Lexical Summary
arom: Naked, cunning, crafty
Original Word:עָרַם
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:`aram
Pronunciation:ah-rome
Phonetic Spelling:(aw-ram')
KJV: X very, beware, take crafty (counsel), be prudent, deal subtilly
NASB:become shrewd, make shrewd, sensible, very cunning
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. (properly) to be (or make) bare
2. but used only in the derivative sense (through the idea perhaps of smoothness) to be cunning (usually in a bad sense)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
very, beware, take crafty counsel, be prudent, deal subtilly
A primitive root; properly, to be (or make) bare; but used only in the derivative sense (through the idea perhaps of smoothness) to be cunning (usually in a bad sense) -- X very, beware, take crafty (counsel), be prudent, deal subtilly.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto be shrewd or crafty
NASB Translationbecome shrewd (1), make shrewd (1), sensible (1), very cunning (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[ Lag
BN 31] (Late Hebrew
id., Hiph`il; Arabic
,
,
be ill-natured, cross; adjective
shrewd, Syriac
id., and verb in derived species (Pe`al in Lexicons)); —
Infinitive absolute in1 Samuel 23:22he is exceedingly crafty.
Imperfect be crafty, 3 masculine singular1 Samuel 23:22;be orbecome shrewdProverbs 15:5;Proverbs 19:25; all these
Imperfect in according to BaZMG xliii (1889), 180 so Ges§ 63n BuhlLex, but perhaps read as
;
in 3 masculine pluralPsalm 83:4they make crafty (their)counsel against thy people.
Topical Lexicon
Overviewעָרַם (Strong’s 6191) is a dynamic verb whose range stretches from shrewd foresight to treacherous scheming. Scripture’s four occurrences reveal both facets: the humble prudence of the upright and the manipulative stratagems of the wicked. Because the word can either dignify or condemn, its contexts become decisive for interpretation and application.
Biblical Occurrences and Context
•1 Samuel 23:22 – Saul, bent on destroying David, urges his informants: “Go and verify again… for I am told that he is very cunning.” Here עָרַם underscores military stealth, presenting David’s evasive skill. The narrative neither praises nor blames David’s craft; rather, it exposes Saul’s paranoia and foreshadows the Lord’s protection of His anointed.
•Psalm 83:3 – The psalmist laments hostile nations: “With cunning they conspire against Your people and plot against those You cherish.” עָרַם casts the enemies’ diplomacy as deceitful, highlighting the moral gulf between covenant faithfulness and covenant hostility.
•Proverbs 15:5 – “A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.” The wise son’s responsiveness is expressed by עָרַם in its positive, sagacious sense. It depicts a teachable spirit that discerns benefit in rebuke.
•Proverbs 19:25 – “Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning, and he will gain knowledge.” The participial form signals a settled quality of discernment acquired through godly admonition.
Moral Polarity in Usage
The same verb depicts both righteous prudence (Proverbs) and wicked intrigue (Psalm, Saul’s spies). Scripture thus affirms that intellectual sharpness is morally neutral until directed either toward God-honoring wisdom or self-serving manipulation. This polarity echoesGenesis 3, where the cognate adjective describes the serpent; human shrewdness must therefore be redeemed, not eradicated.
Historical Setting
• Iron-Age Near Eastern warfare prized stratagem (cf. Joshua’s ambush at Ai). David’s “cunning” belonged to accepted military art but took place under divine restraint—he repeatedly refused to harm Saul.
• In the ancient diplomatic world, coalitions such as those inPsalm 83 often relied on intrigue. The psalmist’s labeling of their tactics with עָרַם exposes political maneuvering as rebellion against Yahweh’s reign.
• Wisdom literature arose in royal courts and homes; here עָרַם elevates disciplined teachability above naïve simplicity, fitting the training of future leaders.
Theological Themes
1. Wisdom versus Folly – Proverbs employs עָרַם to show that true prudence begins with the fear of the Lord and a willingness to be corrected.
2. Providence and Protection – David’s “cunning” succeeds only because “the LORD saved David” (1 Samuel 23:14). Human strategy never outmaneuvers divine sovereignty.
3. Judgment on Deceit – Nations that use עָרַם against God’s people invite divine judgment, fulfilling the Abrahamic promise, “I will curse those who curse you” (Genesis 12:3).
Practical Ministry Applications
• Discipleship – Encourage believers to cultivate holy shrewdness: wise budgeting, critical media engagement, and strategic evangelism, without slipping into manipulation.
• Leadership – Shepherds should model teachability (Proverbs 15:5) and foster it in others, showing that correction is a gateway to deeper understanding.
• Spiritual Warfare – Equip congregations to recognize and resist crafty schemes (Ephesians 6:11 parallels), praying like the psalmist for deliverance from conspiratorial hostility.
Intertextual Connections
– Cognate adjective עָרוּם (“crafty,”Genesis 3:1;Proverbs 12:16) reinforces the double-edged nature of shrewdness.
– New Testament echoes: Jesus commends being “shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16), balancing strategic acumen with moral purity—an ethic foreshadowed by positive uses of עָרַם.
Summary
Strong’s 6191 illustrates that mental agility is a God-given faculty, potent for good or evil. Scripture invites believers to submit their shrewdness to the Spirit, turning potential deceit into sanctified discernment that advances the kingdom and safeguards the flock.
Forms and Transliterations
יַעְרִ֑ם יַעְרִֽם׃ יַעֲרִ֣ימוּ יערימו יערם יערם׃ עָר֥וֹם ערום ‘ā·rō·wm ‘ārōwm aRom ya‘·rim ya‘ărîmū ya‘rim ya·‘ă·rî·mū yaaRimu yaRim
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
