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In the book of Exodus, we read about God’s Tabernacle, which was built by Bezalel, a gifted artisan. According to the Scripture, the Lord “filled him with the Spirit of God” and endowed him, “with ability and intelligence, with knowledge” (Exodus 31:3). But this simple translation doesn’t do justice to the original meaning. So, what does the Hebrew Bible reveal about this wisdom? 
 
A Man of Wisdom
According to Exodus 31:3, Bezalel was endowed “with ability and intelligence, with knowledge.” In the original Hebrew, these are three distinct mental qualities. The first term, “ability”, is chochma חָכְמָה in Hebrew. This is much more than merely possessing facts. Chochma is wisdom, the ability to speak sagely, beyond merely uttering “windy words” (Job 16:3). The biblical paradigm of this “wisdom” is King Solomon, who was known throughout the world for his ingenious ability to judge difficult cases (1 Kgs. 4:34). 

A Man of Understanding
The second quality given to Bezalel, “intelligence,” is tevunah תְבוּנָה in Hebrew. This word which comes from the root B.I.N, refers to the ability to discern. This is a “man of understanding” (Prov. 15:21), a person who can assess a complex situation, take a step back and distinguish right from wrong without losing their cool. This is crucial in times of crisis. It is a person who can work productively while remaining emotionally uninvolved, “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding” (Prov. 14:33).
 
Find True Wisdom in the Hebrew Bible
The third quality, “knowledge,” is da’at דַּעַת in Hebrew. Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” This refers to factual knowledge of what is morally right from wrong. Originally, this quality belonged to God alone, and when Adam and Eve ate the fruit and gained this knowledge they were expelled. To get to the heart of the biblical meaning, we need to read these words in the original Hebrew. 

Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX

You got me, but I trust you!