Erum

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Erum (ערום or Arum), (plural erumim ערומים) is a Hebrew word meaning "cautious, cunning, subtle, crafty, or prudent." It is also used to mean "naked".

• Erum is found many places in the Hebrew Bible some examples in:
  • Genesis 2:25 as erumim, meaning naked, referring to Adam and Eve.
  • Genesis 3:1 as erum, meaning "cunning", referring to the serpent or Satan (See note below).
  • Job 5:12 As erumim, meaning "cunning", referring to those who plot.
  • Job 5:13 As erum, meaning "shrewd", referring to tricksters.
  • Job 15:5 As erumim, meaning "clever", referring to well thought words.

Note: The consensus of the Biblical commentators in classical Judaism is that the "serpent" of the narrative in the Book of Genesis, was literally a serpent. They differ regarding what force it represented: The "evil inclination", "Satan", or the "Angel of Death". According to the Midrash, before this cunning beast was cursed, it stood erect and was endowed with some faculty of communication.

In Arabic "Erum" refers to a pre-historic city . It is also often used in Urdu poetry, with this same meaning, but is not commonly used in the everyday language.