ἐπείραζον
peirázō
they were trying
to attempt, try, or test; to make an effort to do something; to put someone or something to the test in order to ascertain qualities or reactions; in certain contexts, to tempt or entice with the aim of seeing if one will behave in a particular way. The word can denote both a neutral testing (to prove character or quality) as well as an enticement to improper action, depending on context.
Acts 16:7 · Word #6
Lexicon G3985
| Lemma | πειράζω |
| Transliteration | peirázō |
| Strong's | G3985 |
| Definition | to attempt, try, or test; to make an effort to do something; to put someone or something to the test in order to ascertain qualities or reactions; in certain contexts, to tempt or entice with the aim of seeing if one will behave in a particular way. The word can denote both a neutral testing (to prove character or quality) as well as an enticement to improper action, depending on context. |
Morphology V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | V — Verb — An action or state of being |
| Tense | IMPF — Imperfect — Continuous or repeated past action |
| Voice | ACT — Active — The subject performs the action |
| Mood | IND — Indicative — States a fact or reality |
| Person | 3P — 3rd person — The one spoken about ("he/she/it/they") |
| Number | PL — Plural — More than one |
Common Translation
| Phrase | they were trying |
| Literal | they-were-trying |
Lexical Info
| Lemma | πειράζω |
| Strong's | G3985 |
SIBI-P1 Translation G3985-06
they were testing
| Morphological Notes | Verb; imperfect tense (past ongoing), active voice, indicative mood, 3rd person plural. |
| Rendering Rationale | The imperfect active indicative, third person plural, denotes ongoing or repeated action in past time. "They were testing" preserves the root sense of putting to the test while reflecting the continuous aspect of the imperfect. |
View full lexicon entry for G3985 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
they were trying
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | P1 'they were testing' in this context (journey to a place) should be 'trying,' as it refers to attempting to go, not putting to the test; matches the narrative flow and idiom. |