The term "craftily" in the Bible often refers to actions characterized by deceit, cunning, or subtlety, typically with the intent to deceive or manipulate. This concept is frequently associated with negative connotations, as it often involves a departure from truth and righteousness.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "crafty" is עָרוּם (arum). This term is first introduced in Genesis 3:1, describing the serpent: "Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made." . Here, the serpent's craftiness is linked to the deception of Eve, leading to the fall of humanity. This passage sets a precedent for understanding craftiness as a tool of deception and rebellion against God.

Another instance is found in Joshua 9, where the Gibeonites use craftiness to deceive the Israelites into making a covenant with them. They pretended to be from a distant land to avoid destruction: "They acted craftily and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended." (Joshua 9:4). This account illustrates how craftiness can be used to manipulate situations for self-preservation, albeit through deceitful means.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the Greek word πανουργία (panourgia) is often used to convey the idea of craftiness. In 2 Corinthians 11:3, Paul expresses concern for the Corinthian believers, fearing that they might be led astray by false teachings: "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." . Here, craftiness is directly associated with the danger of being led away from the truth of the Gospel.

Ephesians 4:14 warns believers against being swayed by false doctrines through craftiness: "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming." . This passage highlights the importance of spiritual maturity and discernment to withstand the craftiness of false teachers.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, craftiness is often seen as a characteristic of those who oppose God's truth. It is associated with the serpent in the Garden of Eden, false prophets, and those who seek to undermine the faith of believers. Craftiness is contrasted with the wisdom and truth that come from God, as seen in James 3:17: "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere." .

Practical Application

Believers are called to be wise and discerning, recognizing the dangers of craftiness and deceit. Jesus instructed His followers to be "shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16), suggesting a balance between being aware of the world's craftiness while maintaining integrity and purity. Christians are encouraged to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and to immerse themselves in Scripture to discern truth from deception.(adv.) With craft; artfully; cunningly.2686. katasophizomai -- to deal craftily with
... to deal craftily with. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katasophizomai Phonetic
Spelling: (kat-as-of-id'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I circumvent by ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2686.htm - 6k6117. aqab -- to follow at the heel, assail insidiously ...
... aqab. 6118 . to follow at the heel, assail insidiously, circumvent, overreach.
Transliteration: aqab Phonetic Spelling: (aw-kab') Short Definition: craftily. ...
/hebrew/6117.htm - 6k

5230. nakal -- to be crafty, deceitful or knavish
... nakal. 5231 . to be crafty, deceitful or knavish. Transliteration: nakal Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-kal') Short Definition: craftily. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5230.htm - 6k

6195. ormah -- craftiness, prudence
... Word Origin from arom Definition craftiness, prudence NASB Word Usage craftily
(2), prudence (3). guile, prudence, subtilty, wilily, wisdom. ...
/hebrew/6195.htm - 6k

How Heretics, Craftily Cite Obscure Passages in Ancient Writers in ...
... Chapter VII. How Heretics, craftily cite obscure passages in ancient writers
in support of their own novelties.? How Heretics, craftily ...
/.../the commonitory of vincent of lerins/chapter vii how heretics craftily.htm

Selections from the Work against Heresies by Irenaeus, Bishop of ...
... By their craftily constructed rhetoric they lead astray the minds of the inexperienced,
and take them captive, corrupting the oracles of the Lord, and being ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/selections from the work against 2.htm

Preface.
... which, as the apostle says, [2656] "minister questions rather than godly edifying
which is in faith," and by means of their craftily-constructed plausibilities ...
//christianbookshelf.org/irenaeus/against heresies/preface.htm

Whether all Dissimulation is a Sin?
... Douay: 'made as though'] he would go farther"; and Ambrose in his book on the
Patriarchs (De Abraham i) says of Abraham that he "spoke craftily to his servants ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether all dissimulation is a.htm

The Popes at Avignon; the Ruin of the Templars (Ad 1303-1312)
... He was therefore willing to do much in order to clear Boniface's memory; and Philip
craftily managed to get the pope's help in another matter on condition that ...
/.../chapter xvii the popes at.htm

Matt. xxi. 12, 13
... these things. After this, because they, dealing craftily, said, "We know
not," He said not, neither know I, but what? "Neither tell ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxvii matt xxi 12.htm

Psalm V.
... "With their own tongues they dealt craftily:" that is, with evil tongues.
For this seems to be signified, when he says "their own ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm v.htm

Of the Two Sons who were Commanded by their Father to Go into his ...
... the pronoun illi in the plural number, as if it was intended to mark out the words
expressly as the reply made by the persons who had craftily questioned Him ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxx of the two sons.htm

I am Joseph of Arimath??a, who Begged from Pilate the Body of the ...
... He was not a disciple before the face of Jesus; but all the multitude of the Jews
craftily supported him, that he might follow Jesus, not that he might be ...
/.../unknown/the narrative of joseph of arimathaea/chapter 1 i am joseph.htm

And on the Following Day, the Fourth Day of the Week...
... Jesus, and I persuade the multitude that it is so. And craftily they released
Jesus. And Judas, going into the sanctuary at the dawn ...
/.../unknown/the narrative of joseph of arimathaea/chapter 2 and on the.htm

Craftily (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) With craft; artfully; cunningly.
Multi-Version Concordance Craftily (7 Occurrences). Acts 7:19 The ...
/c/craftily.htm - 8k

Tormah (1 Occurrence)
... en kruphe, "in secret," Codex Alexandrinus meta doron, "with gifts"): This name
is given in EVm as an alternative to "privily," or "craftily" the Revised ...
/t/tormah.htm - 7k

Craftiness (8 Occurrences)

/c/craftiness.htm - 10k

Zebul (5 Occurrences)
... Septuagint in 9:31 has suggested to many that we should read there, "and he sent
messengers unto Abimelech in Arumah," instead of reading "craftily." We would ...
/z/zebul.htm - 12k

Jacob (361 Occurrences)
... seven years; but to Jacob these years "seemed but a few days, for the love he had
to her." But when the seven years were expired, Laban craftily deceived Jacob ...
/j/jacob.htm - 77k

Gaal (10 Occurrences)
... Judges 9:31 He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, "Behold, Gaal the
son of Ebed and his brothers are come to Shechem; and behold, they constrain ...
/g/gaal.htm - 10k

Wine-bottles (2 Occurrences)
... Joshua 9:4 They did work craftily, and went and made as if they had been embassadors,
and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine-bottles, old, and rent, and ...
/w/wine-bottles.htm - 7k

Ill-treated (7 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Acts 7:19 The same dealt craftily with our race, and ill-treated our fathers,
that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live. ...
/i/ill-treated.htm - 8k

Incite (5 Occurrences)
... (WBS). Judges 9:31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold,
Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem; and, behold, they ...
/i/incite.htm - 7k

Ebed (7 Occurrences)
... Judges 9:31 He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, "Behold, Gaal the
son of Ebed and his brothers are come to Shechem; and behold, they constrain ...
/e/ebed.htm - 9k

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Craftily: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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