Topical Bible: Wit

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Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Nature:
Wit, in the context of biblical literature, refers to the ability to use words and ideas in a quick and inventive way to create humor or insight. It is often associated with wisdom, discernment, and the skillful use of language. In the Bible, wit is not merely about humor but is closely linked to wisdom and understanding, reflecting a deeper insight into human nature and divine truth.

Biblical Examples and References:
While the Bible does not explicitly use the term "wit," the concept is evident in various passages where cleverness, wisdom, and insightful speech are highlighted. The Book of Proverbs, known for its wise sayings, often reflects the essence of wit through its concise and impactful statements.

1. Proverbs and Wisdom:
Proverbs 15:23 states, "A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!" This verse underscores the value of speaking with insight and appropriateness, which are key elements of wit. The ability to deliver a timely and fitting response is celebrated as a form of wisdom.

2. Jesus’ Parables and Teachings:
Jesus often employed wit in His parables and teachings, using clever and thought-provoking accounts to convey deeper truths. For instance, in Matthew 22:15-22, when the Pharisees attempt to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar, He responds with the famous line, "Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s" . This response demonstrates wit through its cleverness and profound insight.

3. Paul’s Use of Wit:
The Apostle Paul also demonstrates wit in his epistles. In 1 Corinthians 1:25 , he writes, "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." Here, Paul uses paradoxical language to convey the superiority of divine wisdom over human understanding, showcasing a form of intellectual wit.

The Role of Wit in Communication:
Wit, when used appropriately, can be a powerful tool for communication. It can engage listeners, disarm critics, and illuminate truth in a memorable way. The Bible encourages believers to use their words wisely and to speak with grace. Colossians 4:6 advises, "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." This verse suggests that wit, like salt, can enhance communication, making it more effective and impactful.

Warnings Against Misuse:
While wit can be beneficial, the Bible also warns against its misuse. Ephesians 5:4 cautions, "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving." This warning highlights the importance of using wit in a manner that is edifying and aligned with Christian values, avoiding humor that is coarse or inappropriate.

Conclusion:
In summary, wit in the biblical sense is closely tied to wisdom and the skillful use of language. It is a gift that, when used rightly, can convey truth, engage others, and reflect the wisdom of God. However, believers are called to exercise discernment, ensuring that their wit aligns with the principles of grace and edification.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (inf.) of Wit.

2. (n.) To know; to learn.

3. (v.) Mind; intellect; understanding; sense.

4. (n.) A mental faculty, or power of the mind; -- used in this sense chiefly in the plural, and in certain phrases; as, to lose one's wits; at one's wits' end, and the like.

5. (v.) Felicitous association of objects not usually connected, so as to produce a pleasant surprise; also. the power of readily combining objects in such a manner.

6. (n.) A person of eminent sense or knowledge; a man of genius, fancy, or humor; one distinguished for bright or amusing sayings, for repartee, and the like.

Greek

2160. eutrapelia -- ready wit, coarse jesting
... ready wit, coarse jesting. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: eutrapelia
Phonetic Spelling: (yoo-trap-el-ee'-ah) Short Definition: low jesting ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2160.htm - 6k

1107. gnorizo -- to come to know, to make known
... From a derivative of ginosko; to make known; subjectively, to know -- certify, declare,
make known, give to understand, do to wit, wot. see GREEK ginosko. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1107.htm - 7k

5613. hos -- as, like as, even as, when, since, as long as
... that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for,
how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5613.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

2451. chokmah -- wisdom
... skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit. From chakam; wisdom (in a good sense) -- skilful,
wisdom, wisely, wit. see HEBREW chakam. 2450, 2451. chokmah. 2452 . ...
/hebrew/2451.htm - 6k

3045. yada -- to know
... regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach,
(can) tell, understand, have (understanding), X will be, wist, wit, wot. ...
/hebrew/3045.htm - 8k

Library

On the Wit of Whistler
... XVII. On the Wit of Whistler. ... I cannot understand anybody reading "The Gentle Art
of Making Enemies" and thinking that there is any laughter in the wit. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/xvii on the wit of.htm

The True Thesaurus; to Wit, the Disputation Conducted in Carchar.. ...
... 1 The TRUE Thesaurus; to wit, the Disputation conducted in Carchar? The
true Thesaurus; [1454] to wit, the Disputation conducted ...
/.../1 the true thesaurus to.htm

How a Man May Wit when his Ghostly Work is Beneath Him or Without ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE TWO AND SIXTIETH CHAPTER How a man may wit when his ghostly work
is beneath him or without him, and when it is even with him or within him ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the two and 5.htm

The Second Condition Requisite in Affective Prayer, to Wit...
... CHAPTER V. The second condition requisite in affective prayer, to wit? ... 1. The second
condition requisite in affective prayer, to wit, fervour or devotion. ...
/.../chapter v the second condition.htm

A Second Discouragement in Prayer Opposite to Perseverance, to Wit ...
... A second discouragement in prayer opposite to perseverance, to wit? ... 1, 2. A second
discouragement in prayer opposite to perseverance, to wit, Distractions. ...
/.../chapter vi a second discouragement.htm

Bear with Me, My God, While I Say Somewhat of My Wit...
... Book I Chapter XVII Bear with me, my God, while I say somewhat of my wit? ... and
was there nothing else whereon to exercise my wit and tongue? ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xvii bear with me.htm

Of the Shortness of this Word, and How it May not be Come to by ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE FOURTH CHAPTER Of the shortness of this word, and how it
may not be come to by curiosity of wit, nor by imagination. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the fourth chapter.htm

