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עָרַם

𐤏𐤓𐤌

ʻâram

H6191 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ערם to be bare, to strip, to act shrewdly, to be cunning

Definition

To act with shrewdness, cunning, or craft; to display or exercise practical wisdom or cleverness, often with an implication of strategic thinking or subtlety. In some contexts, the term carries a neutral or even positive connotation of prudence or circumspection, but it can also denote craftiness or guile, depending on intent and context.

Semantic Range

to be shrewd, to act with cunning or prudence, to behave craftily, to scheme, to be circumspect, to deal with guile or subtlety

Root / Etymology

Root: עָרַם (ʻ-ʿ-r-m). The primary root meaning relates to being bare or naked, suggesting the idea of stripping away or exposing, from which the sense of being smooth, and then shrewd or subtle, develops. The derived verbal form denotes acting with cunning or prudence.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עָרַם commonly refers to the quality of being shrewd, crafty, or prudent. The term is first notably attested in Genesis 3:1 to describe the serpent as 'more cunning' (עָרוּם) than any other creature. The nuance here, as elsewhere, often lies in the ethical evaluation implied by context—at times positive (prudent, circumspect), at times negative (crafty, deceptive). In wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs), cognate nouns are used to denote practical wisdom: not merely knowledge, but the ability to navigate complex situations skillfully. However, the word group can also have negative ethical implications, particularly when used of deceptive cunning or manipulation, as in Exodus 21:14 and Joshua 9:4. The Greek Septuagint often translates related forms with πανουργία or φρόνησις. Later English translations sometimes use 'subtilty' or 'craftiness,' but often narrow the meaning, obscuring its positive uses as prudence or cleverness. The semantic range and evaluation depend closely on literary context. The root is distinct from similar roots (e.g., חָכַם 'to be wise,' which emphasizes wisdom over craft). Over time, the negative connotation became more pronounced in post-biblical Hebrew and rabbinic literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to be (or make) bare; but used only in the derivative sense (through the idea perhaps of smoothness) to be cunning (usually in a bad sense); [idiom] very, beware, take crafty (counsel), be prudent, deal subtilly.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ערם (ʿ-r-m) — bare, stripped, shrewd, cunning

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4636 מַעֲרֹם their barenesses
H5903 עֵירֹם bare
H6174 עָרוֹם bare one
H6175 עָרוּם shrewd one
H6192 עָרַם were heaped up

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6191-03 יַעְרִ֖ם yaerim HVqi3ms he deals he acts shrewdly 3
H6191-01 עָר֥וֹם arom HVqa crafty shrewd (masculine singular) 1
H6191-02 יַעֲרִ֣ימוּ yaarimu HVhi3mp they plot they will act shrewdly 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6191-01 1 Samuel 23:22 עָר֥וֹם arom HVqa crafty shrewd (masculine singular)
H6191-03 1 Samuel 23:22 יַעְרִ֖ם yaerim HVqi3ms he deals he acts shrewdly
H6191-02 Psalms 83:4 יַעֲרִ֣ימוּ yaarimu HVhi3mp they plot they will act shrewdly
H6191-03 Proverbs 15:5 יַעְרִֽם yaerim HVqi3ms is prudent he acts shrewdly
H6191-03 Proverbs 19:25 יַעְרִ֑ם yaerim HVqi3ms will-become-prudent he acts shrewdly
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