Bible Encyclopedia: Tempt

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

TEMPT; TEMPTATION

temt, tem-ta'-shun (nacah, "to prove" "try," "tempt" maccah, "a trial," "temptation"; peirazo, "to try" "prove" peirasmos "a trial," "proof"): The words have a sinister connotation in present-day usage which has not always attached to them. Originally the words were of neutral content, with the sense of "putting to the proof," the testing of character or quality. Thus, God is "tempted" by Israel's distrust of Him, as if the people were actually challenging Him to show His perfections (Exodus 17:2 Psalm 78:18 Acts 15:10 Hebrews 3:9, and often); Abraham is "tempted," being called upon to offer up Isaac (Genesis 22:1); and Jesus is "tempted" to a spectacular Messiahship (Matthew 4 and parallel passages (see TEMPTATION OF CHRIST)). No evil is implied in the subject of these temptations. Temptation therefore in the Scripture sense has possibilities of holiness as well as of sin. For as all experience witnesses, it is one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall. To be tempted-one may rejoice in that (James 1:2), since in temptation, by conquering it, one may achieve a higher and nobler manhood.

"Why comes temptation but for man to meet

And master and make crouch beneath his foot,

And so be pedestaled in triumph?"

Holiness in its best estate is possible only under conditions which make it necessary to meet, resist and triumph over temptation. Thus, Jesus Himself became our Great High Priest in that, being tempted in all points like as we are, He never once yielded, but fought and triumphed (Hebrews 4:15).

One must not deceive one's self, however, in thinking that, because by the grace of God one may have profit of virtue through temptation as an instrument, all temptation is equally innocent and virtuous. It is noticeable in the case of Jesus that His temptation was under the direction of the Spirit (Mark 1:12); He Himself did not seek it, nor did He fear it. Temptations encountered in this way, the way of duty, the way of the Spirit, alone constitute the true challenge of saintship (James 1:12); but it is the mark of an ignoble nature to be perpetually the center of vicious fancies and tempers which are not of God but of the devil (James 1:13-15). One may not escape entirely such buffetings of faith, but by any sound nature they are easily disposed of. Not so easily disposed of are the trials (temptations) to faith through adversity, affliction, trouble (Luke 22:28 Acts 20:19 James 1:2 1 Peter 1:6); and yet there is no lack of evidence to the consoling fact that God does not suffer His own to be tempted above what they are able to bear (1 Corinthians 10:13) and that for every crisis His grace will be sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:8, 9).

Charles M. Stuart

Greek

3985. peirazo -- to make proof of, to attempt, test, tempt
... to make proof of, to attempt, test, tempt. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
peirazo Phonetic Spelling: (pi-rad'-zo) Short Definition: I try, tempt, test ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3985.htm - 9k

1598. ekpeirazo -- to test thoroughly, tempt
... to test thoroughly, tempt. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekpeirazo Phonetic
Spelling: (ek-pi-rad'-zo) Short Definition: I put to the test, make trial of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1598.htm - 7k

374. anapeitho -- to persuade
... persuade. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anapeitho Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ap-i'-tho) Short Definition: I urge by evil persuasion, I tempt Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/374.htm - 5k

Strong's Hebrew

974. bachan -- to examine, try
... examine, prove, tempt, try trial. A primitive root; to test (especially metals);
generally and figuratively, to investigate -- examine ...
/hebrew/974.htm - 6k

5254. nasah -- to test, try
... adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try. A primitive root; to test; by implication,
to attempt -- adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try. 5253, 5254. nasah. 5255 ...
/hebrew/5254.htm - 6k

Library

Whether to Tempt is Proper to the Devil?
... OF THE ASSAULTS OF THE DEMONS (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether to tempt is proper to the
devil? Objection 1: It would seem that to tempt is not proper to the devil. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether to tempt is proper.htm

Whether it is a Sin to Tempt God?
... OF THE TEMPTATION OF GOD (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether it is a sin to tempt God?
Objection 1: It would seem that it is not a sin to tempt God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is a sin 2.htm

Then Answered Certain of the Scribes and Pharisees, that they ...
... The Text of the Diatessaron. Section XVI. Then answered certain of the scribes
and Pharisees, that they might tempt him� [1] [1142 ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xvi then answered certain.htm

Whether Temptation of God is Opposed to the virtue of Religion?
... Objection 3: Further, a gloss on Ps.77:18, "And they tempted God in their hearts,"
says that "to tempt God is to pray to Him deceitfully, with simplicity in ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether temptation of god is.htm

Whether the Temptation of God Consists in Certain Deeds, Wherein ...
... power alone. Therefore, if the temptation of God consisted in such like
deeds, all who work miracles would tempt God. Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the temptation of god.htm

Abraham's Offering up his Son Isaac
... The sacred penman begins the narrative thus; verse 1. "And it came to pass, after
these things, God did tempt Abraham." After these things, that it, after he ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/abrahams offering up his son.htm

Whether a Demon who is Overcome by Man, is for this Reason ...
... I answer that, Some say that when once a demon has been overcome he can no more
tempt any man at all, neither to the same nor to any other sin. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a demon who is.htm

Whether it was Becoming that Christ Should be Tempted?
... Christ to be tempted. For to tempt is to make an experiment, which is not
done save in regard to something unknown. But the power ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it was becoming that 3.htm

'Lead us not into Temptation'
... To tempt is to present inducements to sin, but a secondary significance is
to do so maliciously, and with desire that we should fall. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/lead us not into temptation.htm

