Topical Encyclopedia
The term "crafty" in the Bible often carries a negative connotation, associated with deceit, cunning, and subtlety. It is used to describe individuals or entities that employ trickery or guile to achieve their ends, often in opposition to God's will or righteousness.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "crafty" is עָרוּם (arum). This term is first introduced in
Genesis 3:1, where it describes the serpent: "Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made." (
Genesis 3:1). Here, the serpent's craftiness is linked to its role in the temptation and fall of humanity, highlighting the negative implications of cunning used for deceitful purposes.
The concept of craftiness is also evident in the actions of certain individuals. For example, in
Joshua 9, the Gibeonites use craftiness to deceive the Israelites into making a covenant with them. They disguise themselves as travelers from a distant land to avoid destruction, demonstrating how craftiness can be used to manipulate situations for self-preservation.
Wisdom LiteratureIn the wisdom literature, craftiness is often contrasted with true wisdom and understanding.
Proverbs 12:23 states, "A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly." While prudence and discretion are valued, the implication is that craftiness, when used to deceive, is folly. The wise are encouraged to seek understanding and righteousness rather than resorting to cunning.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the Greek word πανουργία (panourgia) is often translated as "craftiness." The Apostle Paul warns against being led astray by those who use craftiness to distort the truth. In
2 Corinthians 11:3, Paul expresses concern for the Corinthian church: "But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ." (
2 Corinthians 11:3). Here, craftiness is directly linked to deception and the potential to lead believers away from the truth of the Gospel.
Paul also speaks of his own ministry, emphasizing that he does not use craftiness or deceit in his preaching: "Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God." (
2 Corinthians 4:2). This highlights the importance of integrity and transparency in the proclamation of the Gospel, contrasting with the negative use of craftiness.
Theological ImplicationsFrom a theological perspective, craftiness is often associated with the fallen nature of humanity and the influence of sin. It represents a departure from the straightforwardness and honesty that God desires from His people. The Bible consistently warns against the use of deceit and cunning, urging believers to pursue truth and righteousness.
Craftiness, when used to deceive or manipulate, is seen as contrary to the character of God, who is described as a God of truth and faithfulness. Believers are called to emulate God's character, rejecting craftiness and embracing honesty and integrity in all their dealings.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Relating to, or characterized by, craft or skill; dexterous.
2. (a.) Possessing dexterity; skilled; skillful.
3. (a.) Skillful at deceiving others; characterized by craft; cunning; wily.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CRAFT; CRAFTINESS; CRAFTYkraft, kraf'-ti-nes, kraf'-ti, (panourgia), (panourgos): The original meaning is that of "ability to do anything," universally applied in a bad sense to unscrupulous wickedness, that stops short of no measure, however reprehensible, in order to attain its purposes; then, in a modified form, to resourcefulness in wrong, cunning (Daniel 8:25; 2 Maccabees 12:24; the Revised Version, margin "jugglery"). InLuke 20:23, Jesus perceives "the craftiness" of His adversaries, i.e. the complicated network which they have laid to ensnare Him. The art with which a plot is concealed, and its direction to the ruin of others, are elements that enter into the meaning. Heinrici on1 Corinthians 3:19 illustrates from Plato the distinction between craftiness and wisdom. There is a touch of humor in2 Corinthians 12:16, when Paul speaks of his conduct toward the Corinthians as having been "crafty."
H. E. Jacobs
Greek
3835. panourgos -- ready to do anything,crafty, skillful... ready to do anything,
crafty, skillful. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
panourgos Phonetic Spelling: (pan-oor'-gos) Short Definition: cunning
...2686. katasophizomai -- to deal craftily with
... becrafty against, circumvent. Middle voice from kata and sophizo; to becrafty
against, ie Circumvent -- deal subtilly with. see GREEK kata. see GREEK sophizo....
3834. panourgia -- cleverness, craftiness
... 3834 (from 3956 , "every" and 2041 , "deed") -- properly, every (evil) work;
(figuratively)crafty behavior; unscrupulous cunning that stops at nothing to...
258. alopex -- a fox
... fox. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: alopex Phonetic Spelling:
(al-o'-pakes) Short Definition: a fox Definition: a fox; a fox-like,crafty person...
1114. goes -- a wailer, a sorcerer, a swindler
... Phonetic Spelling: (go'-ace) Short Definition: a conjurer, deceiver, imposter
Definition: a conjuror, juggler, sorcerer; a tricky (crafty) deceiver, imposter....
