Definition and General Understanding:
The term "clever" generally refers to someone who is quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas. In a biblical context, cleverness can be seen as a gift from God when used for righteous purposes, but it can also be misused for deceit or pride.

Biblical References:

1. Wisdom and Cleverness:
Cleverness is often associated with wisdom in the Bible. Proverbs 1:5 states, "Let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel." Here, cleverness is portrayed positively when it leads to wisdom and understanding.

2. Cleverness in Speech:
The Bible warns against using cleverness in speech for deceitful purposes. In 1 Corinthians 1:17 , Paul writes, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." This suggests that clever speech should not overshadow the simplicity and truth of the Gospel.

3. Cleverness and Deception:
Cleverness can be used for deceit, as seen in the account of Jacob and Esau. In Genesis 27, Jacob uses cleverness to deceive his father Isaac and receive the blessing meant for Esau. This act of cleverness, while successful, leads to family strife and long-term consequences.

4. Cleverness in Problem Solving:
The Bible also provides examples of clever problem-solving. In 1 Kings 3:16-28, Solomon demonstrates cleverness and wisdom in resolving the dispute between two women claiming to be the mother of a child. His clever solution reveals the true mother and earns him respect and admiration.

5. Cleverness and Humility:
True cleverness is accompanied by humility. James 3:13 states, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." Cleverness should be exercised with humility and a heart aligned with God's will.

6. Cleverness and God's Sovereignty:
Ultimately, cleverness is subject to God's sovereignty. Proverbs 21:30 reminds us, "No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel can prevail against the LORD." Human cleverness is limited and should be aligned with God's purposes.

Theological Implications:
Cleverness, when aligned with God's wisdom, can be a powerful tool for good. However, it must be exercised with caution, humility, and a heart that seeks to honor God. The Bible encourages believers to seek wisdom from God, who grants it generously to those who ask (James 1:5).1. (a.) Possessing quickness of intellect, skill, dexterity, talent, or adroitness; expert.

2. (a.) Showing skill or adroitness in the doer or former; as, a clever speech; a clever trick.

3. (a.) Having fitness, propriety, or suitableness.

4. (a.) Well-shaped; handsome.

5. (a.) Good-natured; obliging.

4908. sunetos -- intelligent
... Spirit.]. Word Origin from suniemi Definition intelligent NASB Word Usage
clever (1), intelligence (1), intelligent (2). prudent. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4908.htm - 7k

4817. sullogizomai -- to reckon, to compute, ie to reason
... 4817 (from 4862 , "identify " and 3049 , "to reckon") -- properly, , organizing
details (premises) into a pragmatic ("clever") (used only in Lk 20:5). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4817.htm - 7k

3835. panourgos -- ready to do anything, crafty, skillful
... Noun, Masculine Transliteration: panourgos Phonetic Spelling: (pan-oor'-gos) Short
Definition: cunning, crafty Definition: cunning, crafty, skilful, clever. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3835.htm - 7k

791. asteios -- of the town, by impl. courteous, elegant
... Spelling: (as-ti'-os) Short Definition: elegant, pretty, fair, fine, beautiful
Definition: (lit: belonging to the city; then: witty, clever), elegant, pretty ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/791.htm - 6k

4680. sophos -- skilled, wise
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: sophos Phonetic Spelling: (sof-os') Short
Definition: wise Definition: wise, learned, cultivated, skilled, clever. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4680.htm - 6k

995. bin -- to discern
... root Definition to discern NASB Word Usage acted wisely (1), cared (1), clever
(1), consider (8), consider carefully (1), considers (1), diligently consider (1 ...
/hebrew/995.htm - 7k

Some Clever Men Imagine that the Lord's Supper was Instituted for ...
... Part 32 Some clever men imagine that the Lord's Supper was instituted
for two reasons.? Some clever men imagine that the Lord's ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 32 some clever men.htm

Slum Novelists and the Slums
... a double falsity will be set up, and millions of the images of God, who, fortunately
for their wives and families, are neither gentlemen nor clever men, will ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/xix slum novelists and the.htm

Chapter iii
... 1. Now the serpent was the most clever of all the beasts of the field which Jahweh
God had made, and she said unto the woman: And (is it really the case) that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter iii.htm

That Although not Understanding them to be the Gifts of God, they ...
... But if Virtue cannot come except to the clever, what need was there of the god Father
Catius, who should make men cautious, that is, acute, when Felicity could ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 21 that although not understanding.htm

The Beginning and End of Wisdom
... You may be as clever as you will, but if you are reckless and wild, you will gain
no wisdom. ... A clever fool is common enough, and dangerous enough. ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxii the beginning and.htm

A Third Passage with which He Finds Fault is that in which I Gave ...
... frugal, and slaves who are not wasteful, and the care-takers who made our childhood
a burden to us and even thieves when they are particularly clever, we speak ...
/.../24 a third passage with.htm

As Regards Our Reverend Friend Epiphanius, this is Strange ...
... I confess I cannot restrain my laughter when, at the prompting of some clever
person, you strike up a hymn in honour of Epiphanius. ...
/.../23 as regards our reverend.htm

Letter L. To Domnio.
... nay, of one in particular"a lounger who is to be seen in the streets, at crossings,
and in public places; a monk who is a noisy news-monger, clever only in ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter l to domnio.htm

The Life of God
... male nor female, slave nor freeman, Jew who fancies that God's promises belong to
him alone, or Gentile who knows nothing about them, clever learned Greek, or ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xv the life of.htm

Biographical Sketch.
... school, where, as he tells us, by his ready memory and the ease with which he acquired
mere verbal knowledge, he came to be thought very clever,"an opinion ...
/.../schleiermacher/selected sermons of schleiermacher/biographical sketch.htm

Clever (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Showing skill or adroitness in the doer or former; as, a clever speech;
a clever trick. ... Multi-Version Concordance Clever (3 Occurrences). ...
/c/clever.htm - 7k

Witty (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Possessed of wit; knowing; wise; skillful;
judicious; clever; cunning. 2. (n.) Especially, possessing ...
/w/witty.htm - 10k

Cleverly (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In a clever manner. Multi-Version Concordance
Cleverly (2 Occurrences). 2 Peter 1:16 For when we ...
/c/cleverly.htm - 7k

Clerk (1 Occurrence)

/c/clerk.htm - 8k

Versed (5 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 3:3 the captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and
the clever among artificers, and the one versed in enchantments. (DBY). ...
/v/versed.htm - 8k

Good (8348 Occurrences)
... especially by for. 5. (superl.) Clever; skillful; dexterous; ready; handy; --
followed especially by at. 6. (superl.) Adequate; sufficient ...
/g/good.htm - 26k

Wily (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Full of tricks, or stratagems; clever; using craft
or stratagem to accomplish a purpose; mischievously artful; subtle. ...
/w/wily.htm - 7k

Wist (13 Occurrences)
... has "a witty child," the Revised Version (British and American) "a child of parts,"
margin "goodly" (euphues, "well grown," "of a good disposition," "clever"). ...
/w/wist.htm - 14k

Wot (10 Occurrences)
... has "a witty child," the Revised Version (British and American) "a child of parts,"
margin "goodly" (euphues, "well grown," "of a good disposition," "clever"). ...
/w/wot.htm - 13k

Expert (59 Occurrences)
... use, practice, or experience, experienced; having facility of operation or performance
from practice; knowing and ready from much practice; clever; skillful; as ...
/e/expert.htm - 25k

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