Lying-in-wait is a term used in the Bible to describe the act of ambushing or setting a trap for someone with malicious intent. This concept is often associated with deceit, treachery, and premeditated harm. The Bible addresses lying-in-wait in various contexts, highlighting its moral and ethical implications.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, lying-in-wait is frequently mentioned in the context of violence and murder. One of the earliest references is found in the laws given to Moses. In Exodus 21:12-14 , the distinction is made between accidental killing and premeditated murder: "Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death. But if he did not intend any harm, and yet God allowed it to happen, I will appoint a place for you to flee. But if a man schemes and comes and attacks another man deliberately, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death." Here, lying-in-wait is associated with deliberate and premeditated acts of violence.

The book of Proverbs also warns against the wickedness of lying-in-wait. Proverbs 1:11-12 describes the enticement of sinners: "If they say, 'Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause; let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.'" This passage illustrates the moral depravity of those who plot harm against the innocent.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the concept of lying-in-wait is less about physical ambush and more about spiritual and moral deception. The Apostle Paul warns against false teachers and those who would deceive believers. In Ephesians 4:14 , Paul writes, "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming." Here, the idea of lying-in-wait is metaphorically applied to those who use deceit to lead others astray from the truth of the Gospel.

Moral and Ethical Implications

Lying-in-wait is condemned in Scripture as an act of treachery and malice. It is often associated with the wicked and unrighteous, who seek to harm others for personal gain or out of spite. The Bible consistently portrays such behavior as contrary to the character of God, who is just and righteous.

The moral teachings of the Bible encourage believers to live lives of integrity and honesty, avoiding deceit and treachery. In contrast to those who lie in wait, Christians are called to be vigilant and discerning, recognizing the schemes of the enemy and standing firm in the truth.

Conclusion

The concept of lying-in-wait serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of deceit and the importance of living a life that reflects the righteousness and justice of God. Through the teachings of Scripture, believers are equipped to recognize and resist the temptations of deceit and to uphold the values of truth and integrity in their lives.1455. egkathetos -- hired to lie in wait, lying in wait
... hired to lie in wait, lying in wait. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration:
egkathetos Phonetic Spelling: (eng-kath'-et-os) Short Definition: a spy ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1455.htm - 6k

1749. enedron -- lying in wait.
... 1748, 1749. enedron. 1750 . lying in wait. ... lying in wait. Neuter of the same
as enedra; an ambush, ie (figuratively) murderous design -- lying in wait. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1749.htm - 6k

1747. enedra -- a lying in wait, an ambush
... a lying in wait, an ambush. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: enedra
Phonetic Spelling: (en-ed'-rah) Short Definition: an ambush, plot, treachery ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1747.htm - 6k

1748. enedreuo -- to lie in wait for, to plot
... Word Origin from enedra Definition to lie in wait for, to plot NASB Word
Usage lying in wait (1), plotting against (1). lay wait for. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1748.htm - 6k

1917. epiboule -- a plan against
... lying in wait. From a presumed compound of epi and boulomai; a plan against someone,
ie A plot -- laying (lying) in wait. see GREEK epi. see GREEK boulomai. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1917.htm - 6k

6660. tsediyyah -- a lying-in-wait
... 6659, 6660. tsediyyah. 6661 . a lying-in-wait. Transliteration: tsediyyah Phonetic
Spelling: (tsed-ee-yaw') Short Definition: wait. ... lying in wait. ...
/hebrew/6660.htm - 6k

695. ereb -- a lying in wait, a covert, lair
... 694, 695. ereb. 696 . a lying in wait, a covert, lair. Transliteration:
ereb Phonetic Spelling: (eh'-reb) Short Definition: lair. ...
/hebrew/695.htm - 6k

693. arab -- to lie in wait
... 15), ambushes (2), lay in wait (3), lie in ambush (1), lie in wait (7), lies in
wait (1), lurked (1), lurks (4), lying in ambush (1), lying in wait (3), set an ...
/hebrew/693.htm - 6k

6658a. tsadah -- to lie in wait
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to lie in wait NASB Word Usage lie in wait
(1), lying in wait (1). 6658, 6658a. tsadah. 6658b . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6658a.htm - 5k

3993. maarab -- an ambush
... lie in ambush, ambush, lurking place, lying in wait. From 'arab; an ambuscade --
lie in ambush, ambushment, lurking place, lying in wait. see HEBREW 'arab. ...
/hebrew/3993.htm - 6k

7790. shur -- perhaps enemy
... Word Origin from shur Definition perhaps enemy NASB Word Usage foes (1). enemy.
From Shiymown; a foe (as lying in wait) -- enemy. see HEBREW Shiymown. ...
/hebrew/7790.htm - 6k

