ἀπείραστος G0551
untemptable, unable to be tempted; incapable of experiencing temptation, especially to evil
This adjective describes someone or something that cannot be tempted, particularly by evil. James 1:13 applies it to God: 'God cannot be tempted by evil'—divine nature is inherently immune to the attraction of sin. While humans face genuine temptation because sin appeals to fallen desire, God experiences no such internal conflict. Evil holds no allure for One who is perfectly holy. The term emphasizes ontological immunity, not merely moral strength. God doesn't resist temptation; He cannot be tempted.
Senses
1. sense 1 — James's assertion that God is 'untemptable by evil' corrects a dangerous misunderstanding: when we face temptation, God isn't testing us with evil (He cannot do what His nature forbids). Spanish 'no tentable' and English 'untemptable' create the negative form, while French and German transcribe the Greek, recognizing its technical precision. This isn't about God's power to resist temptation but about His nature's incompatibility with evil. Temptation requires susceptibility; God has none. 1×
AR["غَيرُ-مُجَرَّبٍ"]·ben["অপ্রলোভনীয়"]·DE["unversucht"]·EN["untemptable"]·FR["ἀπείραστός"]·heb["בִּלְתִּי־מְנֻסֶּה"]·HI["बिना-परीक्षा"]·ID["tidak-dapat-dicobai"]·IT["apeirastos"]·jav["mboten-saged-dicoba"]·KO["시험받지-않으신다"]·PT["não-pode-ser-tentado"]·RU["неискушаем"]·ES["no-tentable"]·SW["hawezi-kujaribiwa"]·TR["denemez"]·urd["آزمایا-نہیں-جا-سکتا"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀπείραστος, ον, incapable of being tempted, κακῶνNT __II without experience, τῶν ἀβουλήτωνRefs 4th c.AD+ __III not experienced, Refs 2nd c.AD+; untried, τέχνηRefs 5th c.BC+