ἐξαπατάω
exapatáō
G1818 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To deceive thoroughly or completely; to mislead someone deliberately and thoroughly, to cause someone to believe what is false or untrue, or to lead into error by deliberate falsehood. The term carries the nuance of totality in deception, emphasizing the completeness or intensity by which one is led astray, often with a sense of betrayal or cunning.
Semantic Range
to deceive completely, to lead utterly astray, to mislead thoroughly, to seduce wholly, to cause to be deluded or believe what is false, to defraud
Root / Etymology
From ἐκ (out from, completely) and ἀπατάω (to deceive), thus 'to deceive thoroughly' or 'to lead completely astray'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἐξαπατάω is attested and means 'to deceive completely' or 'to cheat thoroughly.' In the New Testament and the Septuagint, it is used for intense or total deception, especially in moral or religious contexts (e.g., 1 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:3), often referring to being led into error or false belief. The addition of the preverb ἐκ- intensifies the root meaning of 'to deceive,' making the deception not partial or accidental, but total and intentional. Standard English translations, such as 'beguile,' 'deceive,' or 'seduce,' often capture the general sense but may not convey the intensity and completeness implied by the Greek form. Distinction should be made between ἀπατάω (to deceive) and ἐξαπατάω (to deceive utterly, completely). The nuance of totality is a key feature of usage in Koine contexts. The term is not restricted to sexual seduction but refers to deception in general, including spiritual or intellectual contexts.
Translation Consistency
ἐξαπατάω carries the sense of leading someone into false belief or betraying them by deliberate falsehood. "Deceive" is the natural, common English verb that covers the typical range (mislead, delude, defraud, seduce into error) and works naturally in all forms and contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐκ and ἀπατάω; to seduce wholly:--beguile, deceive.
Root Family
ἐξαπατάω (exapataō) — to deceive, to lead utterly astray
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1818-05 |
ἐξηπάτησέν | exepatesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
deceived | he/she thoroughly deceived | thoroughly deceived | 2 |
G1818-03 |
ἐξαπατηθεῖσα | exapatetheisa | V AOR PASS PTCP NOM F SG |
being deceived | having been thoroughly deceived | having been thoroughly deceived | 1 |
G1818-01 |
ἐξαπατάτω | exapatato | V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG |
deceive | let him thoroughly deceive | let him thoroughly deceive | 1 |
G1818-02 |
ἐξαπατήσῃ | exapatese | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
deceive | might utterly deceive | might utterly deceive | 1 |
G1818-04 |
ἐξαπατῶσι | exapatosi | V PRS ACT IND 3P PL |
deceive | they thoroughly deceive | they thoroughly deceive | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1818-05 |
Romans 7:11 | ἐξηπάτησέν | exepatesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
deceived | he/she thoroughly deceived | thoroughly deceived |
G1818-04 |
Romans 16:18 | ἐξαπατῶσι | exapatosi | V PRS ACT IND 3P PL |
deceive | they thoroughly deceive | they thoroughly deceive |
G1818-01 |
1 Corinthians 3:18 | ἐξαπατάτω | exapatato | V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG |
deceive | let him thoroughly deceive | let him thoroughly deceive |
G1818-05 |
2 Corinthians 11:3 | ἐξηπάτησεν | exepatesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
deceived | he/she thoroughly deceived | thoroughly deceived |
G1818-02 |
2 Thessalonians 2:3 | ἐξαπατήσῃ | exapatese | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
deceive | might utterly deceive | might utterly deceive |
G1818-03 |
1 Timothy 2:14 | ἐξαπατηθεῖσα | exapatetheisa | V AOR PASS PTCP NOM F SG |
being deceived | having been thoroughly deceived | having been thoroughly deceived |