ἐξαπατάω (exapataō)
exapataō
to deceive
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb exapataō means to deceive thoroughly or completely. It is an intensified form of a common word for deception, carrying the weight of being fully misled rather than just slightly confused. In the New Testament, it appears in six verses, primarily in Paul’s letters such as Romans, 2 Corinthians, and 2 Thessalonians.
Paul uses this strong term to describe serious spiritual danger. He warns that false teachers use smooth words to deceive people (Romans 16:18) and fears the Corinthian church might be led astray from sincere devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived (2 Corinthians 11:3). It also describes how sin used the commandment to produce death in Paul’s own life (Romans 7:11).
The prefix ex- adds a sense of thoroughness or completion. This is not a minor misunderstanding but a deep deception that alters one’s entire direction. The passive form appears in 1 Timothy 2:14, noting that Adam was not deceived, but the woman was thoroughly misled. Translators usually render it as "deceive" or "mislead," capturing the gravity of being completely tricked.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word exapataō describes a deception that is thorough and complete. It is not a simple misunderstanding or a minor mistake in judgment. Instead, it points to a deep misleading that alters one’s entire direction. When Paul uses this term, he is highlighting a serious spiritual danger where false teaching or sin leads someone away from the truth of Christ.
In Romans 16:18, we see how smooth and flattering speech can be used to deceive the hearts of the innocent. This reminds us that deception often comes wrapped in appealing words rather than obvious lies. We are called to discernment, testing what we hear against the clear teaching of Scripture so that our faith remains grounded in reality.
Similarly, 2 Corinthians 11:3 warns that minds can be corrupted from the simplicity found in Christ. This simplicity is not naivety but a pure, undivided focus on Jesus. By keeping our eyes fixed on Him and relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we can resist the subtle pressures that seek to pull us into error. May we walk in the light of His truth every day.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- deceived2×
- they deceive1×
- should deceive;1×
- may deceive1×
- having been deceived1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐξηπάτησέν1×
- ἐξηπάτησεν1×
- ἐξαπατῶσιν1×
- ἐξαπατήσῃ1×
- ἐξαπατάτω·1×
- ἐξαπατηθεῖσα1×
Key Verses
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Romans 16:18
For those who are such don’t serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent.
This verse illustrates how deceptive speech targets the 'hearts of the innocent,' showing that the danger lies in appealing rhetoric rather than obvious falsehoods.