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kun´ing (×—×›×, hÌ£aÌ„khaÌ„m, חש×ב, hÌ£aÌ„shabh): In Bible-English “cunning†means always “wise†or “skilfulâ€; the word does not occur in the bad sense, and it is found in the Old Testament only. The chief Hebrew words are hÌ£aÌ„khaÌ„m, “wise,†“skilful†( the King James Version “a man cunning to work in goldâ€; ; the King James Version, etc.); hÌ£aÌ„shabh, “to think,†“devise,†“desire†(, ; , the King James Version, etc.). We have also da‛ath, “knowledge†( the King James Version); bı̄n, “to be intelligent†( the King James Version); mahÌ£aÌŒsbebheth, “thought,†“device,†“design†(; , the King James Version); 'aÌ„maÌ„n, “artificer†( the King James Version); yaÌ„dha‛, “to know,†once translated “cunning†( the King James Version).
For cunning the American Standard Revised Version gives “skilful†(, etc.; “expertâ€); for “cunning work†the work of the “skilful workman†(, , etc., the English Revised Version “cunning workmanâ€); for “curious,†“skilfully woven,†the English Revised Version “cunningly woven†(, etc.).