Greek word · G3802

παγιδεύω

pagideuō

to trap

'To set a snare for, entrap.' It comes from pagis, a trap, snare or noose. The picture is the fowler's trap, a concealed device that springs shut on an unwary bird. It was used figuratively for catching someone by deceit.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

παγιδεύω

(παγίς), [in LXX: 1 Samuel 28:9 (נָקַשׁ hith.), Ecclesiastes 9:12 (יָקֹשׁ pu.)* ;]

to ensnare: metaphorically, with accusative, ἐν λόγῳ, Matthew 22:15 (not elsewhere).†

(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 Matthew 22:15

Range of meaning

'To set a snare for, entrap.' It comes from pagis, a trap, snare or noose. The picture is the fowler's trap, a concealed device that springs shut on an unwary bird. It was used figuratively for catching someone by deceit.

Against the English

'Trap' (BSB, NIV) is accurate but general. 'Entangle' (KJV, ESV) suggests a net. YLT's 'ensnare' keeps the hunting picture best. None of them is wrong. They simply lose some of the hidden-snare imagery.

Used elsewhere in the period

The verb is rare and late. It occurs only here in the New Testament. In the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), the medium of Endor asks Saul, 'Why are you laying a snare for my life?' (1 Samuel 28:9), and Ecclesiastes 9:12 compares people snared by an evil time to birds caught in a snare. The noun pagis is common in the Psalms for traps the wicked set for the righteous (e.g. Psalm 124:7; 141:9; 142:3). Mark's parallel uses agreuō, 'to catch' like a hunter or fisher (Mark 12:13). Luke's says they wanted to 'take hold of his word' so as to hand him over to the governor (Luke 20:20).

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 22:15 παγιδεύσωσιν they may trap

    Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words.

    Here: 'They might snare.' The word comes from pagis, a fowler's snare or noose, and pictures catching a bird. The subjunctive gives the intended result of the plan. It occurs only here in the New Testament.

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