Bible Dictionary: Skill

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Discrimination; judgment; propriety; reason; cause.

2. (n.) Knowledge; understanding.

3. (n.) The familiar knowledge of any art or science, united with readiness and dexterity in execution or performance, or in the application of the art or science to practical purposes; power to discern and execute; ability to perceive and perform; expertness; aptitude; as, the skill of a mathematician, physician, surgeon, mechanic, etc.

4. (n.) Display of art; exercise of ability; contrivance; address.

5. (n.) Any particular art.

6. (v. t.) To know; to understand.

7. (v. i.) To be knowing; to have understanding; to be dexterous in performance.

8. (v. i.) To make a difference; to signify; to matter; -- used impersonally.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SKILL; SKILFUL

skil, skil'-fool (forms of yadha` (2 Chronicles 2:14, etc.), bin (1 Chronicles 15:22), sakhal (Daniel 1:4, etc.), lamadh (1 Chronicles 5:18), chakham (1 Chronicles 28:21), charash (Ezekiel 21:31), yaTabh (Psalm 33:3); in Apocrypha empeiria (The Wisdom of Solomon 13:13), episteme (Sirach 1:19; 38:3, 6); adverb eumathos (The Wisdom of Solomon 13:11)): As a verb "to skill," meaning to have understanding or to be dexterous, common in Elizabethan English and in the King James Version and the English Revised Version (1 Kings 5:6 2 Chronicles 2:7; 2 Chronicles 34:12), is obsolete. The American Standard Revised Version substitutes such expressions as "knoweth how" (1 Kings 5:6) and "were skillful with" (2 Chronicles 34:12). As a noun the word is used in the sense of "knowledge" (Ecclesiastes 9:11), "insight" (Daniel 1:17), and "wisdom" (1 Chronicles 28:21). The adjective skillful is used in corresponding senses, especially in the American Standard Revised Version, where it takes the place of "cunning" (Exodus 26:31; Exodus 31:4; Exodus 35:33, 35; 38:23 2 Chronicles 2:7, 13, 14 Songs 7:1 Isaiah 40:20 Jeremiah 10:9) and of "curious" (Exodus 35:32), where the Hebrew chashabh suggests planning or devising, and thus what we should call "original" work. Both the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version use the word in place of "eloquent" (Isaiah 3:3), "right" (Ecclesiastes 4:4) and "cunning" (1 Chronicles 25:7). In the first of these instances the Hebrew word means "understanding"; in the second, it refers to the manner of doing a thing, and in the third, to the training that makes one "skilled." the Revised Version (British and American) uses the word "skilled" of those that "took the war upon them" (Numbers 31:27 the King James Version). Skillfulness (Psalm 78:72) is used with reference to the hands, not only in their work, but also in guiding (as, e.g., a pilot). To play well (Hebrew heTibhu naggen), is rendered "play skillfully" (Psalm 33:3). "Unskillful" is used with reference to the uninitiated in the sense of "inexperienced" (Hebrews 5:13, apeiros).

Nathan Isaacs

Greek

4678. sophia -- skill, wisdom
... skill, wisdom. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: sophia Phonetic Spelling:
(sof-ee'-ah) Short Definition: wisdom Definition: wisdom, insight ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4678.htm - 7k

5078. techne -- art, craft, trade
... art, craft, trade. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: techne Phonetic
Spelling: (tekh'-nay) Short Definition: art, skill, trade Definition: art ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5078.htm - 6k

5429. phronimos -- practically wise, sensible
... From phren; thoughtful, ie Sagacious or discreet (implying a cautious character;
while sophos denotes practical skill or acumen; and sunetos indicates rather ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5429.htm - 8k

1789. entrepho -- to train up
... 1722 "in," which intensifies 5142 , "nourish") -- properly, the state (condition)
of being , ie by "continuous instruction in the area of skill and practical ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1789.htm - 7k

1864. epagonizomai -- to contend with or for
... 1864 (from 1909 , "focused " and 73 , "a contest, competition") -- properly, to
(literally, ""), ie with skill and commitment in opposing whatever is not of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1864.htm - 7k

3834. panourgia -- cleverness, craftiness
... Feminine Transliteration: panourgia Phonetic Spelling: (pan-oorg-ee'-ah) Short
Definition: cunning, craftiness Definition: shrewdness, skill; hence: cunning ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3834.htm - 7k

