Is it an insult or compliment if someone calls you subtil (not subtle)? It depends. The word crafty complements someone who enjoys many artistic hobbies. However, if you say someone is crafty and you mean they are sneaky and deceitful, it insults them. Like many things, context is key to understanding what is meant.
So, it is best to look at each occurrence of the word to determine if it is an insult or a compliment.
Subtil may not be a common word anymore, but it is a good word to understand if we want to see what the Bible says about craftiness… and whether it’s ever a good thing to be crafty.
What Does Subtil Mean?
According to Webster’s Dictionary, subtil is an older English word with positive and negative connotations. It can mean fine, delicate, or refined (as in facial features or art). It can also mean sly, artful, crafty, or cunning.
The King James Version translates at least eight Hebrew words as subtil:
- Aruwm – cunning or crafty
- Chakham – wise, skillful, cunning
- Natsar – to guard (good sense) or to conceal (bad sense)
- Aram – to bare or deal subtilly
- Nakal – defraud or deal subtilly
- Mirmah – deceiving, fraud, or craft
- Oqbah – trickery
- Ormah – trickery or discretion
In the New Testament, it translates three Greek words as subtil:
- Katasophizomai – circumvent or deal craftily with
- Dolos – decoy, craft, or subtility
- Panourgia – adroitness or cunning
Some words are clearly negative and refer to trickery and deceit. Others are harder to pinpoint unless you look at it the context. This is probably why some translations use a synonym, such as wise, to clarify.
Subtil is found mostly in the King James Version of the Bible. The American Standard Revised Version and English Revised Version use it in some instances, but substitute other synonyms in other cases. For a more detailed look at usage, read this Bible dictionary entry on subtil, which gives an in-depth study of the uses of the word across translations.
When Does the Bible Rebuke People for Being Subtil?
Most of the time, the word subtil is used negatively. In eight out of the ten times it is used in the King James Version, it is used with a negative connotation, if not an outright rebuke. Let’s look at each instance in context, starting with the most famous use of the word in Genesis.
Genesis 3:1 (aruwm) – The verse says, “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.” In this case, we know from the actions of the serpent that he intended to deceive Adam and Eve using skillful wording and questioning.
Genesis 27:35 (mirmah) – The reference here is to Jacob, who deceitfully stole a blessing meant for his his brother, Esau. When their father Isaac was old and blind and expected to die soon, Jacon dressed himself to appear like his brother, even using animal hair to seem hairy like Esau. He successfully got Esau’s blessing from their father. This trick took some thought and planning. While it shows skill, it is not a skill that is considered praiseworthy (except among con artists).
Psalms 105:25 (nakal) – This psalm talks about when the children of Israel were living in Egypt and how the Egyptians began to hate them and “deal subtilly with his servants.” They enslaved the Israelites and treated them harshly. Their subtil behavor was a trick to hurt people.
Proverbs 7:10 (natsar) – The verse is part of a warning to a son about following God’s commandments and gives the example of a young man led to “a woman with the attire of a harlot, and subtil of heart.” In this discussion, the father explains that the woman is concealing her true intent to lead him astray from God.
2 Kings 10:19 (oqbah) – This example can be seen positively or negatively. Jehu pretends to be a follower of Baal to lure the prophets of Baal into one place, but “Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.” God commanded Baal worship to be removed from the land, and Jehu does it, but sneakily. However, it could be considered skillful cunning in the art of war.
2 Corinthians 11:3 (panourgia) – This refers to the serpent beguiling Eve in the Garden of Eden, comparing the serpent to false preachers trying to lead Christians astray.
Matthew 26:4 (dolos) – This verse concerns how the religious leaders used crafty and treachery so that they could arrest and kill Jesus.
Acts 13:10 (dolos) – In this scripture, Paul confronts Elymas, the sorcerer, about trying to turn people away from the faith. After Paul rebuked Elymas, God made Elymas blind.
For the most part, all of these examples would be seen as a negative trait, with perhaps the exception of Jehu, because they were used to deceive or lead people astray. However, there are a few instances where it does have a positive meaning.
When Does the Bible Praise People for Being Subtil?
There are only two times that the word subtil is used with a positive connotation. Let’s take a closer look at each one to see what it means in context:
2 Samuel 13:3 (chakham) – This word can be translated as wise; however, in this situation, the intellect is abused as Jonadab helps Amnon trick Tamar. So, while the word is positive, the man used his abilities for evil.
Proverbs 1:4 (ormah) – In this case, the verse says, “To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.” This is about developing discretion skills and learning when to act and when not to act. It is about being wise and learning how to listen to wise counsel.
Overall, the word subtil is used negatively because it is used for treachery and deceit. However, there is one place where Christians are called to be as wise, or subtil, as serpents. Matthew 10:16 says, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Because we live in a world full of wolves who seek to destroy our witness, we must be as wise and cunning as the serpent to use that knowledge for good. Like the reference to Proverbs 1:4, we need to learn discernment and discretion. The Christianity.com articles “What Does It Mean to be Wise?” and “The Wisdom of Serpents” give a more in-depth discussion of this scripture.
While different Bible translations use different words to represent subtil, the idea is still the same. It usually means someone who is up to no good. As Christians, we are called to use God’s gifts, including intelligence and cunning, for the good of those around us. We are not called to treachery or deceit. We are called to lift our brothers and sisters in love and glorify God. Yet, we do need to use our intelligence and cunning to be aware of the enemy’s tricks and snares as we navigate a world full of wolves, remembering:
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12 KJV).
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/stevanovicigor
Linda Lyle is a writer, teacher, knitter, and unintentional collector of cats. She has written articles for the Alabama Baptist, Open Windows, Refresh, as well as multiple novels and novellas. Her newest book, 5-Minute Prayer Plan for When Life Is Overwhelming, is set to release in October. She spins yarns on her blog The End of My Yarn at lindalyle.com.
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
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