Topical Bible: Cunning

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) Knowing; skillful; dexterous.

2. (a.) Wrought with, or exhibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious; curious; as, cunning work.

3. (a.) Crafty; sly; artful; designing; deceitful.

4. (a.) Pretty or pleasing; as, a cunning little boy.

5. (a.) Knowledge; art; skill; dexterity.

6. (n.) The faculty or act of using stratagem to accomplish a purpose; fraudulent skill or dexterity; deceit; craft.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CUNNING

kun'-ing (chakham, chashabh): In Bible-English "cunning" means always "wise" or "skilful"; the word does not occur in the bad sense, and it is found in the Old Testament only. The chief Hebrew words are chakham, "wise," "skilful" (2 Chronicles 2:7 the King James Version "a man cunning to work in gold"; 2 Chronicles 2:13 Isaiah 3:3 the King James Version, etc.); chashabh, "to think," "devise," "desire" (Exodus 26:1, 31; Exodus 28:6, 15 the King James Version, etc.). We have also da`ath, "knowledge" (1 Kings 7:14 the King James Version); bin, "to be intelligent" (1 Chronicles 25:7 the King James Version); machasbebheth, "thought," "device," "design" (Exodus 31:4; Exodus 35:33, 15 the King James Version); 'aman, "artificer" (Songs 7:1 the King James Version); yadha`, "to know," once translated "cunning" (Daniel 1:4 the King James Version).

For cunning the American Standard Revised Version gives "skilful" (Exodus 31:4, etc.; Isaiah 3:3 "expert"); for "cunning work" the work of the "skilful workman" (Exodus 26:1, 31, etc., the English Revised Version "cunning workman"); for "curious," "skilfully woven," the English Revised Version "cunningly woven" (Exodus 28:8, etc.).

W. L. Walker

Greek

3834. panourgia -- cleverness, craftiness
... craftiness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: panourgia Phonetic Spelling:
(pan-oorg-ee'-ah) Short Definition: cunning, craftiness Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3834.htm - 7k

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

3789. ophis -- a snake
... Probably from optanomai (through the idea of sharpness of vision); a snake,
figuratively, (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3789.htm - 6k

258. alopex -- a fox
... fox. Of uncertain derivation; a fox, ie (figuratively) a cunning person -- fox.
(alopekes) -- 2 Occurrences. (alopeki) -- 1 Occurrence. 257, 258. alopex. 259 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/258.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

2791. cheresh -- silently, secretly
... 2790b, 2791. cheresh. 2791a . silently, secretly. Transliteration: cheresh
Phonetic Spelling: (kheh'-resh) Short Definition: cunning. cunning, secretly ...
/hebrew/2791.htm - 5k

1847. daath -- knowledge
... cunning, ignorantly, knowledge, unawares wittingly. From yada'; knowledge -- cunning,
(ig-)norantly, know(-ledge), (un-)awares (wittingly). see HEBREW yada'. ...
/hebrew/1847.htm - 6k

2803. chashab -- to think, account
... make account of, conceive, consider, count, cunning man, work, workman, devise,.
A primitive root; properly, to plait or interpenetrate ...
/hebrew/2803.htm - 6k

4284. machashabah -- thought, device
... 4), thoughts (19), ways (1). cunning work, curious work, imagination, invented,
means, purpose, thought. Or machashebeth {makh-ash ...
/hebrew/4284.htm - 6k

2450. chakam -- wise
... cunning man, subtil, wisehearted,. From chakam; wise, (ie Intelligent, skilful or
artful) -- cunning (man), subtil, ((un-)), wise((hearted), man). ...
/hebrew/2450.htm - 6k

6191. arom -- to be shrewd or crafty
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to be shrewd or crafty NASB Word Usage become
shrewd (1), make shrewd (1), sensible (1), very cunning (1). ...
/hebrew/6191.htm - 6k

542. omman -- a masterworkman, artist
... cunning workman. From 'aman (in the sense of training); an expert -- cunning workman.
see HEBREW 'aman. 541, 542. omman. 543 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/542.htm - 6k

6122. oqbah -- insidiousness
... 6121b, 6122. oqbah. 6123 . insidiousness. Transliteration: oqbah Phonetic
Spelling: (ok-baw') Short Definition: cunning. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6122.htm - 6k