1128. gumnazo -- to exercise naked, to train
... 1128 ("exert intensely, like a pro-athlete") presumes full discipline, necessary
to be in "top working condition" (full agility, skill, endurance). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1128.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

3788. kishron -- skill, success
... 3787, 3788. kishron. 3789 . skill, success. Transliteration: kishron Phonetic
Spelling: (kish-rone') Short Definition: skill. Word ...
/hebrew/3788.htm - 6k

2451. chokmah -- wisdom
... Word Origin from chakam Definition wisdom NASB Word Usage skill (5), skill* (1),
wisdom (143), wisely (3), wits' (1). skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit. ...
/hebrew/2451.htm - 6k

3820. leb -- inner man, mind, will, heart
... 1), presume* (1), pride* (1), recalls* (1), reflected* (1), regard* (1),
self-exaltation* (1), sense (10), senseless* (1), seriously (1), skill* (1), skilled ...
/hebrew/3820.htm - 7k

1847. daath -- knowledge
... Word Origin from yada Definition knowledge NASB Word Usage concern (1), know (3),
knowledge (81), premeditation (2), skill (1), truth (1), unintentionally* (2 ...
/hebrew/1847.htm - 6k

3045. yada -- to know
... be, make self) known, + be learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X
prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure ...
/hebrew/3045.htm - 8k

8394. tebunah -- an understanding
... Word Origin from bin Definition an understanding NASB Word Usage discernment (1),
reasonings (1), skill (1), skillful (1), skillfully (1), understanding (37). ...
/hebrew/8394.htm - 6k

995. bin -- to discern
... direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look
well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think ...
/hebrew/995.htm - 7k

7919. sakal -- to be prudent
... root; to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent -- consider,
expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent(-ly), (give) skill(-ful), have ...
/hebrew/7919.htm - 5k

Library

The Wonderful Skill with which Origen Prepares Gregory and ...
... Argument VII."The Wonderful Skill with Which Origen Prepares Gregory
and Athenodorus for Philosophy. The Intellect of Each is ...
/.../argument vii the wonderful skill with.htm

Now to Call Such Scripture Skill Divine Knowledge, is Just as ...
... Address 95: Now to call such scripture skill divine knowledge, is just
as solid and judicious� Now to call such scripture skill ...
/.../address 95 0 0 now to call.htm

"Bring not Therefore Your Cunning Man, that Has Skill in Words...
... [Way-2-10] "Bring not therefore your cunning man, that has skill in words�
"Bring not therefore your cunning man, that has skill ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-2-10 bring not therefore your.htm

But Where Does this Supposed virtue of the Image Reside? in the ...
... Section 20. But where does this supposed virtue of the image reside? in the material,
or in the form, or in the maker's skill? Untenability of all these views. ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 20 but where does.htm

Not the Lowliness of the Material, but the Dignity and Skill of ...
... Chapter VI."Not the Lowliness of the Material, But the Dignity and Skill of the
Maker, Must Be Remembered, in Gauging the Excellence of the Flesh. ...
/.../tertullian/on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter vi not the lowliness of.htm

The Proper Age and the Proper Means for Acquiring Rhetorical Skill ...
... Book IV. Chapter 3."The Proper Age and the Proper Means for Acquiring
Rhetorical Skill. 4. But the theories and rules on this ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 3 the proper age and.htm

The Bible --The Background and the Picture.
... No physician ever revealed his skill without his patients. ... The doctor's dealings
with his patients measure the extent of his known skill. ...
/.../the biblethe background and the.htm

Results of Transgression
... temple. For the construction of the wilderness tabernacle, chosen men
were endowed by God with special skill and wisdom. "Moses ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 4 results of transgression.htm

Gifts and Talents.
... Successive generations improved upon previous achievements, until among the various
nations comparative perfection of art and skill was attained. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/viii gifts and talents.htm

Christ the Great Physician.
... In order that we appreciate a physician, and avail ourselves of the benefits
of his skill, we must have faith in him. Without faith ...
/.../viii christ the great physician.htm

Thesaurus

Skill (26 Occurrences)
... of the art or science to practical purposes; power to discern and execute; ability
to perceive and perform; expertness; aptitude; as, the skill of a ...
/s/skill.htm - 19k

