Lexical Summary suth: incited, entice, mislead Original Word: סוּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance entice, move, persuade, provoke, remove, set on, stir up, take awayPerhaps denominative from shayith; properly, to prick, i.e. (figuratively) stimulate; by implication, to seduce -- entice, move, persuade, provoke, remove, set on, stir up, take away. see HEBREW shayith NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to incite, allure, instigate NASB Translation diverted (1), entice (2), enticed (1), incited (3), inciting (1), induced (1), mislead (2), misleading (1), misleads (1), misled (1), moved (1), persuaded (2), stirred (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [סוּת] verb Hiph`il incite, allure, instigate (Late Hebrew Hiph`il, id.); — Hiph`il Perfect3masculine singular suffix הֱִסיתְךָ 1 Samuel 26:19, הֲסֵיתְךָ Job 36:16; 3feminine singular הֵסַ֫תָּה 1 Kings 21:25 (Ges§ 72w Köi. 460); 3 plural suffix הִסִּית֫וּךָ Jeremiah 38:22 (Ges§ 72ee); Imperfect3masculine singular יַסִּית 2 Kings 18:32 2t., but also וַיָּ֫סֶת 2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1, suffix יְִסיתְךָ Deuteronomy 13:7; Job 36:18, etc.; Participle מַסִּית Jeremiah 43:3; 2Chronicles 32:11; — 1. a. incite to make a request (with accusative of person + infinitive) Judges 1:14 (on text see GFM) = Joshua 15:18. b. allure מִמֶּנּוּ וַיְסִיתֵם2Chronicles 18:31 and God allured them away from him (si vera lectio; strike out clause as gloss Be Kit); so also Job 36:16 according to De Hi Bu and others; he allureth thee out of the mouth of distress, but Di Du freedom hath seduced thee; for meaning seduce, entice, compare also Job 36:18. 2 instigate, in bad sense, with accusative of person, + בְּ against, 1 Samuel 26:19; 2 Samuel 24:1; Jeremiah 43:3; Job 2:3; with accusative of person alone 1 Kings 21:25; 2 Kings 18:32 = Isaiah 36:18, compare 2Chronicles 32:15; Deuteronomy 13:7; Jeremiah 38:22; + infinitive 1 Chronicles 21:1; 2Chronicles 18:2; 32:11. סוּת noun see סוה Topical Lexicon Concept and NuanceThe verb סוּת occurs eighteen times and consistently depicts a calculated effort to move another’s will—whether by coaxing, provoking, or deceiving. It may appear benign on the surface (Joshua 15:18; Judges 1:14), yet most occurrences carry a moral warning: the one “incited” is being drawn away from a path ordained by God toward idolatry, sin, or destruction. In every context the word highlights the subtle power of persuasion and the responsibility of the hearer to discern truth. Incitement to Idolatry and Apostasy The foundational warning is Deuteronomy 13:6, where even the most intimate of relationships can “secretly entice you, saying, ‘Let us go and worship other gods.’” The Law demands that such enticement be utterly rejected, illustrating how seriously the covenant community must guard against doctrinal corruption. Jeremiah later echoes this danger when the officials charge, “Baruch is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Chaldeans” (Jeremiah 43:3). False spiritual counsel, no matter how authoritative it sounds, threatens covenant fidelity. Political Manipulation and Military Intimidation Several narratives employ סוּת to expose propaganda in national crises: • 2 Kings 18:32 and Isaiah 36:18 record the Assyrian envoy who “incites” Judah to surrender by questioning the Lord’s power: “Beware lest Hezekiah mislead you, saying, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’” Individual Temptation and Spiritual Testing On the personal level סוּת may arise from friendship (1 Samuel 26:19) or spiritual forces: • Job 2:3 reveals an unseen heavenly dialogue: “You incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.” The term exposes Satan’s role as tempter while affirming that the Lord remains sovereign over the outcome. Divine Sovereignty and Human Agency A striking tension appears in 2 Samuel 24:1 and its parallel in 1 Chronicles 21:1. The former states, “He stirred up David,” while the latter attributes the same act to Satan. Scripture therefore presents both divine permission and demonic activity—never conflicting, but operating within God’s ultimate providence. The lesson is two-fold: the adversary’s schemes are real, yet God reigns supreme and uses even wrongful incitement to accomplish larger redemptive purposes. Everyday Relationships and Requests The earliest uses depict Achsah “urging” her husband Othniel to ask Caleb for springs of water (Joshua 15:18; Judges 1:14). Here סוּת carries no sinful connotation; it simply reflects earnest persuasion. The context teaches that the act of influencing another’s decision is not inherently wrong; its moral value depends on alignment with God’s will. Pastoral and Ministry Applications 1. Guard the flock: Just as Judah faced relentless psychological warfare, congregations must be equipped to detect teaching that subtly redirects devotion away from Christ. Christological and New Testament Resonance Though סוּת itself is confined to the Old Testament, its theme resurfaces when Peter warns of “false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies” (2 Peter 2:1). Jesus likewise cautions, “See to it that no one leads you astray” (Matthew 24:4). The ultimate safeguard against incitement is abiding in Christ, whose Spirit guides “into all truth” (John 16:13). Summary סוּת exposes the potent force of persuasion—capable of fostering faithfulness when aligned with God’s purposes, but more often portrayed as a tool of deception aiming to derail covenant obedience. Scripture calls believers to vigilant discernment, humble dependence on the Lord’s sovereignty, and unwavering commitment to truth. Forms and Transliterations הֱסִֽיתְךָ֥ הֲסִיתְךָ֨ ׀ הִסִּית֜וּךָ הֵסַ֥תָּה הסיתוך הסיתך הסתה וַיְסִיתֵ֕הוּ וַיְסִיתֵ֥ם וַיָּ֙סֶת֙ וַיָּ֨סֶת וַתְּסִיתֵ֙הוּ֙ וַתְּסִיתֵ֥נִי ויסיתהו ויסיתם ויסת ותסיתהו ותסיתני יְסִֽיתְךָ֡ יְסִֽיתְךָ֣ יַסִּ֤ית יַסִּ֨ית יסית יסיתך מַסִּ֣ית מַסִּ֥ית מסית hă·sî·ṯə·ḵā hasiteCha hăsîṯəḵā hê·sat·tāh hĕ·sî·ṯə·ḵā heSattah hêsattāh hesiteCha hĕsîṯəḵā his·sî·ṯū·ḵā hissiTucha hissîṯūḵā mas·sîṯ masSit massîṯ vaiYaset vattesiTehu vattesiTeni vaysiTehu vaysiTem wat·tə·sî·ṯê·hū wat·tə·sî·ṯê·nî wattəsîṯêhū wattəsîṯênî way·sî·ṯê·hū way·sî·ṯêm way·yā·seṯ waysîṯêhū waysîṯêm wayyāseṯ yas·sîṯ yasSit yassîṯ yə·sî·ṯə·ḵā yesiteCha yəsîṯəḵāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 13:6 HEB: כִּ֣י יְסִֽיתְךָ֡ אָחִ֣יךָ בֶן־ NAS: is as your own soul, entice you secretly, KJV: which [is] as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, INT: If entice your brother son Joshua 15:18 Judges 1:14 1 Samuel 26:19 2 Samuel 24:1 1 Kings 21:25 2 Kings 18:32 1 Chronicles 21:1 2 Chronicles 18:2 2 Chronicles 18:31 2 Chronicles 32:11 2 Chronicles 32:15 Job 2:3 Job 36:16 Job 36:18 Isaiah 36:18 Jeremiah 38:22 Jeremiah 43:3 18 Occurrences |
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