995. bin -- to discern
... attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel,.
A primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish ...
/hebrew/995.htm - 7k

6175. arum -- crafty, shrewd, sensible
... crafty, prudent, subtil. Passive participle of aram; cunning (usually in a bad sense) --
crafty, prudent, subtil. see HEBREW aram. 6174, 6175. arum. 6176 . ...
/hebrew/6175.htm - 6k

Library

Concerning the Cunning of Leontius, Bishop of Antioch, and the ...
... Book II. Chapter XIX."Concerning the cunning of Leontius, Bishop of Antioch,
and the boldness of Flavianus and Diodorus. At Antioch ...
/.../chapter xix concerning the cunning of.htm

"Bring not Therefore Your Cunning Man, that Has Skill in Words...
... [Way-2-10] "Bring not therefore your cunning man, that has skill in words?
"Bring not therefore your cunning man, that has skill ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-2-10 bring not therefore your.htm

A Good Declaring of Certain Doubts that May Fall in this Word ...
... EIGHTH CHAPTER A good declaring of certain doubts that may fall in this word treated
by question, in destroying of a man's own curiosity, of cunning, and of ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the eighth chapter.htm

How a Man Shall have Him in this Work against all Thoughts, and ...
... SEVENTH CHAPTER How a man shall have him in this work against all thoughts, and
specially against all those that arise of his own curiosity, of cunning, and of ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the seventh chapter.htm

Seeking Richly Rewarded
... These are just the type of many men in the world; they are strong men, they are
cunning men, they are thoroughly up to the times"smart, sharp men. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 60 1914/seeking richly rewarded.htm

The Longbeards' Saga. AD 400
... Over the camp-fires Drank I with heroes, Under the Donau bank, Warm in the snow
trench: Sagamen heard I there, Men of the Longbeards, Cunning and ancient, Honey ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the longbeards saga a d 400.htm

Hiram, the Inspired Artificer
... The King of Tyre sent to Solomon a testimony which was eloquent in his praise:
"I have sent a cunning man endued with understanding . . . . ...
/.../milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/hiram the inspired artificer.htm

Now There were Few Barriers Between the Emperor and the People. .. ...
... Then for a moment the cunning emperor laughed silently. ... The old emperor, leaning
forward, touched the arm of the young man and gave him a cunning glance. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 6 now there were.htm

Results of Transgression
... Them hath He filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver,
and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, . . . ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 4 results of transgression.htm

Gifts and Talents.
... and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and
in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/viii gifts and talents.htm

Thesaurus

Cunning (43 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Wrought with, or exhibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious; curious; as,
cunning work. ... 4. (a.) Pretty or pleasing; as, a cunning little boy. ...
/c/cunning.htm - 22k

Craftiness (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Dexterity in devising and effecting a purpose;
cunning; artifice; stratagem. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/c/craftiness.htm - 10k

Cunningly (3 Occurrences)
... (adv.) In a cunning manner; with cunning. ... Psalms 64:6 They plot injustice, saying,
"We have made a perfect plan!" Surely man's mind and heart are cunning. ...
/c/cunningly.htm - 7k

Craft (14 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) Cunning, art, or skill, in a bad sense, or applied to bad purposes; artifice;
guile; skill or dexterity employed to effect purposes by deceit or shrewd ...
/c/craft.htm - 12k

Sleight (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Cunning; craft; artful practice; as,
sleight of hand. 2. (n.) An artful trick; sly artifice; a ...
/s/sleight.htm - 7k

Subtilty (9 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Cunning; skill; craft. 4. (n.) Slyness in design; artifice; guile; a cunning
design or artifice; a trick; subtlety. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/s/subtilty.htm - 12k

Unscrupulous (2 Occurrences)
... Acts 13:10 said, "You who are full of every kind of craftiness and unscrupulous
cunning--you son of the Devil and foe to all that is right--will you never ...
/u/unscrupulous.htm - 7k

Overreach (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (vt) To deceive, or get the better of, by artifice or cunning; to outwit; to
cheat. 3. (vi) To reach too far. ... 6. (vi) To cheat by cunning or deception. ...
/o/overreach.htm - 7k

Workman (22 Occurrences)
... For "of ("with") cunning work" (Exodus 26:1, 31; Exodus 28:6, 15; 36:8, 35; 39:3,
8), the American Standard Revised Version has "the work of the skillful ...
/w/workman.htm - 17k

