Let’s discuss the difference between wisdom and knowledge in the Bible as well as the difference between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom. This post will answer the following questions:

• What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge in the Bible?
• What is wisdom?
• What is knowledge?
• How do we acquire wisdom and knowledge?
• Why should we seek wisdom and knowledge?
• What does wisdom and knowledge have to do with our walk with God?

I tried to categorize this collection of Bible verses and I hope it comes across as a helpful Bible study.  

Pursuit of knowledge, selfish ambition, and lack of good judgment are common in our world today.  To study true wisdom and knowledge we must turn to God’s word and not our own understanding.  The word of God is our plumb line.  It teaches us the difference between right and wrong as well as wise and foolish.  

I saw a plumb line in action when we were building our house. We hung a string with a weight to a beam and the weight created a straight line down. We measured everything against that straight line making the structure square and “plumb”.

God’s word is what we measure our thoughts, words, and actions with. If they do not align with God’s wisdom, knowledge, and instruction, we are not “squared away”. We are crooked and lacking.

​We may have an idea of something we think is wise and most likely will find someone to agree with us, but what other people consider great knowledge and what God considers great knowledge may be two different things.  

Good conduct and poor life choices are the same.  You may find someone who agrees with you in your given situation, but unless you are lining up your choices with God you are most likely not choosing the right thing.  

In today’s day, we have the ability to access information on every topic, and yet we lack understanding.  Why?  Because we have forgotten our plumb line.

“For My people are foolish, They have not known Me. They are silly children, And they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, But to do good they have no knowledge.”  (Jeremiah 4:22)

The Difference Between Wisdom and Knowledge in the Bible

Let’s turn to the wisdom of Solomon to begin our study.  While a deep dive into the book of Proverbs and other wisdom literature is not necessary to answer our questions, Solomon’s theme found in the first chapter is enlightening.

To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,

To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;

To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—

A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.  (Proverbs 1:1-7)

​True wisdom is the wisdom of God.  Simply put, it is seeking out scripture and following the truth.  Let’s list some of the words found in this passage to emphasize them:

• wisdom
• instruction
• understanding
• justice
• judgment
• equity (fair)
• knowledge
• discretion (applying wisdom to situations)
• learning
• counsel

We will get into specific definitions of wisdom and knowledge, but simply put, knowledge is truth reaped from scripture and wisdom is applying it to our lives.

Knowing what the Bible says and living it are two very different things.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:22-25)

What is True Wisdom?

According to google, wisdom is defined as the “quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment”.  How then do we gain this experience, knowledge, and good judgment?

Let’s look at Paul’s prayer for the Colossian church.

 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.  (Colossians 1:9-12)

• filled with the knowledge of His will
• spiritual understanding
• fruitful in every good work
• walking worthy of the Lord
• patience, longsuffering, joy

True wisdom comes from a life that is submitted to Jesus Christ, full of good fruits, and a hope of eternal life.  If a person is truly wise, he is not seeking the wrong thing, only the glory of God manifested in his life.  The word of wisdom that flows from them will be a deep understanding of God’s word.  Biblical wisdom is what we are seeking.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.  (Isaiah 55:8-9)

The pursuit of wisdom is the pursuit of God.

See “7 Powerful Examples of Surrendering to God in the Bible”

What is the Knowledge of God?

According to Merriam Webster, the definition of knowledge is:

the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association

the sum of what is known : the body of truth, information, and principles acquired by humankind

Personal experiences comes into play with knowledge, but unless it is joined with understanding mined from God’s word, it is not very useful.  Are you one of those people with recurring themes in your life?  Do you continually make the same mistake over and over?  This is a result of not submitting to God’s words. 

Common sense is not enough, past experiences are not the best teacher because mistakes are not always corrected and we are left more confused than ever.  

Society cannot gauge knowledge and wisdom either because we are sinful humans.

Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Knowledge

We read earlier that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The fear of the Lord is an acknowledgment that He is God and the creator of all. It is a respectful and submissive attitude toward God as our higher power.

If knowledge is the “sum of what is known” and God is the beginning of that, then knowledge is found in God’s word.

So, if the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, what is the beginning of wisdom?

Wisdom is then the ability to apply scripture to our lives allowing the Holy Spirit to change our hearts and behaviors to live to the glory of God.

Godly Wisdom VS Worldly Wisdom

We see a good example of Godly wisdom vs worldly wisdom in the story of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. When he became king, the people wanted him to be kinder than his father. Rehoboam talked with the wise men of Israel that had ruled with his father and they told him to go easier on the people.

Then Rehoboam talked with his young worldly friends who told him to rule the people more harshly. Rehoboam forgot Solomon’s words:

​Mercy and truth preserve the king,
And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne. (Proverbs 20:28)

He chose to rule harshly and the people revolted, splitting into two countries. Rehoboam listened to the wrong people with tragic results.

The Greeks were famous for their quest for knowledge. Teaching and pondering were common activities. Paul addresses this worldly wisdom in 1 Corinthians.

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” (1 Corinthians 3:18-20)

“Wise in this age” can be applied to any period of time including our own. Many people are doing whatever they want and trying desperately to justify it while forcing others to accept their life choices. Again, we have to go back to our plumb line and measure all of our actions against the word of God. What is acceptable in our age may not be acceptable to God.

Wisdom is knowing the difference.

Whoever Loves Discipline Loves Knowledge

Did you notice how Solomon says “to receive instruction” in his opening statement? Knowledge is gained through an acceptance that we do not know it all and that we are sinful by nature and need guidance.

My boys have a very difficult time accepting discipline. They are right, I am wrong, and that’s all there is to it. Even when they are at fault.

This kind of attitude makes it impossible to teach them anything. They will continually make the same mistakes until they accept instruction and learn from their faults.

The Fearful Results of Lack of Knowledge

The lack of knowledge is a result of hardening your heart toward God and choosing your own way.

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.  (Ephesians 4:17-24)

When we refuse to seek knowledge and follow the way of truth, we are left to our own ways.

His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin.
He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. (Proverbs 5:22)

Notice the words entrap, caught, die, astray. Nothing good comes from resisting God’s instruction and following our own ways.

See “Sowing and Reaping in the Bible: A Powerful Study of Hosea 10”

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children. (Hosea 4:6)

This verse is unsettling, isn’t it? When we turn away from God seeking the ways of the world rather than His knowledge, we suffer separation from Him.

Has this quick study on the difference between knowledge and wisdom in the Bible been helpful? What verses stand out to you? What experience can you add? Be sure to comment below!