Of Exercises of the Will: to Wit, Forced Immediate Acts...
... OF INTERNAL PRAYER. CHAPTER I. Of exercises of the will: to wit, forced
immediate acts? Sec. Sec. 1, 2, 3. Of exercises of the ...
/.../chapter i of exercises of.htm

Of the Second Sort of Unions: to Wit, Passive. ...
... OF CONTEMPLATION. CHAPTER III. Of the second sort of unions: to wit, passive.? Sec.
Sec. 1, 2. Of the second sort of unions: to wit, passive. Sec. Sec. ...
/.../chapter iii of the second.htm

Let Then the High Accomplished Scholar Reflect, that He Comes by ...
... Address 121: Let then the high accomplished scholar reflect, that he
comes by his wit? Let then the high accomplished scholar ...
/.../address 121 0 0 let then the.htm

Thesaurus

Wit (28 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (inf.) of Wit. 2. (n.) To know; to learn. 3.
(v ... like. Multi-Version Concordance Wit (28 Occurrences). Romans ...
/w/wit.htm - 17k

Wit's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Wit's (1 Occurrence). Psalms 107:27 They reel to and fro,
and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. (KJV WBS). ...
/w/wit's.htm - 6k

Witty (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Possessed of wit; knowing; wise; skillful;
judicious; clever; cunning. 2. (n.) Especially, possessing ...
/w/witty.htm - 10k

Wot (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp.) of Weet. 2. (pres. sing.) of Wit. 3. (v.) 1st
& 3d pers. sing. pres. Of Wit. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/w/wot.htm - 13k

Wist (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) Knew. 2. (pp) of Wit. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. WIST, WITTY, WOT. wist, wit'-i, wot: The ...
/w/wist.htm - 14k

Namely (81 Occurrences)
... 2. (adv.) That is to say; to wit; videlicet; -- introducing a particular or specific
designation. Multi-Version Concordance Namely (81 Occurrences). ...
/n/namely.htm - 31k

Kareah (14 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 40:8 then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, to wit, Ishmael the son of
Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of ...
/k/kareah.htm - 12k

Fire-pans (11 Occurrences)
... and the firepans, of pure gold; and the hinges, both for the doors of the inner
house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the ...
/f/fire-pans.htm - 9k

Firepans (9 Occurrences)
... and the firepans, of pure gold; and the hinges, both for the doors of the inner
house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, 'to wit', of the ...
/f/firepans.htm - 9k

Rabmag (2 Occurrences)
... accepted view, the proper rendering of the text should be, "All the princes of the
king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, to wit, Nergal-sharezer ...
/r/rabmag.htm - 9k

Resources

Who was Peter Abelard? | GotQuestions.org

What is a proverb in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Do we need to be aware of the spiritual battle that is taking place around us? | GotQuestions.org

Wit: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Wit (28 Occurrences)

Romans 8:23
Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS)

2 Corinthians 5:19
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
(KJV ASV WBS)

2 Corinthians 8:1
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
(KJV)

Ephesians 3:6
I mean the truth that the Gentiles are joint heirs with us Jews, and that they form one body with us, and have the same interest as we have in the promise which has been made good in Christ Jesus through the Good News,
(Root in WEY ASV NIV)

Genesis 24:21
And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
(KJV NIV)

Exodus 2:4
And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
(KJV)

Joshua 17:1
There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
(KJV WBS)

1 Kings 2:32
Yahweh will return his blood on his own head, because he fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, and my father David didn't know it: Abner the son of Ner, captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the army of Judah.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 7:50
and the cups, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the fire pans, of pure gold; and the hinges, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple, of gold.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

1 Kings 13:23
And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.
(KJV ASV WBS)

2 Kings 10:29
However from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin, Jehu didn't depart from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

1 Chronicles 7:2
The sons of Tola: Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Ibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their fathers' houses, to wit, of Tola; mighty men of valor in their generations: their number in the days of David was twenty-two thousand six hundred.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

1 Chronicles 8:8
And Shaharaim begat children in the field of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.
(See JPS)

1 Chronicles 27:1
Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand.
(KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS)

2 Chronicles 4:12
To wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars;
(KJV WBS)

2 Chronicles 4:22
and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the firepans, of pure gold: and as for the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house, 'to wit', of the temple, were of gold.
(ASV)

2 Chronicles 25:7
But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, don't let the army of Israel go with you; for Yahweh is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 25:10
Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: therefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in fierce anger.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 31:3
He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Nehemiah 11:3
Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah lived everyone in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon's servants.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Esther 2:12
Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women).
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 25:18
to wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and its kings, and its princes, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is this day;
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Jeremiah 34:9
that every man should let his male servant, and every man his female servant, who is a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free; that none should make bondservants of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Jeremiah 36:12
he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber: and behold, all the princes were sitting there, to wit, Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.
(WEB ASV)

Jeremiah 39:3
that all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, to wit, Nergal Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV)

Jeremiah 40:8
then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, to wit, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.
(WEB ASV NAS)

Jeremiah 41:3
Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with him, to wit, with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans who were found there, the men of war.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 13:16
to wit, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, says the Lord Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS)

Subtopics

Wit

Related Terms

Witchcraft (8 Occurrences)

Endor (3 Occurrences)

Charm (5 Occurrences)

Devils (48 Occurrences)

Demons (54 Occurrences)

Communion (8 Occurrences)

With (66342 Occurrences)

En-dor (3 Occurrences)

Magic (12 Occurrences)