Knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and insight are all great qualities that every human should possess to live a more noble life. We go to schools to gain knowledge, hold on to our conviction to achieve wisdom, and reflect on our own doings to achieve understanding. We might be familiar with the meaning of knowledge and wisdom, as we usually hear people talking about them. Some people even use them interchangeably
First let’s look at some definitions.
Knowledge is the collective information and facts acquired through education or experience. Knowledge is awareness. And yes, knowledge itself is power.
Proverbs 18:15 NLT Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.
Proverbs 12:1 NIV Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.
Psalms 119:66 NIV Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.
Hosea 4:6 ESV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
Wisdom is the quality of having good judgment based on knowledge. It is popularly known as the ability to discern. If knowledge is power, wisdom is your choice to use or apply that power.
Proverbs 3:13-18 ESV Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
James 1:5 ESVIf any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
James 3:13-17 ESV Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
Understanding is the ability to understand one’s knowledge and choices. It is the realization of your decision. It is knowledge and wisdom put into action. If knowledge is power and wisdom is your choice to use that power, understanding is the execution of your choice to use that power. We develop understanding when we practice what we preach.
Proverbs 3:13-18 ESV Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
Proverbs 2:9-15 ESV Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.
Psalm 119:34 ESV Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
Insight is the capacity to gain an accurate and deep understanding of one’s knowledge and choices. It is the ability to make your knowledge, decision, and action into a habit or a lifestyle. If knowledge is power, wisdom is your choice to use that power, and understanding is the execution of your choice to use that power — then insight is the consistent execution of your choice to use that power. Insight is related to our future. If we have insight, or if we are constantly putting our knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of actions, we become more confident in our future.
Psalms 19:8 NLT The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.
Psalms 111:10 HCSB The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His instructions have good insight. His praise endures forever.
Psalms 119:130 NET Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines. They give insight to the untrained.
How do You Get Knowledge, Wisdom Understanding and Insight
To gain knowledge, you must spend time and effort to know things by reading, listening, seeing, experiencing, studying, and getting familiar with certain things. You can’t get knowledge without interest or passion.
To gain wisdom, you must have knowledge first, and then make a good judgment from that knowledge, being convinced of that knowledge. You can’t gain wisdom without the strength, courage, and confidence to decide. No matter how intelligent or knowledgeable a person is, if they can’t distinguish what is right or wrong, they can’t be considered as a wise person.
To gain understanding you have to have both knowledge and wisdom first, and then put them into action. You must first know, then make a choice, and then practice that choice.
To gain insight, you have to have: knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. By persistently practicing and reflecting on them, you can gain insight and have more certainty of the future.
In short, you have to know to have the knowledge, you have to make a knowledgeable choice to gain wisdom, you have to practice that choice to gain understanding, and finally, practice that choice consistently to gain insight.
Everyday Applications
Knowledge can help you become more intelligent, earn higher school grades, have a more profitable business, have a healthier life, build lasting relationships, and survive most of life’s challenges. Knowledge is indeed a power that can make you stronger and more competitive in life.
Wisdom can help you choose to apply your intelligence, honor, profit, health, love, and strength the right way. In other words, wisdom is choosing to use your knowledge or power in a better way.
Understanding can help you become a more practical person. Since it is the ability to put your knowledge and wisdom into actions, it will help you walk your talk and achieve actual results. Understanding will help you execute your choice to apply your intelligence, honor, profit, health, love, and strength the right way.
Insight can help you become a happier and more confident person. Since it is the ability to consistently practice your knowledge and wisdom, it will help you become more certain of the future. It will remove your fears and insecurities, thereby attaining real happiness and completeness in life. The insight will help you to persistently and constantly practice your choice to apply your intelligence, honor, profit, health, love, and strength the right way until you become more confident in the future.
We need knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and insight to have a better life now and in the future. You cannot have wisdom without knowledge, you cannot have understood without wisdom, and you cannot have insight without understanding.
Proverbs 2:1-6 ESV My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
To gain knowledge, you must spend time and effort to know things by reading, listening, seeing, experiencing, studying, and getting familiar with certain things. You can’t get knowledge without interest or passion.
To gain wisdom, you must have knowledge first, and then make a good judgment from that knowledge, being convinced of that knowledge. You can’t gain wisdom without the strength, courage, and confidence to decide. No matter how intelligent or knowledgeable a person is, if they can’t distinguish what is right or wrong, they can’t be considered as a wise person.
To gain understanding you have to have both knowledge and wisdom first, and then put them into action. You must first know, then make a choice, and then practice that choice.
To gain insight, you have to have: knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. By persistently practicing and reflecting on them, you can gain insight and have more certainty of the future.
In short, you have to know to have the knowledge, you have to make a knowledgeable choice to gain wisdom, you have to practice that choice to gain understanding, and finally, practice that choice consistently to gain insight.
Everyday Applications
Knowledge can help you become more intelligent, earn higher school grades, have a more profitable business, have a healthier life, build lasting relationships, and survive most of life’s challenges. Knowledge is indeed a power that can make you stronger and more competitive in life.
Wisdom can help you choose to apply your intelligence, honor, profit, health, love, and strength the right way. In other words, wisdom is choosing to use your knowledge or power in a better way.
Understanding can help you become a more practical person. Since it is the ability to put your knowledge and wisdom into actions, it will help you walk your talk and achieve actual results. Understanding will help you execute your choice to apply your intelligence, honor, profit, health, love, and strength the right way.
Insight can help you become a happier and more confident person. Since it is the ability to consistently practice your knowledge and wisdom, it will help you become more certain of the future. It will remove your fears and insecurities, thereby attaining real happiness and completeness in life. The insight will help you to persistently and constantly practice your choice to apply your intelligence, honor, profit, health, love, and strength the right way until you become more confident in the future.
We need knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and insight to have a better life now and in the future. You cannot have wisdom without knowledge, you cannot have understood without wisdom, and you cannot have insight without understanding.
Proverbs 2:1-6 ESV My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
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