H6195 H6195
craftiness, cunning, or prudence; shrewdness applied either deceptively or wisely
The noun form of the root meaning 'to be shrewd,' carrying the same dual moral charge as its verbal counterpart. In Exodus 21:14 it describes lethal premeditation — killing 'with cunning' — and in Josh 9:4 the Gibeonites act 'with craftiness' to deceive Israel. Yet Proverbs reclaims the word positively: wisdom offers 'prudence to the simple' (Prov 1:4), and personified Wisdom declares 'I dwell with prudence' (Prov 8:12). Spanish 'astucia' and German 'Klugheit' split along the same moral axis, revealing how context determines whether this quality is vice or virtue.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Craftiness or cunning — shrewd calculation applied deceptively or with harmful intent. In Exod 21:14 it characterizes premeditated murder ('with cunning'), and in Josh 9:4 the Gibeonites employ it to trick Israel into a covenant. Spanish 'con astucia' and French 'avec ruse' emphasize the manipulative, underhanded quality. 5×
AR["بِ-حيلَةٍ", "بِ-مَكرٍ", "ذَكَاءً"]·ben["চতুরতা", "চাতুর্য", "চাতুর্যে", "ছলনায়", "ছলে"]·DE["Klugheit", "mit-cunning"]·EN["prudence", "with-cunning"]·FR["avec-cunning", "avec-rusé", "ruse"]·heb["ב-עורמה", "ב-ערמה", "ערמה"]·HI["चतुराई", "चतुराई-में", "चतुराई-से", "से-छल"]·ID["dengan-tipu daya", "dengan-tipu-muslihat", "kecerdikan"]·IT["con-cunning", "prudence"]·jav["kaliyan-licik", "kanthi-cara-licik,", "kapinteran"]·KO["곣껔-로", "슬기-를", "슬기-에", "에-간계로"]·PT["astúcia", "com-astúcia", "com-engano", "prudência"]·RU["коварно", "смышлёности,", "смышлёность,", "со-смышлёностью,", "хитростью"]·ES["astucia", "con-astucia"]·SW["kwa-hila", "ujanja", "werevu"]·TR["kurnazlık", "kurnazlıkla", "kurnazlığı"]·urd["چالاکی-سے", "ہوشیاری", "ہوشیاری-میں"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† עָרְמָה n.f. craftiness, prudence;— 1. בְע׳ craftily Ex 21:14 (E), Jos 9:4 (JE). 2. ע׳ in Pr, in good sense, prudence Pr 1:4; 8:5, 12.