CUNNING.As a subst. cunning in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] means either skill or knowledge; as an adj. either skilful or wise (we cannot say knowing, for that adj. has also degenerated). It is the pres. participle of the Anglo-Sax. verb cunnan, which meant both to know and to be able. In the Preface to the Wyclifite version of 1388 we read of the Holy Spyrit, author of all wisdom and cunnynge and truth.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909
kun?ing (חכם, ḥākhām, חשׁב, ḥāshabh): In Bible-English ?cunning? means always ?wise? or ?skilful?; the word does not occur in the bad sense, and it is found in the Old Testament only. The chief Hebrew words are ḥākhām, ?wise,? ?skilful? (2Ch_2:7 the King James Version ?a man cunning to work in gold?; 2Ch_2:13; Isa_3:3 the King James Version, etc.); ḥāshabh, ?to think,? ?devise,? ?desire? (Exo_26:1, Exo_26:31; Exo_28:6, Exo_28:15 the King James Version, etc.). We have also da‛ath, ?knowledge? (1Ki_7:14 the King James Version); bı̄n, ?to be intelligent? (1Ch_25:7 the King James Version); maḥǎsbebheth, ?thought,? ?device,? ?design? (Exo_31:4; Exo_35:33, Exo_35:15 the King James Version); 'āmān, ?artificer? (Son_7:1 the King James Version); yādha‛, ?to know,? once translated ?cunning? (Dan_1:4 the King James Version).
For cunning the American Standard Revised Version gives ?skilful? (Exo_31:4, etc.; Isa_3:3 ?expert?); for ?cunning work? the work of the ?skilful workman? (Exo_26:1, Exo_26:31, etc., the English Revised Version ?cunning workman?); for ?curious,? ?skilfully woven,? the English Revised Version ?cunningly woven? (Exo_28:8, etc.).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.