Question 1

What does "Cunning" mean in the King James Bible?

Accepted Answer

In the KJV, "Cunning" means "skilled." The direct link between knowing and doing. A cunning craftsman in Exodus was someone whose knowledge of metalwork was so deep it flowed into masterful action. God filled Bezaleel with cunning -- divine skill, not divine trickery. The word honored craft as a form of wisdom.

Question 2

Why did the word "Cunning" disappear from modern English?

Accepted Answer

Shifted from 'knowledgeable/skilled/expert' (from Old English cunnan 'to know') to 'sly/deceitful,' turning descriptions of godly artisans and skilled men into portraits of tricksters. The word was at peak usage around 1611 and declined by ~1750.

Question 3

What modern word replaced "Cunning"?

Accepted Answer

"Cunning" was replaced by: "skilled" (though this merely competent; cunning-as-skill implied deep, intimate knowledge of a craft -- mastery, not just ability); "clever" (though this implies mental quickness; cunning meant accumulated, practiced expertise); "expert" (though this credentialed and formal; cunning carried the warmth of hands-on, embodied knowledge).

What Does “Cunning” Mean in the Bible?

What Was Lost