The Bible meaning of wisdom is clearly stated in Proverbs 1:2, “To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding”.
Wisdom together with understanding appears many times in the Bible. Knowing facts alone doesn’t necessarily mean perceiving understanding (or wisdom).
This definition of wisdom (“to perceive the words of understanding”) works with all of the 200+ scripture citations. Here are a few.
1 Kings 4:29, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.”
Deuteronomy 4:6, “Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
1 Chronicles 22:12, “Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.”
Job 12:13, “With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.”
Psalm 111:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endures for ever.”
Here is another explanation of wisdom. John 1:3 states, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” Therefore, we recognize that Jesus is beautifully pictured as wisdom in Proverbs 8:22-23, 28, 30-31. “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. 23 I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. … 28 When He established the clouds above, W
en He strengthened the fountains of the deep, … 30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, 31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.”
When we become consecrated Christians, Jesus is made our wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:30 (RSV), “… in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom,…” So we live through Jesus, and we “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16
As we are transformed into Christ-likeness, His godly wisdom shines in our lives. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17
Hence for the Christian, wisdom is not only to know the Lord’s instructions for our lives, but in applying them, we should understand the principles that are their foundation.