The term "wily" refers to being skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully. In the context of the Bible, it often describes cunning or deceitful behavior that is contrary to the righteousness and truth upheld by God. The concept of being wily is frequently associated with the actions of those who oppose God's will or seek to lead others astray.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, the serpent in the Garden of Eden is often considered the epitome of wily behavior. Genesis 3:1 describes the serpent as "more cunning than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made." The serpent's deceitful nature led to the fall of man by convincing Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, demonstrating the destructive power of wily actions.

Another example is found in the account of Jacob and Esau. Jacob, whose name can mean "supplanter" or "deceiver," used cunning to obtain his brother Esau's birthright and blessing (Genesis 25:29-34; 27:1-29). Although Jacob's actions were part of God's larger plan, they illustrate the use of wily tactics to achieve personal gain.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul warns against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 instructs believers to "put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes." Here, the term "schemes" is synonymous with wily strategies employed by Satan to deceive and lead believers away from the truth.

The Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus' time also exhibited wily behavior. They often attempted to trap Jesus with cunning questions and scenarios, hoping to discredit Him or find grounds for accusation (Matthew 22:15-22). Jesus, however, consistently demonstrated wisdom and discernment, exposing their deceitful intentions.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, wily behavior is antithetical to the character of God, who is described as truthful and just. Proverbs 12:22 states, "Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight." The Bible consistently calls believers to live in truth and integrity, avoiding deceitful practices.

The wiles of the devil and those who follow his example serve as a reminder of the spiritual battle that believers face. Christians are encouraged to seek wisdom and discernment through prayer and the study of Scripture, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide them in truth and protect them from deceit.

Practical Application

Believers are called to be vigilant against wily tactics, both in their personal lives and within the broader context of spiritual warfare. By adhering to biblical principles and seeking God's guidance, Christians can resist the temptation to engage in deceitful behavior and stand firm against the schemes of the enemy.(a.) Full of tricks, or stratagems; clever; using craft or stratagem to accomplish a purpose; mischievously artful; subtle.

The Wily Judas Watches Near
... The wily Judas watches near. tr., John Brownlie 8,6,8,6,8,8. semeron gregorei ho
Ioudas. ... III. ho autos. I. The wily Judas watches near. The Master's path to-day, ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the greek church/the wily judas watches near.htm

The Empress Eudoxia from the Story of Christian Womanhood in Old ...
... While Rufinus, in secret with his confidants, nurtured this idea, the wily head
of the opposite party of the court, getting an inkling of it, set everything in ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/ix the empress eudoxia from.htm

Impressive Phrases
... art, science, knowledge, and culture. artful, wily, insincere, and disingenuous. ...
traffic, trade, commerce, and intercourse. tricky, insincere, wily, and shifty. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section iv impressive phrases.htm

Womanhood of the Byzantine Decadence
... she, and she was compelled to submit. But Cantacuzenus was as wily as he
was ambitious. Recognizing the strength of his opponents ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/xv womanhood of the byzantine.htm

Sanctified by Faith.
... Adam believed God and was obedient and happy, and the first thing that the wily
tempter attacked, and, alas, with too much success, was man's faith. ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter xv sanctified by faith.htm

Sureness
... We have a wily old Devil to deal with, and I believe that nothing gives him more
malicious delight than to get sincere souls into the bondage of fear as to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/howard/standards of life and service/vi sureness.htm

General Service to John, Precursor, Prophet and Baptist of the ...
... guardian of my humble soul, do vouchsafe unto me graciousness through thine
intercessions, delivering me from the serpent, his crafty and wily slanders and ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter v general service to.htm

Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity Duty to New and Old Man.
... And so powerful and wily is our old evil foe that wherever he can gain enough of
an opening to insert one of his claws, he thrusts in his whole self and will ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/nineteenth sunday after trinity duty.htm

Twenty-Sixth Day. Guilelessness.
... polish, often only a cloak for baseness and selfishness!"in the daily interchange
of business, one seeking to over-reach the other by wily arts; sacrificing ...
/.../macduff/the mind of jesus/twenty-sixth day guilelessness.htm

The Sack of Rome
... before the conqueror. People talked with approval of this wily measure
in which they saw a promise of new liberties. But applause ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/i the sack of rome.htm

Wily (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Wily (2 Occurrences). ... Proverbs 7:10 And, behold, there
met him a woman With the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart. ...
/w/wily.htm - 7k

Wilted (1 Occurrence)

/w/wilted.htm - 6k

Wimple

/w/wimple.htm - 7k

Furniture (24 Occurrences)
... Upon this saddle-basket Rachel sat with the teraphim hidden beneath, and her wily
father did not suspect the presence of his gods in such a place. ...
/f/furniture.htm - 16k

Dyed (10 Occurrences)
... Proverbs 7:10) in his description of the "strange woman," that "lieth in wait at
every street corner," "a woman with the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart ...
/d/dyed.htm - 10k

Deceit (160 Occurrences)
... any declaration, artifice, or practice, which misleads another, or causes him to
believe what is false; a contrivance to entrap; deception; a wily device; fraud ...
/d/deceit.htm - 35k

Crafty (15 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Possessing dexterity; skilled; skillful. 3. (a.) Skillful at deceiving others;
characterized by craft; cunning; wily. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/c/crafty.htm - 11k

Attire (11 Occurrences)
... Proverbs 7:10) in his description of the "strange woman," that "lieth in wait at
every street corner," "a woman with the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart ...
/a/attire.htm - 11k

Subtil (3 Occurrences)
... subtly"; Proverbs 7:10, natsar, "to watch," "guard," "to be hidden or subtle of
heart," the Revised Version (British and American) "wily," margin " `close ...
/s/subtil.htm - 10k

Shrewd (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Astute; sharp; wily; cunning; as, a shrewd
politician. 2. (a.) Inclining to shrew; disposing to ...
/s/shrewd.htm - 10k

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