Bible Dictionary
CUNNING
In Bible English, cunning usually means wise, skillful, or expert rather than deceitful. It especially describes skilled workmanship, artistic design, craftsmanship, and practical knowledge.
Definition
In Bible English, cunning means wise, skillful, or expert rather than deceitful. It may describe skilled workmanship, artistic design, knowledge, intelligence, or the work of an artisan.
Biblical Usage
The Old Testament uses cunning chiefly for skilled workmen and carefully designed, woven, or fashioned objects. It also describes wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, and craftsmanship.
Historical Background
Older translations use “cunning” where later revisions commonly use “skillful,” “expert,” “skilfully woven,” or “skilful workman.”
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>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" (2Ch 2:7 the King James Version "a man cunning to work in gold"; 2Ch 2:13; Isa 3:3 the King James Version, etc.); chashabh, "to think," "devise," "desire" (Ex 26:1,31; 28:6,15 the King James Version, etc.). We have also da`ath, "knowledge" (1Ki 7:14 the King James Version); bin, "to be intelligent" (1Ch 25:7 the King James Version); machasbebheth, "thought," "device," "design" (Ex 31:4; 35:33,15 the King James Version); 'aman, "artificer" (So 7:1 the King James Version); yadha`, "to know," once translated "cunning" (Da 1:4 the King James Version).</p><p>For cunning the American Standard Revised Version gives "skilful" (Ex 31:4, etc.; Isa 3:3 "expert"); for "cunning work" the work of the "skilful workman" (Ex 26:1,31, etc., the English Revised Version "cunning workman"); for "curious," "skilfully woven," the English Revised Version "cunningly woven" (Ex 28:8, etc.).</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>