John the Baptist
... And there, when Jesus was tired and hungry, Satan came to Him"just as he came to
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden"to tempt Him. To tempt means to try. ...
/.../anonymous/the good shepherd/chapter iv john the baptist.htm

ATS Bible Dictionary

Tempt

To make trial of, Luke 10:25, and usually to present inducements to sin. Satan is the great tempter, seeking thus most effectually to destroy men's souls, 1 Chronicles 21:1 Job 1:1-2:13 Matthew 4:1 1 Thessalonians 3:5. Men are also led into sin by their own evil inclinations and by other men, James 1:14-15. God, being holy and desirous of men's holiness, does not thus tempt them, James 1:13; but he makes trial of them, to prove, exercise, and establish their graces, Genesis 22:1 James 1:2-3. Christ stands ready to support his people under any possible temptation, 1 1 Corinthians 10:13 Hebrews 2:18 4:15 2 Peter 2:19. Yet they are not to rush into temptation unbidden, Luke 11:4. Men tempt God by presumptuously experimenting on his providence or his grace, or by distrusting him, Exodus 17:2,7 Isaiah 7:12 Matthew 4:7 Acts 5:9 15:10. Sore afflictions are often called temptations or trials, as they are frequently the occasion of sin, Matthew 6:13 Luke 8:13 22:28 James 1:12 1 Peter 1:6,7.

Christ, at the outset of his public ministry, was violently assailed by the tempter, who thus displayed his effrontery and his blindness, hoping perhaps that the human soul of the Redeemer would be left unaided by his divinity, Matthew 4:1-25. The temptations are to be understood as real transactions, and not as visions. The tempter was baffled, and left him for a season, to meet a like rebuff on every future assault, Luke 4:13 22:53 John 14:30. The Savior triumphed, and paradise was regained.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. t.) To put to trial; to prove; to test; to try.

2. (v. t.) To lead, or endeavor to lead, into evil; to entice to what is wrong; to seduce.

3. (v. t.) To endeavor to persuade; to induce; to invite; to incite; to provoke; to instigate.

4. (v. t.) To endeavor to accomplish or reach; to attempt.

Thesaurus

Tempt (18 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To endeavor to accomplish or reach; to attempt. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. TEMPT; TEMPTATION. ... Multi-Version Concordance Tempt (18 Occurrences). ...
/t/tempt.htm - 15k

Prove (83 Occurrences)
... 16, etc.). The Psalmist prays that God may prove him (Psalm 26:2). The
word is frequently rendered "tempt." See TEMPT. The word ...
/p/prove.htm - 34k

Tempting (12 Occurrences)
... n.) of Tempt. ... James 1:13 Let no one say, being tempted -- 'From God I am tempted,'
for God is not tempted of evil, and Himself doth tempt no one, (See NIV). ...
/t/tempting.htm - 9k

Tempted (25 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Tempt. ... (KJV WBS). 1 Corinthians 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ,
as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. (KJV DBY WBS). ...
/t/tempted.htm - 13k

Suggest (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (vt) To seduce; to prompt to evil; to tempt. 4. (vt) To inform secretly. 5.
(vi) To make suggestions; to tempt. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/s/suggest.htm - 7k

Try (84 Occurrences)
... Wherefore do ye tempt Jehovah? (See JPS YLT). ... Deuteronomy 6:16 Ye shall not tempt
Jehovah your God, as ye tempted him in Massah. (See JPS YLT). ...
/t/try.htm - 31k

Temptation (22 Occurrences)
... Thus God "tempted [Genesis 22:1; RV, `did prove'] Abraham;" and afflictions are
said to tempt, ie, to try, men (James 1:2, 12; Comp. ...TEMPT; TEMPTATION. ...
/t/temptation.htm - 30k

Temporary (13 Occurrences)

/t/temporary.htm - 10k

Lack (86 Occurrences)
... unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and
prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn't tempt you because of ...
/l/lack.htm - 33k

Useless (47 Occurrences)
... 1 Thessalonians 3:5 because of this also, I, no longer forbearing, did send to know
your faith, lest he who is tempting did tempt you, and in vain might be our ...
/u/useless.htm - 19k

Bible Concordance

Tempt (18 Occurrences)

Matthew 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Matthew 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
(KJV BBE DBY WBS YLT)

Mark 12:15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Luke 4:12 Jesus answering, said to him, "It has been said,'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"
(WEB KJV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Luke 20:23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Acts 5:9 But Peter asked her, "How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
(WEB KJV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Acts 15:10 Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
(WEB KJV DBY WBS YLT)

1 Corinthians 7:5 Don't deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn't tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

1 Thessalonians 3:5 For this cause I also, when I couldn't stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
(Root in KJV DBY WBS YLT)

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
(KJV WBS)

Exodus 17:2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Deuteronomy 6:16 You shall not tempt Yahweh your God, as you tempted him in Massah.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Psalms 78:56 Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, and didn't keep his testimonies;
(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Isaiah 7:12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, neither will I tempt Yahweh."
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Malachi 3:15 Now we call the proud happy; yes, those who work wickedness are built up; yes, they tempt God, and escape.'
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Subtopics

Tantalizing: General Scriptures Concerning

Tempt

Related Terms

Prove (83 Occurrences)

Tempting (12 Occurrences)

Tempted (25 Occurrences)

Suggest (1 Occurrence)