from sophos, "wise" (connected etymologically with sophes, "tasty"), in the Active Voice signifies "to make wise," 2 Timothy 3:15 (so in the Sept. of Psalm 19:7 , e.g., "making babes wise;" in Psalm 119:98 , "Thous hast made me wiser than mine enemies"). In the Middle Voice it means (a) "to become wise;" it is not used thus in the NT, but is so found in the Sept., e.g., in Ecclesiastes 2:15,19; 7:17; (b) "to play the sophist, to devise cleverly;" it is used with this meaning in the Passive Voice in 2 Peter 1:16 , "cunningly devised fables." See WISE.
Note: Cp. katasophizomai, "to deal subtly. See DEAL WITH , Note (2).