Definition and Usage:
The term "beguile" generally means to deceive, trick, or lead astray by craftiness or flattery. In the biblical context, it often refers to the act of misleading someone from the truth or righteousness, typically through cunning or deceitful means. The concept of beguilement is closely associated with temptation and sin, as it involves leading individuals away from God's commandments and into error or wrongdoing.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 3:13 : "Then the LORD God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?' 'The serpent deceived me,' she replied, 'and I ate.'" This verse recounts the first instance of beguilement in the Bible, where the serpent deceives Eve into eating the forbidden fruit. The serpent's cunning words led Eve to question God's command, resulting in the fall of man. This act of beguilement is foundational in understanding the nature of sin and the human propensity to be led astray.

2. 2 Corinthians 11:3 : "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, the Apostle Paul expresses concern that believers might be beguiled away from their sincere faith in Christ, drawing a parallel to Eve's deception. This highlights the ongoing spiritual battle against false teachings and the importance of remaining steadfast in the truth.

3. Colossians 2:4 : "I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments." Paul warns the Colossian church against being beguiled by enticing but false doctrines. The emphasis is on the need for discernment and adherence to the true gospel, as false teachings can lead believers away from the path of righteousness.

4. James 1:14-15 : "But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." This passage describes the process of being beguiled by one's own desires, illustrating how internal temptations can lead to sin and spiritual death. It underscores the personal responsibility to resist being led astray by one's own inclinations.

Theological Implications:
Beguilement in the Bible is often linked to the work of Satan and his agents, who seek to lead believers away from God. It serves as a reminder of the spiritual warfare that Christians face and the need for vigilance against deception. The Bible encourages believers to be grounded in Scripture, to test all teachings against the Word of God, and to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and discernment.

Practical Application:
Christians are called to be aware of the various forms of beguilement that can occur in their spiritual journey. This includes being cautious of false teachings, worldly temptations, and even personal desires that conflict with God's will. By cultivating a strong relationship with God through prayer, study of the Scriptures, and fellowship with other believers, individuals can guard against being led astray and remain faithful to their calling in Christ.1. (v. t.) To delude by guile, artifice, or craft; to deceive or impose on, as by a false statement; to lure.

2. (v. t.) To elude, or evade by craft; to foil.

3. (v. t.) To cause the time of to pass without notice; to relieve the tedium or weariness of; to while away; to divert.

BEGUILE

be-gil': In 2 Peter 2:14 the King James Version (compare James 1:14) the word deleazo, is translated "beguile," and means particularly to "entice," "catch by bait." Doubtless Peter got this idea from his old business of fishing, baiting the hook to beguile the fish. In Romans 7:11; Romans 16:18 1 Corinthians 3:18 the word is exapatao, and means "to cheat" or "to thoroughly deceive." The thought is to be so completely deceived as to accept falsehood for the truth, believing it to be the truth. In Colossians 2:4, 18 the King James Version; James 1:22 the word is paralogizomai, and means "to miscalculate," "to be imposed upon." It refers particularly to being beguiled by mere probability.

See DECEIT; DELUSION.

Jacob W. Kapp

3884. paralogizomai -- to miscalculate, to reason falsely
... falsely. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: paralogizomai Phonetic Spelling:
(par-al-og-id'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I deceive, beguile Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3884.htm - 7k

2603. katabrabeuo -- to give judgment against
... beguile of reward. From kata and brabeuo (in its original sense); to award the price
against, ie (figuratively) to defraud (of salvation) -- beguile of reward. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2603.htm - 7k

1185. deleazo -- to lure
... allure, beguile, entice. From the base of dolos; to entrap, ie (figuratively) delude --
allure, beguile, entice. see GREEK dolos. (deleazomenos) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1185.htm - 6k

1818. exapatao -- to seduce wholly, deceive
... beguile, deceive, seduce. From ek and apatao; to seduce wholly -- beguile, deceive.
see GREEK ek. see GREEK apatao. (exapatato) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1818.htm - 7k

4525. saino -- to wag the tail, hence to greet, flatter, disturb
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: saino Phonetic Spelling: (sah'-ee-no) Short Definition:
I move, disturb Definition: I fawn upon, flatter, beguile; pass: I am ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4525.htm - 6k

5422. phrenapatao -- to deceive the mind
... world. "More is implied in this word (5422 ) than in ('to cheat, beguile,
deceive'), for it brings out the idea of " (J. Thayer). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5422.htm - 7k

5378. nasha -- to beguile, deceive
... 5377, 5378. nasha. 5379 . to beguile, deceive. Transliteration: nasha Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-shaw') Short Definition: deceive. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5378.htm - 6k

7411b. ramah -- to beguile, deal treacherously with
... 7411a, 7411b. ramah. 7412 . to beguile, deal treacherously with.
Transliteration: ramah Short Definition: deceived. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7411b.htm - 5k

