Greek word · G4679

σοφίζω

sophizō

to make wise

In the active voice, to make someone wise or instruct them. In the middle or passive it can mean to act cleverly or to invent something cunningly (2 Pet 1:16, "cleverly devised myths").

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

σοφίζω

(σοφός), [in LXX chiefly for חָכָם ;]

to make wise, instruct: with accusative of person(s), 2 Timothy 3:15 (cf. Psalms 19:8 (Psalms 119:98). As depon., -ομαι;

(a) intrans., to become wise (I2Ki.4:27 (1 Kings 5:11), Ecclesiastes 2:15, and frequently in Sirach 7:5, al.);

(b) trans., to invent, devise cleverly: pass., 2 Peter 1:16

(cf. κατα-σοφίζομαι).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Timothy 3:15

Range of meaning

In the active voice, to make someone wise or instruct them. In the middle or passive it can mean to act cleverly or to invent something cunningly (2 Pet 1:16, "cleverly devised myths").

Against the English

"Make you wise" is accurate. NASB's "give you the wisdom that leads to" and NLT's "given you the wisdom to receive" spell out the direction. "Wise" in English can suggest intellectual cleverness. Biblical wisdom is practical, moral and rooted in God: knowing how to live rightly before Him.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek Psalm 18:8 (Hebrew/English 19:7): "The testimony of the Lord is faithful, making wise infants (νήπια)." Ps 118(119):98: "you made me wise above my enemies through your commandment." Ps 104(105):22 uses it of Joseph instructing Pharaoh's elders. Behind it lies the wisdom tradition of Proverbs, which begins with "the fear of the LORD".

From the study of 2 Peter 1:16

Range of meaning

Active: 'to make wise, instruct' (Greek Psalm 18:8 [19:7], 'making wise the simple'; 2 Timothy 3:15). Passive: 'to be cleverly devised', with a negative tone, as in the 'sophist' who argues cleverly but deceptively.

Against the English

'Cunningly devised' (KJV, WEB) and 'cleverly devised' (BSB, ESV, NIV) are accurate. YLT's 'skilfully devised' is softer and loses the suggestion of deception.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the passive, Greek writers use it for things made up by clever invention. The word family (sophistēs, sophisma) carried the popular suspicion of rhetoric that is clever without being true.

Where it appears

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 3:15 σοφίσαι to make wise

    From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

    Here: To give someone wisdom: skill for living rightly before God, in the sense of Israel's wisdom tradition, not cleverness. It echoes Greek Psalm 18(19):7, where God's testimony "makes wise the infants".

2 Peter · 1

  1. 2 Peter 1:16 σεσοφισμένοις contrived

    For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

    Here: A perfect passive participle meaning 'cleverly concocted, artfully made up'. It points to stories built by human cleverness, with the overtone of 'sophistry': clever but not true.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.