Knowledge is Power

(2) See, I have singled out by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

(3) I have endowed him with a divine spirit of skill, ability, and knowledge in every kind of craft;

(17) Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah says:...If there is no wisdom, there is no fear; if there is no fear, there is no wisdom. If there is no understanding, there is no knowledge; if there is no knowledge, there is no understanding...

(1) חכמה WISDOM is what a person hears from others and learns (makes his own).

(2) תבונה UNDERSTANDING is understanding a matter by one’s own intelligence deducing it from the things one has already learned.

(3) דעת means holy inspiration.

(5) if there is no knowledge, there is no understanding: There are three 'brains' and they are divided to [contain] three things - wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Wisdom is that which he learns from others, understanding is that which he derives one thing from another by comparison and knowledge is that which he grasps on his own. And that which they said, "if there is no knowledge, there is no understanding," is because if he does not have the ability to grasp and know a thing itself on his own, how will he derive something by comparison to something [else]? As knowledge precedes understanding; and without knowledge, it is impossible that he have understanding.

(6) If there is no understanding, there is no knowledge: If he does not have the power to understand things by comparison [to another] thing, it is because he does not have complete knowledge to grasp and understand that thing [from which he seeks to understand,] itself.

(1) Ben Zoma says: Who is the wise one? He who learns from all men...

(1) Ben Zoma said, "Who is the wise one? He who learns from all men: The sages of the nations of the world have said one who knows all of the wisdoms [yet] does not love wisdom is not a wise man but a fool. As he does not love knowledge, which is intelligence. However, one who loves and desires it - even though he does not know anything - behold, this one is called a wise man. In any event, he will reach true wisdom and find knowledge of God. And about this Ben Zoma said, "Who is the wise one? He who learns from all men" - as so much does he love wisdom that he asks [it] from every person. And even from the one who only knows (another) [one] thing does he learn; and then his path becomes successful and he will become enlightened. And because of this he is called a wise one, as it says, "I have acquired understanding from all my teachers" (Psalms 119:99). As so did David, peace be upon him, say - that he learned from every person; and he did not say, "This one is not as knowledgeable as I." Rather he learned from them all and became enlightened. There is a metaphor [relevant to this] about a man that lost a small vessel - would he not seek if from every man?

(2) "Who is the wise one": This is what it is saying: Who is wise, who is fitting to be lauded by his wisdom?

(3) "He who learns from all men": And even though [that person that he learns from] is lesser than he. As since he is not concerned about his honor and learns from the lesser ones, [it shows] that his wisdom is for the sake of Heaven and not to boast and revel in.

(4) "as it says, 'I have acquired understanding from all my teachers'": And the end of the verse is, "since your testimonies are my conversation" - which means to say, "I would learn Torah from all my teachers, and even from those that are lesser than I, and I would not be concerned about my honor; as all of my intentions were for Heaven alone." And so [too], "who is the mighty one," [means] who is fitting to be lauded by his might? "He who conquers his impulse."

(3) "wise and understanding": As Arios asked R. Yossi: Who is wise? He answered: One who fulfills what he has learned. Arios: You say "one who fulfills what he has learned," but perhaps it means one who is understanding. Rebbi: "understanding" is already written. What is the difference between "understanding" and "wise"? The wise man is like a traveling money changer. When he is brought (coins to assess), he examines them. When he is not brought (coins), he sits idle. The understanding man is like a rich money-changer. When he is not brought (coins) to examine, he examines his own.

(1) You graciously favor man with knowledge and teach mortals understanding.

(2) Favor us with knowledge, understanding, and prudence. Blessed are You, O Lord, Who favors us with knowledge.

(11) You graciously bestow knowledge to man, & teach mortals understanding, graciously bestow upon us from Yourself wisdom, understanding & knowledge. Blessed are You L·rd, Who graciously bestows knowledge.

One who comes in order to become impure, i.e., to sin, they, in Heaven, provide him with an opening to do so, and he is not prevented from sinning. However, if he comes in order to become purified, not only is he allowed to do so, but they, in Heaven, assist him.