The Bible teaches that wisdom and understanding come from God and encourages us to seek both. Learning more about what Scripture says on understanding can help us make wiser choices and build stronger relationships.
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What Does The Bible Say About Understanding
Proverbs 2:6
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
This verse reminds us that true understanding comes from God. It is not something we can attain on our own, but rather a gift from Him. When we seek wisdom and knowledge from the Lord, He graciously provides us with understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Our own understanding can be limited and flawed. This verse urges us to trust in the Lord rather than relying solely on our own understanding. When we submit to His guidance and direction, He will lead us on the right path and provide the understanding we need.
Isaiah 55:9
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
This verse humbles us and reminds us that God’s understanding and wisdom surpasses our own. His ways and thoughts are beyond our comprehension. It prompts us to trust in His divine understanding, even when we cannot fully grasp it.
Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
To truly understand, we must first acknowledge and revere the Lord. This verse teaches us that having a proper reverence for God is the foundation of true knowledge. Those who reject wisdom and instruction are considered foolish.
James 1:5
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
When we lack understanding, we are called to seek wisdom from God. He is willing to give generously to those who ask, without reproach. By seeking His guidance, we can gain the understanding we need.
Proverbs 4:7
“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
Understanding is valuable and worth pursuing. This verse emphasizes the importance of seeking wisdom and understanding above all else, even if it requires sacrifice. It highlights the significance of prioritizing the acquisition of knowledge.
Psalm 119:104
“I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.”
The Word of God provides us with understanding and wisdom. This verse declares that by following God’s commandments and teachings, we gain understanding. It also instills in us a detestation for the wrong paths in life.
Proverbs 14:6
“The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.”
Those who mock and scorn wisdom will not find it. However, those who are discerning and open to understanding will easily acquire knowledge. This verse encourages us to have a humble and receptive attitude towards seeking understanding.
Proverbs 17:27
“The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.”
True understanding affects our behavior and speech. Those with knowledge and understanding exercise self-control and speak wisely. This verse highlights the importance of having a balanced and measured approach in our interactions with others.
Proverbs 23:23
“Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and understanding.”
The pursuit of understanding and wisdom is of great value and should not be taken lightly. This verse encourages us to hold onto truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding with utmost importance, recognizing their great worth.
1 Corinthians 2:14
“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”
Without the Holy Spirit, we are unable to fully comprehend and accept the wisdom and understanding that comes from God. It is through the Spirit that we are able to discern and grasp the deeper truths of God’s guidance.
Proverbs 29:11
“Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”
Understanding also includes emotional intelligence. This verse highlights how wisdom and understanding enable individuals to control their anger and bring about peace and resolution in challenging situations.
Proverbs 18:2
“Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.”
True understanding is accompanied by humility. This verse warns against the foolishness of those who prioritize expressing their own opinions over seeking understanding. It encourages us to value understanding more than promoting ourselves.
Proverbs 24:3-4
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding, it is established; through knowledge, its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”
Understanding plays a crucial role in building a strong foundation of wisdom. This verse emphasizes that understanding, paired with knowledge, brings richness and beauty to our lives and environments.
Proverbs 20:12
“Ears that hear and eyes that see— the Lord has made them both.”
Understanding involves not only acquiring knowledge but also being receptive and observant. This verse acknowledges that God has given us the ability to hear and see, enabling us to gain understanding through our senses.
Ephesians 1:17
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians highlights the importance of spiritual understanding. Through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, we can deepen our knowledge and understanding of God, fostering a closer relationship with Him.
Psalm 111:10
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”
The fear or reverence for the Lord is the starting point for true wisdom. This verse assures us that those who live according to God’s commands and teachings will have good understanding. It also calls us to offer eternal praise to Him.
Colossians 1:9
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.”
The Apostle Paul’s prayer for the Colossians emphasizes the importance of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in discerning and living according to God’s will. It acknowledges that these qualities come from the Holy Spirit and are essential in our spiritual journey.
2 Timothy 2:7
“Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”
This verse encourages us to carefully consider and meditate on God’s Word. By doing so, we open ourselves up to the Lord’s insight and understanding, allowing Him to reveal deeper truths to us.
Ephesians 3:4
“In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.”
Understanding Scripture can provide insight into the mystery of Christ. This verse reminds us that the more we engage with the Word of God, the deeper our understanding will be of the mysteries and truths found in Christ.
1 Corinthians 13:11
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”
Growing in understanding involves maturing in our thinking and reasoning. This verse illustrates how we should leave behind childish ways of thinking and embrace a more mature perspective as we grow in wisdom and understanding.
Proverbs 9:10
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Once again, the fear of the Lord is highlighted as the starting point of wisdom. This verse emphasizes the importance of knowing and understanding the Holy One, God Himself, as we seek true understanding.
Acts 8:30-31
“Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.”
Seeking understanding sometimes requires the guidance and explanation of others. This passage from Acts shows how the Ethiopian eunuch recognized the need for someone to help him understand the Scriptures, and Philip was there to provide the necessary explanation.
John 14:26
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
The Holy Spirit is our divine teacher and guide. This verse assures us that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and remind us of Jesus’ teachings, enabling us to gain understanding and apply them to our lives.
Matthew 13:23
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
True understanding leads to fruitfulness. This verse illustrates that when we hear the Word of God and truly understand it, our lives will produce a bountiful harvest of spiritual growth and impact.
Psalm 119:130
“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
God’s Word illuminates our path and grants understanding, not only to the wise but also to those who are humble and lacking in knowledge. This verse assures us that even the simple-hearted can gain understanding by engaging with the Scriptures.