δελεάζω (deleazō)
deleazō
to entice
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb deleazō describes the act of enticing or alluring someone, using imagery drawn from fishing or hunting. Its core meaning comes from the noun for "bait," suggesting that the temptation works by presenting something attractive to draw a person in, much like bait lures a fish. This is not merely persuasion but a seductive pull toward something harmful.
In the New Testament, this word appears rarely, specifically in James and 2 Peter. In James 1:14, it describes how individuals are enticed by their own desires, which then lead to sin. Similarly, 2 Peter uses it to depict false teachers who allure others with promises of freedom while leading them into bondage. The passive voice in James emphasizes that the person is caught in this trap by their internal cravings.
Translators often render deleazō as "entice" or "allure," capturing the subtle, attractive nature of the danger. Unlike forceful coercion, this word implies a deceptive appeal that makes sin look appealing. The sources highlight its metaphorical use to warn believers about the insidious way desires can trap them, making the path to destruction seem inviting rather than threatening.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word deleazō paints a vivid picture of temptation as bait. Just as a fisherman uses something attractive to catch a fish, sin often presents itself as a desirable reward rather than a trap. This imagery reminds us that the danger lies not in force, but in deception. When we feel drawn toward something wrong, it is usually because it appears good, promising satisfaction or freedom.
Understanding this helps us recognize our own vulnerabilities. As James 1:14 explains, we are enticed by our own desires. This is not an excuse for failure, but a call to awareness. By seeing temptation for what it is—a lure rather than a truth—we can step back and evaluate the offer with clarity.
This perspective offers hope. We do not have to fight these pulls alone or in shame. Recognizing the pattern allows us to seek wisdom and resist the subtle pull of sin, keeping our hearts focused on what truly sustains us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they entice1×
- enticing1×
- being enticed;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δελεάζουσιν1×
- δελεάζοντες1×
- δελεαζόμενος·1×
Key Verses
-
James 1:14
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed.
This verse identifies the internal source of enticement as our own lusts, showing how personal desires act as the bait that draws us away.
-
II Peter 2:14
having eyes full of adultery, and who can’t cease from sin, enticing unsettled souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children!
Here the word describes false teachers who actively allure unsettled souls through greed and adultery, highlighting the social danger of such deception.
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II Peter 2:18
For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;
This occurrence shows how empty, swelling words are used to entice those who were previously escaping error, demonstrating the persistent nature of these lures.