πειρασμός (peirasmos)
peirasmos
temptation/testing: temptation
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 20 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek noun peirasmos refers to a trial or test that reveals character, carrying a dual sense in Scripture. It can describe neutral or positive hardships sent by God to prove faith, as when Paul welcomes the Galatians’ suffering as an opportunity for them to demonstrate their love (Galatians 4:14), or when James calls believers joyous about various trials (James 1:2). In these contexts, the word aligns with the Hebrew masah, recalling the Israelites testing God at Massah.
Conversely, peirasmos frequently denotes a dangerous enticement to sin. Jesus warns disciples to pray not to enter into this state of temptation (Matthew 6:13), and Luke records the devil’s specific attempts to divert Him during His wilderness period (Luke 4:13). This usage highlights the word’s focus on the pressure that leads one away from holiness, whether through internal desire or external circumstance.
Its root verb peirazō implies putting something to the proof. The noun captures the resulting state of being tested. Translators often render it "temptation" when referring to sin’s lure, but "trial" or "testing" when describing God’s refining work. This distinction preserves the biblical tension between suffering that strengthens faith and seduction that destroys it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word peirasmos captures a tension in our daily lives: we face situations that either strengthen our faith or pull us away from it. Scripture acknowledges this dual reality. Sometimes trials come as external hardships, like illness or hardship, which refine our character and reveal the depth of our trust in God. At other times, temptation arises as an internal lure toward sin, tempting us to compromise our values for short-term gain.
Understanding this distinction helps us navigate difficult seasons with clarity. When facing external pressure, we can find hope in promises like 1 Corinthians 10:13, which assures us that God provides a way out so we can endure. When facing internal enticement to sin, Jesus teaches us to pray for protection from entering into such states (Matthew 6:13). This awareness allows us to seek God’s help specifically for the challenge at hand.
Whether you are enduring a difficult season or resisting a specific urge, this word reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles. The Christian life involves both refining trials and spiritual battles, but God remains faithful to sustain us through both. We can approach Him with honesty about our weaknesses and confidence in His provision.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 20 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- temptation5×
- trials4×
- temptation.4×
- of testing2×
- trial,1×
- trial1×
- test1×
- temptation,1×
- a trial1×
- Temptation1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πειρασμὸν4×
- πειρασμοῦ4×
- πειρασμόν.3×
- πειρασμοῖς3×
- πειρασμόν,2×
- πειρασμῷ1×
- πειρασμῶν1×
- πειρασμόν.¶1×
- πειρασμόν1×
- πειρασμὸς1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 6:13
Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
This verse highlights the protective aspect of prayer, asking God to keep us from being overwhelmed by enticements that could lead us away from Him.
-
James 1:2
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,
Here the word refers to external hardships that test faith, encouraging believers to find joy in the process of spiritual refinement.
-
Luke 4:13
When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time.
It describes the specific moments when Jesus faced direct enticement to sin, showing His vulnerability and dependence on God during testing.