cha.kham describes becoming or being wise, including wisdom gained through instruction and wisdom applied in deliberate action.

The prevailing use describes a person or group as becoming or being wise, often in response to counsel, discipline, observation, or association. The term also occurs where someone makes others wise and, in reflexive forms, where wisdom is applied to one’s own conduct or planning.

1. Become or be wise · dominant

   Qal forms describe wisdom as a state or an outcome: in Proverbs 13:20, walking continually with the wise results in becoming wise, while Proverbs 19:20 places wisdom after listening to counsel and accepting discipline. Proverbs 9:9 presents further instruction as making a wise man still wiser, and Job 32:9 denies that wisdom belongs only to the aged.

   Proverbs 13:20Proverbs 19:20Proverbs 9:9Job 32:9Proverbs 23:15Deuteronomy 32:29
2. Make someone wise · common

   Piel and Hiphil forms place wisdom's effect on another: Job 35:11 says that he makes people wise through animals and birds, and Psalm 119:98 says that the commandment makes the speaker wise beyond enemies. Psalm 105:22 similarly places the action with teaching elders wisdom.

   Job 35:11Psalm 119:98Psalm 105:22Psalm 19:8
3. Act wisely toward a situation · occasional

   The Hithpael forms portray self-directed or deliberate conduct. In Exodus 1:10 the APB renders the proposal, "let us deal wisely with them," in view of the group's feared increase and possible alliance with enemies; Ecclesiastes 7:16 warns, "do not make yourself too wise."

   Exodus 1:10Ecclesiastes 7:16

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term with "wise," "becomes wise," or "makes us wise," and it also renders the reflexive context in Exodus 1:10 as "deal wisely." Wording such as Psalm 19:8's "enlightening the eyes" should be read as the verse's presentation rather than a fixed rendering of the term.