Bible Verses About Wisdom
For trust that does not lean on itself, see Trust and Faith. For patience and a listening ear, see Patience. For a story about a question that makes a clear word sound uncertain, see Eve and the Serpent. For a hunger that trades the future, see Esau and the Birthright. Text: World English Bible (public domain).
The Bible treats wisdom as a gift from God that begins with reverence for him, not merely as cleverness. Key passages include Proverbs 9:10, James 1:5, and Proverbs 3:5–6. Other verses contrast earthly cleverness with wisdom from above. Quoted from the World English Bible (WEB).
Verses
Proverbs 9:10. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 1:7. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 2:6. For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 3:5–6. 5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:13–14. 13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding. 14 For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
Proverbs 4:7. Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
James 1:5. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 3:17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Psalm 111:10. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Proverbs 16:16. How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Proverbs 19:20. Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.
Job 28:28. To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’”
Proverbs 15:33. The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
Daniel 2:21. He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding.
Ecclesiastes 7:12. For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
Colossians 2:2–3. 2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.
Ecclesiastes 7:19. Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.