Workfellow (1 Occurrence)
... For "of ("with") cunning work" (Exodus 26:1, 31; Exodus 28:6, 15; 36:8, 35; 39:3,
8), the American Standard Revised Version has "the work of the skillful ...
/w/workfellow.htm - 10k

Resources

What is guile in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is a bulwark in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the purpose of the church? | GotQuestions.org

Cunning: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Cunning (43 Occurrences)

Acts 13:10
and said, "Full of all deceit and all cunning, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
(WEB WEY)

Acts 18:14
But, when Paul was about to begin his defence, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it had been some wrongful act or piece of cunning knavery I might reasonably have listened to you Jews.
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 3:19
This world's wisdom is "foolishness" in God's sight; for it is written, "He snares the wise with their own cunning."
(WEY)

2 Corinthians 4:2
Nay, we have renounced the secrecy which marks a feeling of shame. We practice no cunning tricks, nor do we adulterate God's Message. But by a full clear statement of the truth we strive to commend ourselves in the presence of God to every human conscience.
(WEY RSV)

2 Corinthians 11:3
But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
(See RSV NIV)

Ephesians 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
(KJV WEY DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Genesis 25:27
And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
(KJV JPS)

Exodus 26:1
Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubim of cunning work shalt thou make them.
(KJV)

Exodus 26:31
And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubim shall it be made:
(KJV)

Exodus 28:6
And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.
(KJV)

Exodus 31:4
To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
(KJV)

Exodus 35:33
And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.
(KJV)

Exodus 35:35
Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.
(KJV)

Exodus 36:8
And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubim of cunning work made he them.
(KJV)

Exodus 36:35
And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim made he it of cunning work.
(KJV)

Exodus 38:23
And with him was Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen.
(KJV)

Exodus 39:3
And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.
(KJV)

Exodus 39:8
And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
(KJV)

Joshua 9:4
they also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins, old and torn and bound up,
(See RSV)

1 Samuel 16:16
Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
(KJV)

1 Samuel 16:18
Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
(KJV)

1 Samuel 23:22
Please go make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there; for it is told me that he deals very subtly.
(See NAS RSV)

2 Kings 10:19
Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all of his worshippers, and all of his priests. Let none be absent; for I have a great sacrifice to Baal. Whoever is absent, he shall not live." But Jehu did it in subtlety, intending that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
(See NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 22:15
Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.
(KJV)

1 Chronicles 25:7
So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.
(KJV)

2 Chronicles 2:7
Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.
(KJV)

2 Chronicles 2:13
And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's,
(KJV)

2 Chronicles 2:14
The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skillful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.
(KJV)

2 Chronicles 26:15
And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.
(KJV)

Job 5:13
He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
(WEB ASV NAS)

Psalms 58:5
Which hearkeneth not to the voice of charmers, Charming never so wisely.
(See JPS RSV)

Psalms 64:6
They plot injustice, saying, "We have made a perfect plan!" Surely man's mind and heart are cunning.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Psalms 83:3
They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.
(WEB NIV)

Psalms 119:118
You have overcome all those who are wandering from your rules; for all their thoughts are false.
(See RSV)

Psalms 137:5
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
(KJV JPS)

Proverbs 7:10
And the woman came out to him, in the dress of a loose woman, with a designing heart;
(See NAS)

Song of Songs 7:1
How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.
(KJV)

Isaiah 3:3
The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.
(KJV JPS)

Isaiah 25:11
And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst thereof, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim; but Jehovah will lay low his pride together with the craft of his hands.
(See JPS)

Isaiah 40:20
He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.
(KJV JPS)

Jeremiah 9:17
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:
(KJV)

Daniel 1:4
Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
(KJV)

Daniel 8:25
And through his cunning shall he cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he will magnify himself in his heart, and by prosperity will corrupt many; and he will stand up against the Prince of princes: but he shall be broken without hand.
(DBY JPS RSV)

Subtopics

Cunning

Related Terms

Craftiness (8 Occurrences)

Cunningly (3 Occurrences)

Craft (14 Occurrences)

Sleight (1 Occurrence)

Subtilty (9 Occurrences)

Unscrupulous (2 Occurrences)

Overreach (1 Occurrence)

Workman (22 Occurrences)

Workfellow (1 Occurrence)