What does the word prudence mean in the Bible?
Prudence in the Bible, as explained here, means good common horse sense—simply having good sense. It accompanies wisdom as part of the abundant life God gives believers, which is not material wealth but spiritual blessing. Both wisdom and prudence are appropriated by faith, not by human effort or works.
Les explains that prudence is not a complicated term; he says it can be wrapped up better than Webster's Dictionary: prudence is just good common horse sense. When a person is prudent, they merely have good sense. He connects this to the abundant life: if you have wisdom and with it some good common horse sense, you have the abundant life. This wisdom and prudence are given by God to believers freely, not something earned by groveling, climbing steps to St. Peter, or crossing the ocean. It is given here and now and is abounding, more than we can handle. Les emphasizes that we appropriate it by faith, not by feeling; the more we believe, the more He blesses, because faith pleases God, while unbelief is what He holds most strongly against mankind. The problem in Christendom today is that many may be saved but lack this kind of wisdom and flounder in ignorance of the Scriptures.