebrew words that the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament renders as σοφία:

Usage patterns

Old TestamentNew Testament

Occurrences

51 total
  1. Matthew 11:19σοφία · wisdom
    The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”
  2. Matthew 12:42σοφίαν · wisdom
    The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
  3. Matthew 13:54σοφία · wisdom
    Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.
  4. Mark 6:2σοφία · wisdom
    When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles?
  5. Luke 2:40σοφίᾳ · with wisdom
    And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
  6. Luke 2:52σοφίᾳ · wisdom
    And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
  7. Luke 7:35σοφία · wisdom
    But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
  8. Luke 11:31σοφίαν · wisdom
    The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
  9. Luke 11:49σοφία · wisdom
    Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’
  10. Luke 21:15σοφίαν · wisdom
    For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
  11. Acts 6:3σοφίας · wisdom
    Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them
  12. Acts 6:10σοφίᾳ · wisdom
    …but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
  13. Acts 7:10σοφίαν · wisdom
    …and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
  14. Acts 7:22σοφίᾳ · [the] wisdom
    So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
  15. Romans 11:33σοφίας · of [the] wisdom
    O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
  16. 1 Corinthians 1:17σοφίᾳ · of wisdom
    For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
  17. 1 Corinthians 1:19σοφίαν · wisdom
    For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
  18. 1 Corinthians 1:20σοφίαν · wisdom
    Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
  19. 1 Corinthians 1:21σοφίᾳ · wisdom; σοφίας · wisdom
    For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
  20. 1 Corinthians 1:22σοφίαν · wisdom
    Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,
  21. 1 Corinthians 1:24σοφίαν · [the] wisdom
    …but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
  22. 1 Corinthians 1:30σοφία · wisdom
    It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
  23. 1 Corinthians 2:1σοφίας · wisdom
    When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
  24. 1 Corinthians 2:4σοφίας · of wisdom
    My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
  25. 1 Corinthians 2:5σοφίᾳ · wisdom
    …so that your faith would not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
  26. 1 Corinthians 2:6Σοφίαν · of wisdom; σοφίαν · [the] wisdom
    Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
  27. 1 Corinthians 2:7σοφίαν · wisdom
    No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.
  28. 1 Corinthians 2:13σοφίας · wisdom
    And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
  29. 1 Corinthians 3:19σοφία · wisdom
    For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
  30. 1 Corinthians 12:8σοφίας · of wisdom
    To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit,
  31. 2 Corinthians 1:12σοφίᾳ · wisdom
    For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
  32. Ephesians 1:8σοφίᾳ · wisdom
    …that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
  33. Ephesians 1:17σοφίας · of wisdom
    …that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
  34. Ephesians 3:10σοφία · wisdom
    His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
  35. Colossians 1:9σοφίᾳ · wisdom
    For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
  36. Colossians 1:28σοφίᾳ · wisdom
    We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
  37. Colossians 2:3σοφίας · of wisdom
    …in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
  38. Colossians 2:23σοφίας · of wisdom
    Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
  39. Colossians 3:16σοφίᾳ · wisdom
    Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
  40. Colossians 4:5σοφίᾳ · wisely
    Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
  41. James 1:5σοφίας · wisdom
    Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
  42. James 3:13σοφίας · that comes from wisdom
    Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
  43. James 3:15σοφία · wisdom
    Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
  44. James 3:17σοφία · [the] wisdom
    But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
  45. 2 Peter 3:15σοφίαν · wisdom
    Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him.
  46. Revelation 5:12σοφίαν · wisdom
    In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
  47. Revelation 7:12σοφία · wisdom
    …saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
  48. Revelation 13:18σοφία · wisdom
    Here is a call for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666.