The term "ingenious" refers to the quality of being clever, original, and inventive. In the context of the Bible, while the specific word "ingenious" may not be directly used in most translations, the concept is evident in various narratives and teachings that highlight human creativity and wisdom as gifts from God.

Biblical Examples of Ingenuity

1. Bezalel and Oholiab: In the construction of the Tabernacle, God endowed Bezalel and Oholiab with exceptional skill and wisdom. Exodus 31:3-5 states, "And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in all kinds of craftsmanship, to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft." Their ingenuity was divinely inspired, serving a sacred purpose.

2. Noah's Ark: The account of Noah in Genesis 6-9 demonstrates remarkable ingenuity. God provided Noah with specific instructions to build an ark, a massive vessel designed to preserve life during the Flood. Noah's obedience and skill in constructing the ark reflect human ingenuity guided by divine revelation.

3. Solomon's Wisdom: King Solomon is renowned for his wisdom, which encompassed not only judicial and philosophical insight but also practical ingenuity. 1 Kings 4:29-34 describes Solomon's vast understanding and his ability to speak about various subjects, from botany to zoology, showcasing a breadth of knowledge and creativity.

Theological Insights

The Bible presents human ingenuity as a reflection of the imago Dei, the image of God in humanity. This creative capacity is a divine gift, intended for the stewardship of creation and the advancement of God's purposes on earth. However, the Bible also warns against the misuse of ingenuity for selfish or idolatrous ends.

1. Tower of Babel: In Genesis 11, the construction of the Tower of Babel illustrates how human ingenuity can be misdirected. The people sought to make a name for themselves, leading to divine intervention and the scattering of languages. This narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the potential for human creativity to be used in defiance of God's will.

2. Proverbs on Wisdom: The Book of Proverbs frequently extols the virtues of wisdom and understanding, which are closely related to ingenuity. Proverbs 8:12 states, "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion." Here, wisdom is portrayed as a guiding force for the proper application of knowledge and creativity.

Practical Applications

In the Christian life, ingenuity is to be exercised with humility and a heart aligned with God's purposes. Believers are encouraged to use their talents and creativity for the edification of the church and the betterment of society. The New Testament emphasizes the diversity of gifts within the body of Christ, as seen in 1 Corinthians 12, where each member contributes uniquely to the whole.

In summary, while the Bible may not explicitly use the term "ingenious," it provides numerous examples and teachings that underscore the value of creativity and wisdom as gifts from God, meant to be used in accordance with His will and for His glory.1. (a.) Possessed of genius, or the faculty of invention; skillful or prompt to invent; having an aptitude to contrive, or to form new combinations; as, an ingenious author, mechanic.

2. (a.) Proceeding from, pertaining to, or characterized by, genius or ingenuity; of curious design, structure, or mechanism; as, an ingenious model, or machine; an ingenious scheme, contrivance, etc.

3. (a.) Witty; shrewd; adroit; keen; sagacious; as, an ingenious reply.

4. (a.) Mental; intellectual.

2805. chesheb -- ingenious work
... 2804, 2805. chesheb. 2806 . ingenious work. Transliteration: chesheb
Phonetic Spelling: (khay'-sheb) Short Definition: band. Word ...
/hebrew/2805.htm - 6k

Let it be Supposed, that Your Ingenious Reason Should Suggest to ...
... [Way-3-8] Let it be supposed, that your ingenious reason should suggest
to you? Let it be supposed, that your ingenious reason ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-3-8 let it be supposed.htm

"The Things of God," Says St. ...
... But Mr. Green has got together his ingenious, his eminent writers, his excellent,
learned, judicious authors, his cool, rational- morality doctors (a set of ...
/.../address 85 0 0 the things of.htm

Introductory Note to the Epistle of Barnabas
... It is with great reluctance that I yield to modern scholars, in dismissing the
ingenious and temperate argument of Archbishop Wake [1438] for the apostolic ...
/.../barnabas/the epistle of barnabas /introductory note to the epistle.htm

No Sorrow Like Messiah's Sorrow
... Ingenious men, and sometimes men not very ingenious, have endeavoured to discover
types [prophetic symbols] and mysteries in the plainest of historical parts ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xxiii no sorrow like.htm

An Israelite Indeed
... John 1:47. 1. Some years ago a very ingenious man, Professor Hutcheson of Glasgow,
published two treatises, The Original of our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 90 an israelite indeed.htm

Semi-Parasitism.
... Is parasitism, after all, not a somewhat clever ruse? Is it not an ingenious way
of securing the benefits of life while evading its responsibilities? ...
/.../drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/semi-parasitism.htm

Manifold Struggles
... Their hypocrisy became so ingenious that it even deceived themselves, and they voided
the most envenomed virulence on those who repudiated their pretensions ...
/.../chapter xxii manifold struggles.htm

Estimate of St. Augustin.
... Baur draws an ingenious and suggestive comparison between Augustin and Origen,
the two greatest intellects among the church fathers. ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter iii estimate of st augustin.htm

Elucidations.
... as to believe that Divine Providence led the Athenians to set up the very inscription
which was to prompt Christ's apostle to an ingenious interpretation, and ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/clement/the stromata or miscellanies/elucidations 5.htm

The Work of the Holy Spirit in Prophets and Apostles.
... is nothing in the Bible more inspired than the tabernacle, and if the Destructive
Critics would study it more, they would give up their ingenious but untenable ...
/.../torrey/the person and work of the holy spirit/chapter xxi the work of.htm

Ingenious (1 Occurrence)
... or the faculty of invention; skillful or prompt to invent; having an aptitude to
contrive, or to form new combinations; as, an ingenious author, mechanic. ...
/i/ingenious.htm - 7k

Star (16 Occurrences)
... Some three centuries ago the ingenious and devout Kepler supposed that he could
identify the star with a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn in the ...
/s/star.htm - 29k

Magi (4 Occurrences)
... Some three centuries ago the ingenious and devout Kepler supposed that he could
identify the star with a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn in the ...
/m/magi.htm - 26k

Siege (63 Occurrences)
... 5. Siege Operations: Defense: While the besiegers employed this variety of means
of attack, the besieged were equally ingenious and active in maintaining the ...
/s/siege.htm - 51k

Sabbath (126 Occurrences)
... Notice must be taken of an ingenious and able paper by Professor M. Jastrow, which
was read before the Eleventh International Congress of Orientalists in Paris ...
/s/sabbath.htm - 86k

Jabez (3 Occurrences)
... For an ingenious reconstruction of the passage see EB, under the word (2) Person:
The head of a family of Judah, noted for his "honorable" character, though ...
/j/jabez.htm - 8k

Wings (81 Occurrences)
... Wings in the abstract typified shelter, strength or speed, as a rule, while in some
instances their use was ingenious and extremely poetical, as when Job ...
/w/wings.htm - 34k

Ingatherings (1 Occurrence)

/i/ingatherings.htm - 6k

Ingenuity (1 Occurrence)

/i/ingenuity.htm - 7k

Trick (11 Occurrences)
... trade. 2. (n.) A sly, dexterous, or ingenious procedure fitted to puzzle
or amuse; as, a bear's tricks; a juggler's tricks. 3. (a ...
/t/trick.htm - 10k

Ingenious: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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