πανοῦργος

From the study of Sirach 21:20

Range of meaning

Literally 'ready to do anything'. In classical Greek it is often negative: knavish, unscrupulous, crafty. In the Greek Proverbs it is regularly positive, 'prudent, shrewd', as the opposite of the fool (Proverbs 12:16, 13:16, 14:15), translating Hebrew ʿārûm, 'shrewd, prudent'. Sirach uses it both ways and says so: 'there is a cleverness that multiplies bitterness' (21:12) and 'there is a cleverness that is exact but unjust' (19:25), while 'if you give your soul to it, you will become shrewd' (6:32).

Against the English

The KJV and Brenton say 'wise man' (following the Latin sapiens), which makes it sound like a sage or someone spiritually wise. RSV and WEB say 'clever', which today can suggest quick wit, nearly the opposite of the reserved man in view. 'Crafty' (2 Corinthians 12:16) would be wrongly negative here. 'Shrewd' or 'prudent' comes closest.

How it drifted

The Vulgate turned it into sapiens ('wise'), and the KJV followed. Modern 'clever' has shifted toward intellect and wit.

Used elsewhere in the period

Proverbs (Greek) 1:4, 8:5, 12:16, 13:1, 14:15, 15:5. Sirach 6:32, 19:25, 21:12, and 21:20 here. In the New Testament it occurs only at 2 Corinthians 12:16, where it is negative.