In the context of the Bible, the concept of a "trick" often involves deceit, cunning, or a clever scheme intended to achieve a particular end, sometimes at the expense of others. The Bible provides numerous examples of trickery, both condemned and, at times, used by God’s people to fulfill divine purposes.

Old Testament Examples

1. Jacob and Esau: One of the most notable instances of trickery in the Old Testament is the account of Jacob and Esau. Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, deceives his father Isaac to receive the blessing meant for his brother Esau. Genesis 27:35 records Isaac's words to Esau: "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing." This act of trickery sets off a series of events that shape the future of the Israelite nation.

2. Laban and Jacob: Trickery is also seen in the relationship between Jacob and his uncle Laban. Laban deceives Jacob by giving him Leah as a wife instead of Rachel, for whom Jacob had worked seven years. Genesis 29:25 states, "So in the morning there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, 'What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?'"

3. The Gibeonites: In Joshua 9, the Gibeonites use trickery to make a treaty with Israel. They pretend to be from a distant land to avoid destruction. Joshua 9:4 describes their actions: "they acted deceptively and set out as envoys with worn-out sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins, cracked and mended."

New Testament Examples

1. Herod and the Magi: King Herod attempts to use trickery to locate the newborn Jesus by instructing the Magi to report back to him under the guise of wanting to worship the child. Matthew 2:8 records Herod's deceitful words: "Go and search carefully for the Child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him."

2. Ananias and Sapphira: In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira attempt to deceive the early church by withholding part of the proceeds from the sale of their property while claiming to donate the entire amount. Acts 5:3 reveals Peter's confrontation: "Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?'"

Moral and Theological Implications

The Bible consistently portrays trickery as contrary to the character of God, who is described as truthful and just. Proverbs 12:22 states, "Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight." Trickery often leads to negative consequences, as seen in the lives of those who engage in deceitful practices.

However, there are instances where God uses human trickery to fulfill His purposes, demonstrating His sovereignty over human actions. Despite human deceit, God's plans are ultimately accomplished, as seen in the account of Joseph and his brothers, where God uses their deceitful actions for a greater good (Genesis 50:20).

In summary, while trickery is often depicted negatively in the Bible, it serves as a reminder of the fallen nature of humanity and the need for integrity and truthfulness in the lives of believers.1. (n.) An artifice or stratagem; a cunning contrivance; a sly procedure, usually with a dishonest intent; as, a trick in trade.

2. (n.) A sly, dexterous, or ingenious procedure fitted to puzzle or amuse; as, a bear's tricks; a juggler's tricks.

3. (a.) Mischievous or annoying behavior; a prank; as, the tricks of boys.

4. (n.) A particular habit or manner; a peculiarity; a trait; as, a trick of drumming with the fingers; a trick of frowning.

5. (n.) A knot, braid, or plait of hair.

6. (n.) The whole number of cards played in one round, and consisting of as many cards as there are players.

7. (n.) A turn; specifically, the spell of a sailor at the helm, -- usually two hours.

8. (n.) A toy; a trifle; a plaything.

9. (v. t.) To deceive by cunning or artifice; to impose on; to defraud; to cheat; as, to trick another in the sale of a horse.

10. (v. t.) To dress; to decorate; to set off; to adorn fantastically; -- often followed by up, off, or out.

11. (v. t.) To draw in outline, as with a pen; to delineate or distinguish without color, as arms, etc., in heraldry.

1388. dolos -- a bait, fig. craft, deceit
... From an obsolete primary verb, dello (probably meaning to decoy; compare deleazo);
a trick (bait), ie (figuratively) wile -- craft, deceit, guile, subtilty. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1388.htm - 7k

3803. pagis -- a trap, snare
... snare. From pegnumi; a trap (as fastened by a noose or notch); figuratively,
a trick or statagem (temptation) -- snare. see GREEK pegnumi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3803.htm - 7k

3834. panourgia -- cleverness, craftiness
... achieve a selfish goal. "The man who practices ( + ) is ready to do anything,
up to every trick" (P. Hughs, , 123). Word Origin from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3834.htm - 7k

2665. chephes -- a device, plot
... Word Origin from chaphas Definition a device, plot NASB Word Usage plot (1). search.
From chaphas; something covert, ie A trick -- search. see HEBREW chaphas. ...
/hebrew/2665.htm - 6k

2420. chidah -- a riddle, an enigmatic, perplexing saying or ...
... From chuwd; a puzzle, hence, a trick, conundrum, sententious maxim -- dark saying
(sentence, speech), hard question, proverb, riddle. see HEBREW chuwd. ...
/hebrew/2420.htm - 6k

