People Called "Wise" in the Bible

The special description "wise" is used for 12 significant people in the Bible. They can be helpful models in our own pursuit of wisdom.

The Person

Their Role

Reference

How They Practiced Wisdom

Joseph

Wise leader

Acts 7:10

Prepared for a major famine; helped rule Egypt

Moses

Wise leader

Acts 7:20-22

Learned all the Egyptian wisdom, then graduated to God's lessons in wisdom to lead Israel out of Egypt

Bezalel

Wise artist

Exodus 31:1-5

Designed and supervised the construction of the Tabernacle and its utensils in the wilderness

Joshua

Wise leader

Deuteronomy 34:9

Learned by observing Moses, obeyed God, led the people into the Promised Land

David

Wise leader

2 Samuel 14:20

Never let his failures keep him from the source of wisdom—reverence for God

Abigail

Wise wife

1 Samuel 25:3

Managed her household well in spite of a surly and mean husband

Solomon

Wise leader

1 Kings 3:5-14; 4:29-34

Knew what to do even though he often failed to put his own wisdom into action

Daniel

Wise counselor

Daniel 5:11, 12

Known as a man in touch with God; a solver of complex problems with God's help

Astrologers

Wise learners

Matthew 2:1-12

Not only received special knowledge of God's visit to earth but checked it out personally

Stephen

Wise leader

Acts 6:8-10

Organized the distribution of food to the Grecian widows; preached the gospel to the Jews

Paul

Wise messenger

2 Peter 3:15, 16

Spent his life communicating God's love to all who would listen

Christ

Wise youth
Wise Savior
Wisdom of God

Luke 2:40, 52; 1 Corinthians 1:20-25

Not only lived a perfect life but died on the cross to save us and make God's wise plan of eternal life available to us