Sophia (wisdom)

Sophia (Koine Greek: σοφία, sophía—'wisdom') is a central idea in Hellenistic philosophy and religion, Platonism, and Gnosticism. Originally carrying a meaning of 'cleverness, skill', the later meaning of the term, 'sound judgement, intelligence, practical wisdom', is close to the meaning of phronesis (φρόνησις, 'practical wisdom, intelligence'), and was significantly shaped by the term philosophía ('love of wisdom') as used by Plato. In the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, the feminine personification of divine wisdom as Holy Wisdom (Ἁγία Σοφία, Hagía Sophía) can refer either to Jesus Christ the Word of God (as in the dedication of the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople) or to the Holy Spirit. References to sophía in Koine Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible are translated from the Hebrew term Chokmah (חכמה).