7918. shakak -- to decrease, abate
... subsided. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to decrease, abate NASB Word
Usage lessen (1), lying in wait (1), subsided (3). appease ...
/hebrew/7918.htm - 6k

How the Devil Always Lies in Wait for Our End, and How we Ought ...
... For the subtle serpent is ever "watching our heel," that is, is lying in wait for
the close, and endeavouring to trip us up right to the end of our life. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xxxvii how the devil.htm

A Strong Man who Lost his Strength
... She had the men lying in wait in the inner room, but when she said to him, "The
Philistines are upon you, Samson!" he snapped the bowstrings as a piece of yarn ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a strong man who lost.htm

Whether Guile is a Sin Pertaining to Craftiness?
... On the contrary, Craftiness aims at lying in wait, according to Eph.4:14, "By cunning
craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive": and guile aims at this ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether guile is a sin.htm

The Charge of the Pilgrim Priests
... journey to Jerusalem across the desert. There were enemies lying in wait
for them by the way. With noble self-restraint and grand ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the charge of the pilgrim.htm

Epistle xxiii. To John, Bishop.
... Be watchful and assiduous in the care of the flock committed to you, and strict
in the zeal of discipline, so that the wolf lying in wait may not prevail to ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xxiii to john bishop.htm

That God's Lover Forsakes the World, Idleness and Irksomeness: and ...
... Deceitful also are they, because they have worldly wisdom; and they beguile by that,
so that they are not perceived by others lying in wait, in as mickle as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter x that gods lover.htm

Epistle xviii. To Certain Bishops of Sicily.
... be not found in your doings anything that may be smitten by the judgment of God,
or for which you may be accused by any man whatever lying in wait against you. ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xviii to certain bishops.htm

Letter Xlvii to the Brother of William, a Monk of Clairvaux.
... Or will it be more prudent to yield them up for the love of Christ than to have
them taken away by death?"death, which is a robber lying in wait for you ...
/.../letter xlvii to the brother.htm

A Plot Detected
... him.16. And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went
and entered into the castle, and told Paul.17. Then Paul ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/a plot detected.htm

Letter cxxxix. To the Alexandrians.
... But now my body is wasted by long sickness, so that I can scarcely even leave my
bed, and there are many who are lying in wait for me, like ravening wolves ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter cxxxix to the alexandrians.htm

Lying-in-wait (1 Occurrence)
Lying-in-wait. Lying, Lying-in-wait. Lyre . Multi-Version Concordance
Lying-in-wait (1 Occurrence). Proverbs 12:6 The ...
/l/lying-in-wait.htm - 6k

Wait (223 Occurrences)
... ambuscade. (1) "Lie in wait": "Abimelech rose up.... from lyinginwait"
(Judges 9:35 the King James Version); "When they.... abide ...
/w/wait.htm - 41k

Throws (8 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Numbers 35:20 And if he thrust him of hatred, or hurled at him any
thing, lyinginwait, so that he died; (See NIV). Numbers ...
/t/throws.htm - 8k

Pushed (28 Occurrences)
... again. (See RSV). Numbers 35:20 If he thrust him of hatred, or hurled at
him, lyinginwait, so that he died, (See NAS). Numbers 35 ...
/p/pushed.htm - 15k

Ambush (39 Occurrences)
... 45. Comp. Jeremiah 51:12). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) The act of
lyinginwait, for the purpose of attacking by surprise. 2 ...
/a/ambush.htm - 19k

Snapped (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Snap. Multi-Version Concordance Snapped
(4 Occurrences). Judges 16:9 Now she had men lyinginwait in an inner chamber. ...
/s/snapped.htm - 7k

Stabbed (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Stabbed (6 Occurrences). Numbers 35:20 If he thrust him
of hatred, or hurled at him, lyinginwait, so that he died, (See RSV). ...
/s/stabbed.htm - 8k

Shoves (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Shoves (2 Occurrences). Numbers 35:20 If he thrust him
of hatred, or hurled at him, lyinginwait, so that he died, (See NIV). ...
/s/shoves.htm - 6k

Lying (203 Occurrences)
... (WEY YLT NAS NIV). Luke 11:54 lyinginwait for him, and seeking to catch him in
something he might say, that they might accuse him. (WEB WEY RSV). ...
/l/lying.htm - 44k

Thrust (92 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Numbers 35:20 If he thrust him of hatred, or hurled at
him, lyinginwait, so that he died, (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/t/thrust.htm - 35k

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