Greek word · G1818

ἐξαπατάω

exapataō

to deceive

To deceive completely, cheat, lead astray by trickery. The prefix ex- strengthens the simple verb apataō ('deceive').

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐξ -απατάω, -ῶ strengthened form of ἀπατάω,

[in LXX: Exodus 8:29 (הָתַל hi.), Da TH Sus 5:6* ;]

to deceive: with accusative, Romans 7:11 Romans 16:18, 1 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 11:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:3; pass., 1 Timothy 2:14.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Corinthians 11:3

Range of meaning

To deceive completely, cheat, lead astray by trickery. The prefix ex- strengthens the simple verb apataō ('deceive').

Against the English

KJV/YLT 'beguiled' is archaic but apt, since 'beguile' implies charm used to deceive. 'Deceived' in most modern versions is accurate but a little weaker.

Used elsewhere in the period
  • Genesis 3:13 LXX: Eve says 'the serpent deceived (ēpatēsen) me'. Paul strengthens it to exēpatēsen, as 1 Timothy 2:14 also does of Eve.
  • Exodus 22:15 LXX (22:16 in English) uses the simple verb apataō for seducing an unbetrothed virgin, so the word family was already linked with seducing young women.
  • Paul also uses exapataō for sin deceiving him through the commandment (Rom 7:11, another echo of Eden) and for smooth talkers who deceive the unsuspecting (Rom 16:18).

From the study of 1 Corinthians 3:18

Range of meaning

To deceive completely, to lead astray, to cheat or trick. It is the ordinary verb apataō ('deceive') strengthened by the prefix ex- ('out, thoroughly'). It describes being misled into a false picture of reality that leads to ruin.

Against the English

English 'deceive' is accurate. What it can lose is the intensity ('thoroughly fool') and the danger: in Paul this verb describes deception with destructive results, not a small misjudgement.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses it for the serpent deceiving Eve (2 Cor 11:3; the Greek of Gen 3:13 has the plain form apataō), for sin deceiving and killing the 'I' (Rom 7:11), for people who 'by smooth talk and flattery deceive the hearts of the naive' (Rom 16:18), and for end-time deception (2 Thess 2:3). In classical Greek it is common for outright trickery. A close parallel in thought is Gal 6:3: 'if anyone thinks (dokei) he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.'

From the study of 2 Thessalonians 2:3

Range of meaning

To deceive completely, to lead astray by trickery. The prefix ex- intensifies the simple verb apataō.

Against the English

'Deceive' is right. What English loses is the completeness: it means being thoroughly misled about what is real.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Exodus 8:29 (8:25 Eng.), where Pharaoh 'deceives' Moses; Paul uses it in Romans 7:11, 16:18, 1 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 11:3 (the serpent deceiving Eve). Jesus' end-time teaching opens with the same warning: 'See that no one leads you astray' (Mark 13:5; Matt 24:4).

Where it appears

Romans · 2

  1. Romans 7:11 ἐξηπάτησέν deceived

    For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death.

    Here: 'Deceived', told as a completed past event. It is the same verb form Paul uses in 2 Corinthians 11:3 for the serpent deceiving Eve, and it brings the Garden of Eden to mind.

  2. Romans 16:18 ἐξαπατῶσιν they deceive

    For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

    Here: The prefix ex- makes the verb stronger: to deceive completely, to lead someone off the path. The present tense means this is their ongoing practice. Paul uses the same verb for the serpent's deception of Eve in 2 Corinthians 11:3.

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:18 ἐξαπατάτω· should deceive;

    Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.

    Here: A strengthened 'deceive' (the prefix ex- intensifies it: 'lead completely astray'). The command is in the present tense, which suggests 'stop doing this' or 'never be in the habit of doing this', and implies some Corinthians already were.

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 11:3 ἐξηπάτησεν deceived

    I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

    Here: 'Thoroughly deceived.' It is a stronger compound of the verb Eve uses in Genesis 3:13 LXX ('the serpent deceived me'). The aorist tense looks at the deception as a single completed event in the past.

2 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 ἐξαπατήσῃ may deceive

    Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed.

    Here: A strengthened form of 'deceive': to lead someone completely astray, to trick them into a false belief. Here the false belief is that the Day of the Lord has already arrived (v.2).

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 2:14 ἐξαπατηθεῖσα having been deceived

    And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression.

    Here: The same verb with the prefix ex- added, which strengthens it: 'completely taken in.' It is the verb Paul uses of the serpent and Eve in 2 Corinthians 11:3. The participle gives the means or circumstance: having been deceived, she came into transgression.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.