3835. panourgos

Lexicon

panourgos: Crafty, cunning, shrewd

Original Word: πανοῦργος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: panourgos
Pronunciation: pah-NOOR-gos
Phonetic Spelling: (pan-oor'-gos)
Definition: Crafty, cunning, shrewd
Meaning: cunning, crafty, skilful, clever.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

crafty.

From pas and ergon; all-working, i.e. Adroit (shrewd) -- crafty.

see GREEK pas

see GREEK ergon

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 3835 panoúrgos – properly, a person doing anything to get their way ("anything it takes"). 3935 /paríēmi ("crafty-fellow") is used only in 2 Cor 12:16 where it describes a scoundrel (an unscrupulous person) who will do any evil to "succeed." See 3834 (panourgia).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from pas and ergon
Definition
ready to do anything, crafty, skillful
NASB Translation
crafty (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3835: πανοῦργος

πανοῦργος, πανοῦργον (πᾶς and ἘΠΤΩ equivalent to ἐργάζομαι; on the accent, see κακοῦργος), the Sept. for עָרוּם; skillful, clever, i. e.:

1. in a good sense, fit to undertake and accomplish anything, dexterous; wise, sagacious, skillful (Aristotle, Polybius, Plutarch, others; the Sept. Proverbs 13:1; Proverbs 28:2). But far more frequent.

2. in a bad sense, crafty, cunning, knavish, treacherous, deceitful, (Tragg., Aristophanes, Plato, Plutarch, others; the Sept.; Sir. 6:32 (31) (but here in a good sense); , etc.): 2 Corinthians 12:16.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from πᾶς (pas, "all") and ἔργον (ergon, "work" or "deed"), indicating someone who is capable of doing anything, often with a negative connotation.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for πανοῦργος, similar concepts can be found in Hebrew words such as עָרוּם (arum, Strong's H6175), which means "crafty" or "shrewd," often used in a negative sense, as seen in Genesis 3:1 describing the serpent as "more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made" (BSB). This highlights the shared biblical theme of caution against deceitful cunning.

Usage: The word πανοῦργος is used in the New Testament to describe individuals who are deceitful or cunning in their actions. It is often associated with negative moral qualities, highlighting a person's willingness to use any means necessary to achieve their ends.

Context: The Greek term πανοῦργος appears in the New Testament to describe individuals who employ cunning or deceit to achieve their goals. This word is used in contexts that emphasize the moral shortcomings of such behavior. In 2 Corinthians 12:16, the Apostle Paul uses the term to address accusations against him, stating, "But be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!" (BSB). Here, Paul is ironically referencing the accusations of deceit to highlight his integrity and the baselessness of such claims.

The term is also found in Luke 20:23, where Jesus perceives the cunning of the religious leaders who are attempting to trap Him with their questions: "But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them, 'Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?'" (BSB). In this instance, Jesus' awareness of their craftiness underscores His wisdom and ability to counteract their deceitful intentions.

The use of πανοῦργος in the New Testament serves as a caution against deceit and manipulation, contrasting such behavior with the virtues of honesty and integrity. It reflects a broader biblical theme that warns against the moral dangers of cunning and deceit, encouraging believers to pursue righteousness and truth.

Forms and Transliterations

πανούργοι πανουργος πανούργος πανοῦργος πανουργότερος πανούργων πανταχή panourgos panoûrgos

Englishman's Concordance

2 Corinthians 12:16 N-NMS
GRK: ἀλλὰ ὑπάρχων πανοῦργος δόλῳ ὑμᾶς
NAS: nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took
KJV: being crafty, I caught
INT: but being crafty with trickery you

Strong's Greek 3835
1 Occurrence

πανοῦργος — 1 Occ.