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prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.… The Lord possessed me in the
beginning of his way, before his works of old.… Then I was by him, as one brought up
with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.… Now therefore
hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways” (Prov. 8:1, 12,
22, 30, 32).
The Septuagint translations are:
(“clever; skillful; experienced; wise;
learned”);
(“sensible; thoughtful; prudent; wise”); and
$
(“intelligent;
sagacious; wise”). The
KJV
gives these translations: “wise; wise man; cunning.”
C. Verb.
(
'
, 2449), “to be wise, act wisely, make wise, show oneself wise.” This
root, which occurs 20 times in the Old Testament, appears in other Semitic languages,
such as in the Akkadian word
$!
The word means “to be wise” in Prov. 23:15:
“My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.” In Ps. 119:98
means “to make wise”: “Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine
enemies: for they are ever with me.”
TO WITHER
(
, 3001), “to be dry, be dried up, be withered.” This term is found
throughout the development of the Hebrew language and a few other Semitic languages.
It is found approximately 70 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. In its verbal form
is found for the first time in Gen. 8:7, when after the Flood, “the waters were
dried up from the earth.” However, the noun derivative,
, which means “dry
ground,” already occurs in Gen. 1:9.
Physical “drying up” can involve bread (Josh. 9:5), the ground in time of drought
(Jer. 23:10; Amos 4:7), brooks and streams (1 Kings 17:7), and crops (Isa. 42:15). The
shortness of man’s life is compared to the “drying up” of grass (Ps. 90:6; 102:11; Isa.
40:7). Because of affliction, the heart too “withers” like the grass (Ps. 102:4). In his
parable of the vine, Ezekiel likens God’s judgment on Judah to the “withering” of a vine
that is pulled up (Ezek. 17:9-10). Because of his disobedience, Jeroboam’s hand “is dried
up” as judgment from God (1 Kings 13:4). Psychosomatic awareness is clearly
demonstrated in Prov. 17:22: “… A broken spirit drieth the bones.”
WITNESS
A. Noun.
(
$
, 5707), “witness.” The 69 ouurrences of this word are scattered throughout
the various biblical literary genres and periods although it does not appear in historical
literature outside the Pentateuch.
This word has to do with the legal or judicial sphere. First, in the area of civil affairs
the word can mean someone who is present at a legal transaction and can confirm it if
necessary. Such people worked as notaries, e.g., for an oral transfer of property: “Now
this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning
changing, for to confirrn all things.… And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the
people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that
was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi” (Ruth 4:7, 9). At a later time the