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How do the Hebrew words for "subtil" and "naked" in Genesis 3 differ?
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.
Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked;
Using Strong’s concordance:
Subtil <06175> ערום ‘aruwm pass. part. of <06191> (to be crafty, prudent, shrewd); adj; Translated in the King James Version – ‘prudent’ 8 times, ‘crafty’ 2 times, ‘subtil’ 1 time.
Meaning: 1) subtle, shrewd, crafty, sly, sensible 1a) crafty 1b) shrewd, sensible, prudent
Naked <05903> עירם ‘eyrom or ערם ‘erom from <06191> (to be crafty, prudent, shrewd) adj/n m;
Translated in the King James Version – ‘naked’ 9 times, ‘nakedness’ 1 time.
Meaning: 1) naked adj. 2) nakedness n m
They are different because although both words have a common root, they have different meanings.
Their different meanings are made clear by the context.
God bless,
Glenn
