Chokhmah

Chokhmah is the Hebrew word for wisdom. In biblical and post-biblical Jewish literature, the term denotes both practical skill and theoretical insight. The root conveys knowledge, insight, and craft, and the word appears in contexts ranging from wise governance to craftsmanship.

In the Hebrew Bible, chokhmah is used widely for wisdom as a divine attribute and as a human discipline. A notable example is the personification of Chokhmah in Proverbs 8, where she is described as being with God at creation and as guiding the world’s formation. This passage casts wisdom as a divine force that stands beside God and as something to be sought by those who live rightly. The term also appears in contexts praising skill or expertise in various crafts and professions.

In rabbinic and later Jewish thought, chokhmah becomes a central concept of intellect and learning. It is often distinguished from Binah (understanding) as a more spontaneous, intuitive form of insight that must later be refined through analysis and study. The idea of chokhmah underpins both ethical instruction and the pursuit of Torah wisdom.

In Kabbalah, chokhmah is the second sefirah on the Tree of Life, located on the right side and functioning as the initial, pre-formative spark of creative insight. Together with Binah, it forms a pivotal dyad that seeds the other sefirot and, by extension, the created order. In this framework, chokhmah represents the divine source of wisdom and the early stage of the creative process, while human scholarship attempts to cultivate and develop that wisdom.

Today, chokhmah remains the standard Hebrew term for wisdom in philosophy, theology, and Jewish studies.