Strong's Hebrew
6175. arum --crafty, shrewd, sensible... 6174, 6175. arum. 6176 .
crafty, shrewd, sensible. Transliteration: arum Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-room') Short Definition: man.
...crafty, prudent, subtil.
...6191. arom -- to be shrewd orcrafty
... to be shrewd orcrafty. Transliteration: arom Phonetic Spelling: (aw-ram') Short
Definition: shrewd.... very, beware, takecrafty counsel, be prudent, deal subtilly...
5230. nakal -- to becrafty, deceitful or knavish
... nakal. 5231 . to becrafty, deceitful or knavish. Transliteration: nakal Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-kal') Short Definition: craftily. Word Origin a prim....
6618. pethaltol -- tortuous
... Word Origin from pathal Definition tortuous NASB Word Usage crooked (1). crooked.
From pathal; tortuous (ieCrafty) -- crooked. see HEBREW pathal. 6617, 6618...
Library
How the Simple and theCrafty are to be Admonished.
... THE Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, OF GREGORY THE GREAT BISHOP OF
ROME, Chapter XI. How the simple and thecrafty are to be admonished....
Pelagius' Fraudulent andCrafty Excuses.
... Book II. On Original Sin. Chapter 16 [XV.]"Pelagius' Fraudulent andCrafty
Excuses. For what is the significance to the matter...
Thus Far I have Made Answer About My Crimes, and Indeed in Defence...
... 1. Thus far I have made answer about my crimes, and indeed in defence of my crimes,
which mycrafty encomiast formerly urged against me, and which his...
Celsus Goes on to Say: "We must not Disobey the Ancient Writer...
... Celsus goes on to say: "We must not disobey the ancient writer, who said long ago,
Let one be king, whom the son ofcrafty Saturn appointed;'" [4964] and adds...
Pottage Versus Birthright
... All the loftier aspects gone from Isaac, who thought he could give it for venison,
from Esau, and from the scheming Rebekah and thecrafty Jacob....
The First Games
... at "nuts"? "Nuts," or thimble-rigging, is only a graceful andcrafty game,
toocrafty for a dreaming and careless little boy. It...
Argument: Octavius Arranges his Reply, and Trusts that He Shall be...
... But in my friend Natalis"I will not allow, I do not believe in, any
chicanery"far from his simplicity iscrafty trickery. [1761] What then?...
1 Cor. xv. 1, 2
... to effect, for fear of being detected, but dressing himself up in a mask of one
kind, he fabricates arts of another kind: and like acrafty enemy attacking a...
2 Cor. xii. 16-18
... Homily XXVIII. 2 Cor. xii. 16-18. 2 1 Corinthians 12:16-18 But be it so, I myself
did not burden you: but beingcrafty, I caught you with guile....
Treatise i. On the Unity of the Church.
... beloved brethren, befits us, than to use foresight and watching with an anxious
heart, both to perceive and to beware of the wiles of thecrafty foe, that we...
Thesaurus
Crafty (15 Occurrences)... wily. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CRAFT; CRAFTINESS;
CRAFTY. kraft
... Jacobs.
Multi-Version Concordance
Crafty (15 Occurrences). Acts
...Guile (21 Occurrences)
... Versions of the Bible "deceit") and for remiyah (Job 13:7, English Versions of the
Bible "deceitfully"; John 1:47 2 Corinthians 12:16, "Beingcrafty, I caught...
Deception (24 Occurrences)
... NIV). 2 Corinthians 12:16 But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But,
beingcrafty, I caught you with deception. (WEB). Colossians...
Craftiness (8 Occurrences)
... (n.) Dexterity in devising and effecting a purpose; cunning; artifice; stratagem.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CRAFT; CRAFTINESS;CRAFTY....
Churl (6 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary In Isaiah 32:5 (RV marg., "crafty"), means a deceiver.
In 1 Samuel 25:3, the word churlish denotes a man...
Craft (14 Occurrences)
... collective sense. 6. (vt) To play tricks; to practice artifice. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. CRAFT; CRAFTINESS;CRAFTY. kraft, kraf...
Subtlety (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Nice discernment with delicacy of mental action; nicety of discrimination.
3. (n.) Something that is sly,crafty, or delusive. Int....
Subtle (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Elusive; sly in design; insinuating; refined; as, a subtle difference. 2.
(superl.) Cunningly devised;crafty; treacherous; as, a subtle stratagem....
Crag (5 Occurrences)
Craftsmen (22 Occurrences)
Resources
What does it mean to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about snakes? Are snakes evil? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Bartholomew in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgCrafty: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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