CategoryArchaic Word
Modern Equivalentcrafty; cunning; shrewd.
KJV Word TypeAdjective
DefinitionCrafty, cunning, shrewd, or skillful in a way that may be either wise or deceitful depending on context.
Key Verses"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made." (Genesis 3:1)
KJV Usage NoteThe KJV spelling "subtil" is an older form of "subtle" and often emphasizes craftiness or cunning.
Common MisunderstandingIt does not always mean gently understated; in many KJV contexts it means crafty or cunning.
EtymologyFrom Latin subtilis, meaning "fine, precise, or cunning."