Original Word: עָרַם
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: `aram
Pronunciation: ah-rome
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-ram')
Definition: Naked, cunning, crafty
Meaning: to be, bare, to be cunning

very, beware, take crafty counsel, be prudent, deal subtilly

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) -- X very, beware, take crafty (counsel), be prudent, deal subtilly.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be shrewd or crafty
NASB Translation
become shrewd (1), make shrewd (1), sensible (1), very cunning (1).

[עָרֹם Lag^{BN 31}] verb be shrewd, crafty (Late Hebrew id., Hiph`il; Arabic , , be ill-natured, cross; ᵑ7 adjective עָרִים shrewd, Syriac id., and verb in derived species (Pe`al in Lexicons)); —

Qal Infinitive absolute in עָרֹם יַעְרִם 1 Samuel 23:22 he is exceedingly crafty.

Hiph`il Imperfect be crafty, 3 masculine singular יַעְרִם 1 Samuel 23:22; be or become shrewd יַעְרִם Proverbs 15:5; Proverbs 19:25; all these

Qal Imperfect in ִ֯ according to Ba^{ZMG xliii (1889), 180} so Ges^{§ 63n} Buhl^Lex, but perhaps read יֶעְרַם as

Qal; True.

Hiph`il in 3 masculine plural יַעֲרִימוּ סוֺד Psalm 83:4 they make crafty (their) counsel against thy people.

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G246: ἀληθινός (alēthinos) • True, real, genuine.
• G1339: διανοέομαι (dianoéomai) • To consider, to ponder.
• G3835: πανουργία (panourgía) • Craftiness, cunning, trickery.

These Greek terms, while not direct translations, reflect similar themes of truth, consideration, and cunning, illustrating the nuanced understanding of wisdom and craftiness in both the Hebrew and Greek biblical texts.

Usage: • The verb עָרַם (ʿāram) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe actions or characteristics related to cunning, craftiness, or shrewdness. It can also imply being bare or exposed, often in a metaphorical sense.

Context: • The Hebrew root עָרַם (ʿāram) appears in various contexts within the Old Testament, often carrying a connotation of shrewdness or craftiness. This term is notably used in Genesis 3:1, where the serpent is described as "more cunning than any beast of the field" (BSB). This usage highlights the serpent's deceptive nature, setting the stage for the temptation of Eve.
• In Job 5:12, the word is used to describe the thwarting of the crafty, indicating a divine intervention against those who use cunning for malicious purposes: "He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success" (BSB).
• The term can also imply a positive form of prudence or wisdom, as seen in Proverbs 12:16, where a prudent person is contrasted with a fool: "A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult" (BSB). Here, the prudent man is one who exercises discretion and self-control.
• The duality of the term reflects the broader biblical theme of wisdom versus folly, where cunning can be either a tool for righteousness or a weapon for deceit, depending on the context and intent.

יַעְרִ֑ם יַעְרִֽם׃ יַעֲרִ֣ימוּ יערימו יערם יערם׃ עָר֥וֹם ערום ‘ā·rō·wm ‘ārōwm aRom ya‘·rim ya‘ărîmū ya‘rim ya·‘ă·rî·mū yaaRimu yaRimInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts