ἀπείραστος
apeírastos
G551 predicate adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Not subject to testing or temptation; incapable of being tried, tested, or tempted. The term primarily denotes one who does not undergo a trial or is not susceptible to being put to the test, especially with reference to moral or existential challenge. In the sole New Testament usage, it characterizes God as beyond the capability of being tempted or enticed to evil.
Semantic Range
not tempted, incapable of being tempted, not tested, not subject to trial or enticement
Root / Etymology
From the alpha privative (ἀ-) denoting negation, prefixed to a verbal adjective form of πειράω ('to attempt, to try, to test'). Thus, ἀπείραστος = 'not subject to trial' or 'not temptable.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term ἀπείραστος is rare, attested in the Koine period with significant use in James 1:13. In Hellenistic Greek, it generally describes someone or something which has not been tested or put to trial. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively of God, emphasizing divine transcendence over human temptation or testing. The concept differs from related words such as πειράζω ('to test, tempt, try'), which can be applied to humans and other agents. Standard English translations often render the term as 'not temptable' or 'cannot be tempted,' but the lexical nuance encompasses both the inability to be tempted and the characteristic of not being subject to trial or enticement. The term does not occur in the Septuagint or classical Greek literature, making its NT usage distinctive and possibly crafted for theological emphasis in its context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from Α (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of πειράω; untried, i.e. not temptable:--not to be tempted.
Root Family
ἀπείραστος (apeirastos) — not tested, not tempted, incapable of trial, not subject to enticement
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G551-01 |
ἀπείραστός | apeirastos | ADJ.P NOM M SG |
cannot be tempted | not subject to testing | not subject to temptation | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G551-01 |
James 1:13 | ἀπείραστός | apeirastos | ADJ.P NOM M SG |
cannot be tempted | not subject to testing | not subject to temptation |