sophos (wise) · Rightly

Meaning

Usually translated “wise” and “wiser”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated

wise 18
to wise 1
wiser 1
a wise 1

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most

1 Corinthians 10
Romans 3
Matthew 2
Luke 1
Ephesians 1
1 Timothy 1

8 books in all.

Related words

Explore in Scripture

Jude 1:25In contextTo the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Matthew 23:34Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Luke 10:21In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Romans 1:14I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
Romans 1:22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

All 20 verses, by book

Matthew 2: 11:25 23:34
Luke 1: 10:21
Romans 3: 1:14 1:22 16:19
1 Corinthians 10: 1:19 1:20 1:25 1:26 1:27 3:10 3:18 3:19 3:20 6:5
Ephesians 1: 5:15
1 Timothy 1: 1:17
James 1: 3:13
Jude 1: 1:25

Greek dictionary

σοφός sophos · wise

σοφός, -ή, -όν [in LXX chiefly for חָכָם ;] skilled, clever, wise, whether in handicraft, the affairs of life, the sciences or learning: Rom.16:19, 1Co.3:10; of the learned, Rom.1:14, 22, 1Co.1:19-20 1:26-27 3:18-20; of Jewish teachers, Mat.11:25, Luk.10:21; Christian, Mat.23:34; of those endowed with practical wisdom, 1Co.6:5, Eph.5:15, Jas.3:13; of God, Rom.16:27; compar., τ. μωρὸν τ. θεοῦ σοφώτερον, 1Co.1:25.† SYN.: συνετός, φρόνιμος (see: σοφία, SYN.) (AS)

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “wise” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

WISE, adjective

s as z. [G., to know., Latin ]

Properly, having knowledge; hence, having the power of discerning and judging correctly, or of discriminating between what is true and what is false; between what is fit and proper, and what is improper; as a wise prince; a wise magistrate.
Discrete and judicious in the use or applications of knowledge; choosing laudable ends, and the best means to accomplish them. Genesis 41:8
Skillful; dextrous.“They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge” Jeremiah 4:22
Learned; knowing; as the wise and the unwise. Romans 1:14

All definitions and other forms of “wise”

Skilled in arts, science, philosophy, or in magic and divination. 2 Samuel 14:2
Godly; pious. Proverbs 13:1“--The holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise to salvation” 2 Timothy 3:15
Skilled in hidden arts; a sense somewhat ironical; as the wise woman of Brainford.
Dictated or guided by wisdom; containing wisdom; judicious; well adapted to produce good effects; applicable to things; as a wise saying; a wise scheme or plan; wise conduct or management; a wise determination.
Becoming a wise man; grave; discrete; as wise deportment.

WISE, noun

s as z. [G.] Manner; way of being or acting.

In any wise“If he that sanctified the field will in any wise redeem it--” Leviticus 27:19“Fret not thyself in any wise” Psalms 37:8
On this wise“On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel” Numbers 6:23
In no wise He shall in no wise lose his reward. Matthew 10:16

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.