δελε-άζω G1185
to entice, lure, or trap by bait, especially into sin or error
This verb originally described fishing or hunting with bait—luring prey into a trap through attractive but deceptive means. Metaphorically, it describes the process of temptation and seduction, whether into sin or error. James employs it in analyzing the anatomy of temptation: each person is 'enticed' by their own desire. Peter warns of false teachers who 'entice' unstable souls. The term captures both the attractive appeal of temptation and its deceptive, predatory nature—what appears desirable conceals a hook.
Senses
1. sense 1 — James 1:14 describes how 'each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.' 2 Peter 2:14 and 2:18 both warn of false teachers who 'entice unstable souls' and 'entice' people who are barely escaping from error. The multilingual evidence shows the term's entrapment connotations—Spanish 'seducen/seduciendo,' French forms preserving the Greek, German 'verlocken' (lure/entice). All three contexts involve being drawn into destructive patterns through attractive but deceptive appeals, like fish to a baited hook. 3×
AR["مُغرينَ", "مُغرًى", "يُغرونَ"]·ben["প্রলোভন-দেয়", "প্রলোভিত-হয়ে"]·DE["verlocken"]·EN["being-enticed", "enticing", "they-entice"]·FR["δελεάζοντες", "δελεάζουσιν", "δελεαζόμενος"]·heb["מְפַתִּים", "מְפֻתֶּה"]·HI["फुसलाकर", "फुसलाते-हुए", "फुसलाते-हैं"]·ID["dipikat;", "memikat", "mereka-memikat"]·IT["deleazomenos", "deleazontes", "deleazousin"]·jav["kapancing;", "nggodèni"]·KO["미혹되어;", "유혹하는-자들", "유혹한다"]·PT["seduzem", "seduzindo", "sendo-seduzido"]·RU["прельщают", "прельщающие", "соблазняемый;"]·ES["seducen", "seduciendo", "siendo-seducido"]·SW["akidanganywa", "wakivutia", "wanavutia"]·TR["ayartanlar", "ayartırlar", "cezbedilerek"]·urd["لبھاتے-ہوئے", "لبھاتے-ہیں", "پھنسایا-جاتا؛"]
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
δελε-άζω, (δέλεαρ) entice or catch by a bait, τὴν γραῦν δ. λεπαστῇ Refs 4th c.BC+:— passive, γαστρὶ δελεάζεσθαι Refs 5th c.BC+; ὑπὸ χρημάτων, ὑπὸ τῆς ἡδονῆς, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __II with accusative cognate, νῶτον ὑὸς περὶ ἄγκιστρον δ. put it on the hook as a bait, Refs 5th c.BC+; but δ. ἄγκιστρον ἰσχάδι bait it with a fig, Refs 2nd c.AD+