Art (3201 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) The systematic application of knowledge or skill in effecting a desired
result. Also, an occupation or business requiring such knowledge or skill. ...
/a/art.htm - 8k

Craft (14 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Art or skill; dexterity in particular manual employment; hence,
the occupation or employment itself; manual art; a trade. ...
/c/craft.htm - 12k

Crafts (2 Occurrences)
... to believe that before the Israelites came in contact with the people of Canaan
and Phoenicia they had not developed any considerable technical skill (1 Kings 5 ...
/c/crafts.htm - 30k

Judge (297 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) One who has skill, knowledge, or experience, sufficient to decide on the
merits of a question, or on the quality or value of anything; one who discerns ...
/j/judge.htm - 46k

Learn (76 Occurrences)
... of; to ascertain by inquiry, study, or investigation; to receive instruction concerning;
to fix in the mind; to acquire understanding of, or skill; as, to ...
/l/learn.htm - 29k

Cunning (43 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Wrought with, or exhibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious; curious;
as, cunning work. ... 5. (a.) Knowledge; art; skill; dexterity. ...
/c/cunning.htm - 22k

Skilled (44 Occurrences)
... of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker
in brass; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill, to work ...
/s/skilled.htm - 20k

Games (2 Occurrences)
... GAMES. gamz: I. ISRAELITISH GAMES 1. Children's Games Mimicry 2. Sports 3. Games
of Chance and Skill 4. Story-Telling 5. Dancing 6. Proverbs 7. Riddles II. ...
/g/games.htm - 40k

Learning (40 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Learn. 2. (n.) The acquisition of knowledge or skill;
as, the learning of languages; the learning of telegraphy. ...
/l/learning.htm - 18k

Bible Concordance

Skill (26 Occurrences)

Acts 17:29 Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man.
(See NIV)

Exodus 31:3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
(See NIV)

Exodus 31:6 I, behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you:
(See NAS NIV)

Exodus 35:26 All the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats' hair.
(See NAS NIV)

Exodus 35:31 He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
(See NIV)

Exodus 35:35 He has filled them with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skillful works.
(Root in WEB WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 36:1 "Bezalel and Oholiab shall work with every wise-hearted man, in whom Yahweh has put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that Yahweh has commanded."
(See NAS NIV)

Exodus 36:2 Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart Yahweh had put wisdom, even everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to the work to do it:
(See NAS NIV)

1 Kings 7:14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill, to work all works in brass. He came to king Solomon, and performed all his work.
(WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 28:21 Behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with you in all manner of work every willing man who has skill, for any manner of service: also the captains and all the people will be entirely at your command.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 2:7 Now therefore send me a man skillful to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and who knows how to engrave all manner of engravings, to be with the skillful men who are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 2:8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
(KJV JPS WBS NIV)

2 Chronicles 2:13 Now I have sent a skillful man, endowed with understanding, of Huram my father's,
(Root in WEB WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 30:22 And Hezekiah spoke encouragingly unto all the Levites that were well skilled in the service of the LORD. So they did eat throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace-offerings, and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
(Root in JPS RSV)

2 Chronicles 34:12 The men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and others of the Levites, all who were skillful with instruments of music.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS DBY WBS NAS NIV)

Psalms 136:5 To him who by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.
(See NAS)

Psalms 137:5 If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.
(WEB ASV DBY WBS NAS NIV)

Proverbs 1:5 (The wise man, hearing, will get greater learning, and the acts of the man of good sense will be wisely guided:)
(See RSV)

Ecclesiastes 2:19 And who is to say if that man will be wise or foolish? But he will have power over all my work which I have done and in which I have been wise under the sun. This again is to no purpose.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 2:21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
(Root in WEB JPS DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Ecclesiastes 4:4 And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.
(See NAS RSV)

Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV)

Ecclesiastes 10:10 If the axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
(WEB NIV)

Isaiah 25:11 And if he puts out his hands, like a man stretching out his hands in swimming, the Lord will make low his pride, however expert his designs.
(See RSV)

Daniel 1:17 Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Daniel 9:22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
(KJV WBS)

Subtopics

Skill

Related Terms

Art (3201 Occurrences)

Craft (14 Occurrences)

Crafts (2 Occurrences)

Judge (297 Occurrences)

Learn (76 Occurrences)

Cunning (43 Occurrences)

Skilled (44 Occurrences)

Games (2 Occurrences)