7411. ramah -- to cast, shoot
... ramah. 7411a . to cast, shoot. Transliteration: ramah Phonetic Spelling:
(raw-maw') Short Definition: beguile. beguile, betray, bowman, carry, deceive, throw ...
/hebrew/7411.htm - 5k

5230. nakal -- to be crafty, deceitful or knavish
... beguile, conspire, deceiver, deal subtilly. A prim root; to defraud, ie Act
treacherously -- beguile, conspire, deceiver, deal subtilly. 5229, 5230. ...
/hebrew/5230.htm - 6k

5377. nasha -- to lend on interest, be a creditor
... beguile, deceive, greatly, utterly. A primitive root; to lead astray, ie (mentally)
to delude, or (morally) to seduce -- beguile, deceive, X greatly, X utterly. ...
/hebrew/5377.htm - 6k

A Warning to Believers
... "Let no man beguile you of your reward.""Colossians 2:18. ... "Let no man beguile you
of your reward." The Apostle, in the first place, may mean here:". ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/a warning to believers.htm

What is the Philosophy which the Apostle Bids us Shun?
... judgeth all things, but he himself is judged of no man." [1917] I hear also those
words of his, "And these things I say, lest any man should beguile you with ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xi what is the philosophy.htm

But Woe is Thee, Thou Torrent of Human Custom! who Shall Stand ...
... most necessary to gain your ends, or maintain opinions." As if we should have never
known such words as "golden shower," "lap," "beguile," "temples of the ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xvi but woe is.htm

God's Ways Past Finding Out.
... God did not then snatch them from the perils of this life, "lest wickedness should
change their understanding, and lest deceit should beguile their souls"? ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 19 gods ways past finding.htm

His Eighth Error. (See Above in Book ii. 13 [ix. ]. )
... are born again in Christ, that the Scripture says, Speedily was he taken away, lest
that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 14 his eighth error see.htm

victor Teaches that God Thwarts his Own Predestination.
... We read," adds he, "it written of such, Speedily was he taken away, lest that
wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 13 ix victor teaches that.htm

Of the Stink of Lechery and the Peril of Touching: and of the ...
... Truly it is the manner of women that when they feel themselves loved out of measure
by men, they beguile men's hearts by cherishing flattery; and they draw to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter xxiv of the stink.htm

Because Thou Hast Forsaken the Solace and the Joy of this World...
... fools. But they that are wise and will not quickly trust to all spirits,
but ask counsel of knowing men, he can not beguile them. ...
/.../chapter ii because thou hast.htm

The Danger of Deviating from Divine Institutions.
... One of the errors, which, from the particular mention made of it, they seem to have
urged, was the worshipping of angels, "Let no man beguile you of your reward ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxviii the danger of.htm

The Snare of the Fowler
... Christ. The devil of this day is a well-spoken gentleman: he does not
persecute"he rather attempts to persuade and to beguile. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the snare of the fowler.htm

Beguile (10 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BEGUILE. ... See DECEIT; DELUSION. Jacob W.
Kapp. Multi-Version Concordance Beguile (10 Occurrences). ...
/b/beguile.htm - 10k

Beguiled (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Beguile. Multi-Version Concordance
Beguiled (10 Occurrences). Romans 7:11 for sin, finding ...
/b/beguiled.htm - 9k

Hezeki'ah (120 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 2 Kings 18:29 Thus saith the king: Let not Hezekiah beguile you; for
he will not be able to deliver you out of his hand; (See RSV). ...
/h/hezeki'ah.htm - 35k

Beguiling (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Beguile. ... Beguiling (3 Occurrences). Colossians 2:4 and this
I say, that no one may beguile you in enticing words, (See RSV). ...
/b/beguiling.htm - 7k

Notions (6 Occurrences)
... Colossians 2:18 let no one beguile you of your prize, delighting in humble-mindedness
and 'in' worship of the messengers, intruding into the things he hath not ...
/n/notions.htm - 8k

Enticing (6 Occurrences)
... of power: (KJV WBS). Colossians 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile
you with enticing words. (KJV WBS YLT). 2 Peter 2:14 ...
/e/enticing.htm - 8k

Delude (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To lead from truth or into error; to mislead the
mind or judgment of; to beguile; to impose on; to dupe; to make a fool of. ...
/d/delude.htm - 7k

Deceive (48 Occurrences)
... to ensnare. 2. (vt) To beguile; to amuse, so as to divert the attention;
to while away; to take away as if by deception. 3. (vt) To ...
/d/deceive.htm - 22k

Delights (39 Occurrences)
... Colossians 2:18 let no one beguile you of your prize, delighting in humble-mindedness
and 'in' worship of the messengers, intruding into the things he hath not ...
/d/delights.htm - 17k

Puffs (3 Occurrences)
... Colossians 2:18 let no one beguile you of your prize, delighting in humble-mindedness
and 'in' worship of the messengers, intruding into the things he hath not ...
/p/puffs.htm - 7k

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