6122. oqbah -- insidiousness
... subtilty. Feminine of an unused form from aqab meaning a trick; trickery -- subtilty.
see HEBREW aqab. 6121b, 6122. oqbah. 6123 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6122.htm - 6k

Trick with the Liver.
... Book IV. Chapter XL."Trick with the Liver. And they exhibit a liver
seemingly bearing an inscription in this manner. With the ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter xl trick with the liver.htm

Clement's Trick.
... Homily V. Chapter III."Clement's Trick. "I knowing this before concerning
Appion, as soon as he asked me the cause of my sickness ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter iii clements trick.htm

How Fruits Grow
... It is one of the ripest fruits of the Christian life, and, like all fruits, must
be grown. There is a very clever trick in India called the mango-trick. ...
/.../the greatest thing in the world and other addresses/how fruits grow.htm

What Nonsense is this Out of which they Fabricate a Charge against ...
... He had given me some papers about church affairs to get copied; and the story describes
a trick practised by the Apollinarians who borrowed one of these, a ...
/.../20 what nonsense is this.htm

Persistency in Wrong Doing.
... Therefore Hanun had not only done an insolent, and utterly blackguard trick,
but he had gone against one of the first laws of nations. ...
/.../xliii persistency in wrong doing.htm

Methodism on the Stage
... Comedy, called,. THE CONSCIOUS LOVERS; To which will be added a Farce, called,.
TRICK UPON TRICK, OR METHODISM DISPLAYED. On Friday ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/methodism on the stage.htm

Cardinal Felix Bonpre Sat Alone in the Largest and Loneliest Room ...
... He saw that he was suspected of playing a trick,"a trick, which if he had admitted,
would have been condoned, but which if he denied, would cause him to be ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xxii cardinal felix bonpre sat.htm

The Plagues of Egypt
... 'The magicians did likewise with their enchantments'"made, we may suppose, water
seem to turn to blood by some juggling trick at which the priests in Egypt ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon x the plagues of.htm

The Idol which Shed Tears.
... I rejoiced greatly that I had found out the trick by which the people had been deceived;
and, chuckling, I took up the fruit which I had collected, and went ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter ten the idol which.htm

How Titus Gave Orders to Demolish the Tower of Antonia and Then ...
... This trick of theirs succeeded now for a while, as did the like trick before; for
the rest were hereby deterred from deserting, by fear of the like treatment. ...
/.../chapter 2 how titus gave.htm

Trick (11 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) An artifice or stratagem; a cunning contrivance;
a sly procedure, usually with a dishonest intent; as, a trick in trade. ...
/t/trick.htm - 10k

Gull (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To deceive; to cheat; to mislead; to trick;
to defraud. 2. (n.) A cheating or cheat; trick; fraud. ...
/g/gull.htm - 7k

Trickery (5 Occurrences)
... (n.) A trick used to deceive; artifice; stratagem; fraud; imposture. ... Luke
20:23 But he saw through their trick and said to them, (See NAS). ...
/t/trickery.htm - 7k

Trump (2 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) To play a trump card upon; to take with a trump card; as, she trumped
the first trick. 8. (vt) To trick, or impose on; to deceive. ...
/t/trump.htm - 8k

Deceiving (18 Occurrences)
... And he said, Your trick will have its effect on him: go out and do so. (See NAS). ...
And the Lord said, Your trick will have its effect on him: go out and do so. ...
/d/deceiving.htm - 11k

Bite (13 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To cheat; to trick; to take in. 5. (vt) To take hold of; to hold fast; to
adhere to; as, the anchor bites the ground. ... (n.) A cheat; a trick; a fraud. ...
/b/bite.htm - 12k

Cheat (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) An act of deception or fraud; that which is the
means of fraud or deception; a fraud; a trick; imposition; imposture. ...
/c/cheat.htm - 8k

Slur (1 Occurrence)
... 4. (vt) To cheat, as by sliding a die; to trick. 5. (vt) To pronounce indistinctly;
as, to slur syllables. ... 9. (n.) A trick played upon a person; an imposition. ...
/s/slur.htm - 7k

Sham (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) That which deceives expectation; any trick, fraud, or device that deludes
and disappoint; a make-believe; delusion; imposture, humbug. ...
/s/sham.htm - 7k

Deceit (160 Occurrences)
... fraud. 2. (n.) Any trick, collusion, contrivance, false representation,
or underhand practice, used to defraud another. When injury ...
/d/deceit.htm - 35k

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