Bible Dictionaries
Deceit, Deceitful, Deceitfully, Deceitfulness, Deceive, Deceivableness

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

"deceit or deceitfulness" (akin to apatao, "to cheat, deceive, beguile"), that which gives a false impression, whether by appearance, statement or influence, is said of riches, Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19; of sin, Hebrews 3:13 . The phrase in Ephesians 4:22 , "deceitful lusts," AV, "lusts of deceit," RV, signifies lusts excited by "deceit," of which "deceit" is the source of strength, not lusts "deceitful" in themselves. In 2 Thessalonians 2:10 , "all deceit of unrighteousness," RV, signifies all manner of unscrupulous words and deeds designed to "deceive" (see Revelation 13:13-15 ). In Colossians 2:8 , "vain deceit" suggests that "deceit" is void of anything profitable.

Note: In 2 Peter 2:13 , the most authentic texts have "revelling in their love-feasts," RV (agapais), for AV, "deceivings" (apatais).

primarily "a bait, snare;" hence, "craft, deceit, guile," is translated "deceit" in Mark 7:22; Romans 1:29 . See CRAFT , GUILE , SUBTILTY.

Notes: (1) Plane, rendered "deceit" in 1 Thessalonians 2:3 , AV, signifies wandering (cp. Eng., "planet"), hence, "error" (RV), i.e., a wandering from the right path; in Ephesians 4:14 , "wiles of error," AV, "to deceive." See DELUDE , ERROR.

(2) For dolioo, "to use deceit," see C, No. 4.

"deceitful," is used in 2 Corinthians 11:13 , of false apostles as "deceitful workers;" cp. A, No. 2 and Note (2).

"to beguile, deceive" (see A, No. 1), is used (a) of those who "deceive" "with empty words," belittling the true character of the sins mentioned, Ephesians 5:6; (b) of the fact that Adam was "not beguiled," 1 Timothy 2:14 , RV (cp. what is said of Eve; see No. 2 below); (c) of the "self-deceit" of him who thinks himself religious, but bridles not his tongue, James 1:26 .

ek (ex), intensive, and No. 1, signifies "to beguile thoroughly, to deceive wholly," 1 Timothy 2:14 , RV. See BEGUILE.

lit., "to deceive in one's mind" (phren, "the mind," and No. 1), "to deceive by fancies" (Lightfoot), is used in Galatians 6:3 , with reference to self-conceit, which is "self-deceit," a sin against common sense. Cp. James 1:26 (above).

Note: Cp. phrenapates, No. 2, under DECEIVE.

"to lure," as by a bait (see A, No. 2), is translated "have used deceit" in Romans 3:13 .

a short form of No. 4, primarily signifies "to ensnare;" hence, "to corrupt," especially by mingling the truths of the Word of God with false doctrines or notions, and so handling it "deceitfully," 2 Corinthians 4:2 . Cp. kapeleuo, "to corrupt by way of hucksterizing," 2 Corinthians 2:17 . For the difference between the words see CORRUPT , A No. 1.

akin to plane, A, Note (1) (Eng., "planet"), in the Passive form sometimes means "to go astray, wander," Matthew 18:12; 1 Peter 2:25; Hebrews 11:38; frequently Active, "to deceive, by leading into error, to seduce," e.g., Matthew 24:4,5,11,24; John 7:12 , "leadeth astray," RV (cp. 1 John 3:7 ). In Revelation 12:9 the present participle is used with the definite article, as a title of the Devil, "the Deceiver," lit., "the deceiving one." Often it has the sense of "deceiving onself," e.g., 1 Corinthians 6:9; 15:33; Galatians 6:7; James 1:16 , "be not deceived," RV, "do not err," AV. See ERR , LEAD (astray), SEDUCE , WANDER , WAY (be out of the).

see BEGUILE , No. 3.