פָּתָה (pa.tah)
pa.tah
to open wide; to entice
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 23 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb patah carries a dual sense of physical openness and mental simplicity. In its basic form, it describes something wide or spacious, such as when Noah prays for Japheth to have broad dwelling places (Genesis 9:27). This concrete image of space extends metaphorically to the mind, where being "open" means lacking experience or discernment.
In wisdom literature like Proverbs and Jeremiah, this mental openness becomes a vulnerability. The simple person is easily enticed or deceived because they have not yet learned to navigate complexity. The text often portrays this as being led astray by seductive words, highlighting how a lack of depth makes one susceptible to false paths. Translators typically render it as "simple," "entice," or "deceive" depending on whether the subject is the naive person or the one doing the persuading.
The word’s power lies in this connection between physical breadth and intellectual naivety. Just as a wide mouth allows much in, an open mind without guardrails accepts anything offered to it. The sources note that this state is not necessarily malicious but is dangerous because it lacks the filter of wisdom, leaving the individual exposed to manipulation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word patah captures a fascinating duality: it describes both physical spaciousness and mental openness. In Genesis, Noah prays for Japheth to have wide dwelling places, an image of abundance and room to grow. Yet in the wisdom literature, this same 'openness' becomes a warning. To be patah is to be simple or naive, lacking the discernment that comes with experience. It is not necessarily a moral failing, but a state of vulnerability where one is easily swayed by persuasive words.
This word reminds us that wisdom is not just about knowing facts, but about having guardrails for our hearts. When we are 'open' without depth, we risk being enticed away from what is good. The Bible does not condemn curiosity or openness itself. Instead, it invites us to cultivate a heart that is receptive to truth but guarded against deception. We learn to seek understanding rather than just acceptance.
For your daily life, this means valuing discernment. It is healthy to be open to new ideas and people, but we must also ground ourselves in wisdom. Like the prayer for wide tents, we can desire space for growth while ensuring our minds are anchored in what is true. This balance protects us from manipulation and helps us navigate complex relationships with clarity and peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 23 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will deceive2×
- will he deceive2×
- entice2×
- I will deceive/ him2×
- you deceived/ me1×
- to/ deceive/ you1×
- they will entice/ you1×
- silly1×
- may he make spacious1×
- it should be deceived1×
- it has been deceived1×
- he will be persuaded1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּפַתֶּה֙2×
- פַּתִּ֣י2×
- יְפַתֶּה֙2×
- אֲפַתֶּ֑/נּוּ2×
- פוֹתָ֖ה1×
- פִּתִּיתַ֤/נִי1×
- נִפְתָּ֣ה1×
- לְ/פַתֹּתְ/ךָ֖1×
- יַ֤פְתְּ1×
- יִפְתֶּ֖ה1×
- יְפֻתֶּה֙1×
- יְפֻתֶּ֣ה1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 9:27
May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.”
This verse uses the root sense of enlargement or making wide, showing the word's positive connotation of spaciousness before it shifts to mental simplicity in later texts.
-
Proverbs 1:10
My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.
Here the verb describes sinners actively enticing a person, highlighting the danger of an unguarded heart that lacks the filter of wisdom.
-
Hosea 7:11
“Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria.
The metaphor of Ephraim as an easily deceived dove illustrates how lack of understanding makes a community vulnerable to foreign alliances and false promises.
-
Jeremiah 20:7
Yahweh, you have persuaded me, and I was persuaded. You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day. Everyone mocks me.
Jeremiah uses this term to describe how God has persuaded or enticed him, showing that the word can also apply to divine influence that compels a prophet's mission.