ἀποπλανάω (apoplanaō)
apoplanaō
to mislead
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apoplanaō means to cause someone to go astray or be led into error. It carries the sense of diverting a person from the right path, whether that path is physical or moral. In the New Testament, it appears in two distinct ways: actively, where one person leads another into deception, and passively, where an individual is themselves misled.
This word combines the prefix apo, indicating separation or removal, with planao, meaning to wander or stray. The sources highlight its use in Mark 13:22, where Jesus warns that false messiahs will arise to "lead astray" even the elect if possible. Here, the active voice emphasizes a deliberate effort to pull people away from truth. Conversely, 1 Timothy 6:10 uses the passive form, describing how the love of money can cause someone to "wander away" from the faith. This usage suggests that the deception is not always an external attack but can be an internal drift caused by personal desires.
Translators often render apoplanaō as "deceive" or "mislead," though these English terms can sometimes feel too mild. The Greek word implies a more significant deviation, a turning away from established truth toward error. It is not merely making a mistake but being pulled off course by something powerful enough to override one’s original direction.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we face confusion or doubt, it can feel like the ground beneath us is shifting. The Greek word apoplanaō describes this exact sensation: being led away from a known path into error. It suggests that truth is not abstract but a direction we are walking in, and deception works by pulling us off course. This might come from outside voices claiming to have secret knowledge, or from inside our own hearts when desires take over.
Jesus warned His followers about this in Mark 13:22, noting that even those chosen for faith could be misled if they are not grounded. The warning was not just about external trickery but about the vulnerability of human attention. We all have moments where we drift, mistaking a comfortable lie for a difficult truth because it aligns with what we want to hear.
Yet there is hope in knowing that this drifting can be recognized and corrected. In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul identifies the love of money as a common trap that pulls people away from their faith. By naming these specific snares, Scripture helps us spot them before they take root. We are invited to stay close to the source of truth, where our steps are kept steady and our hearts remain clear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- were seduced1×
- to deceive1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀποπλανᾶν1×
- ἀπεπλανήθησαν1×
Key Verses
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Mark 13:22
For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
This verse highlights the active danger of false teachers who use miraculous signs to deliberately divert even devoted believers from the truth.
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I Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Here the passive sense is shown, where internal greed causes a person to wander away from their faith without necessarily being tricked by another.