Quick Definition
πειράζω v. I try, tempt, test
Strong's Definition
to test (objectively), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline
Derivation: from G3984 (πεῖρα);
KJV Usage: assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt(-er), try
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | aor.pass. ἐπειράσθην | ἀπείραστος · ἄπειρος · ἐκπειράζω · πεῖρα · πειράομαι · πειρασμός
27.46 · Learn · Try To Learn
to test, to examine, to put to the test, examination, testing to try to learn the nature or character of someone or something by submitting such to thorough and extensive testing It is also possible to understand πειράζω and ἐκπειράζω in MAT 16:1 and LUK 10:25 as meaning ‘to try to trap’ (see 27.31). See also 88.308.
MAT 16:1 · JHN 6:6 · ACT 5:9 · 1CO 10:9 · 1CO 10:13 · 2CO 13:5 · HEB 3:9 · HEB 11:17 · REV 2:2 · REV 2:10 · REV 3:10
27.31 · Learn · Learn Something Against Someone
to try to trap, to attempt to catch in a mistake to obtain information to be used against a person by trying to cause someone to make a mistake It is also possible to interpret πειράζω and ἐκπειράζω in MAT 16:1 and LUK 10:25 as ‘the process of testing or examining’ (see 27.46). See also 88.308.
MAT 16:1 · MAT 19:3 · MAT 22:18 · MAT 22:35 · MRK 8:11 · MRK 10:2 · MRK 12:15 · LUK 11:16 · JHN 8:6
88.308 · Moral and Ethical Qualities and Related Behavior · Sin, Wrongdoing, Guilt
to tempt, to trap, to lead into temptation, temptation to endeavor or attempt to cause someone to sin In translating expressions involving tempting or trying, it is necessary in a number of languages to indicate clearly whether or not the temptations succeeded. Therefore, it may not be sufficient in MRK 1:13 to simply say ‘Satan tempted him’; in fact, in some instances it may be necessary to make the failure of the temptation quite specific, for example, ‘Satan tried to make Jesus sin, but was not successful.’
MAT 4:1 · MRK 1:13 · LUK 4:2 · ACT 15:10 · 1CO 7:5 · 1CO 10:13 · GAL 6:1 · 1TH 3:5 · 1TH 3:5 · HEB 2:18 · HEB 2:18 · HEB 4:15 · JAS 1:13 · JAS 1:13 · JAS 1:13 · JAS 1:14
68.58 · Aspect · Try, Attempt
to try, to attempt to attempt to do something, with the implication of not succeeding In a number of languages expressions such as πειράζω[d], πειράομαι, and πεῖραν λαμβάνω may be expressed as to start to do something, but not be able to or to think that one can do something, but discover it is impossible.
12.36 · Supernatural Beings and Powers · Supernatural Beings
Collocation: ὁ πειράζων
Tempter (a title for the Devil, literally: one who tempts) one who tempts or tries people with the intent of making them sin A common equivalent of ὁ πειράζων is ‘one who tries to make people sin’ or ‘one who tries to cause people to sin.’
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
πειράζω (a form found several times in Hom. and Apoll. Rhod. and later prose, for πειράω [which see in Veitch | more com. in the other Grk. writ.) ; impf. ἐπείραζον ; 1 aor. ἐπείρασα; Pass., pres. reypagopar; 1 aor. ἐπειράσθην; pf. ptep. πεπειρασμένος (Heb. iv. 15; see metpaw, 1); 1 qor. mid. 2 pers. sing. ἐπειράσω (Rev. ii. 2 Rec.); Sept. for 7D); ἰ0 try, i. 6. 1. to try whether a thing can be done; to attempt, endeavor: with an inf., Acts ix. 26 LT TrWH; xvi. 7; xxiv. 6. 2. to try, make trial of, test: τινά, for the purpose of ascertaining his quality, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself ; a. in a good sense: Mt. xxii. 35 [al. refer this to b.]; Jn. vi. 6; [2Co. xiii. 5]; Rev. ii. 2. b. ina bad sense: to test one maliciously, craftily to put to the proof his feelings or judgment, Mt. xvi. 1; xix. 3; xxii. 18,35; Mk. Vii. 11; x. 2; xii. 15; Lk. xi. 16; xx. 28 (where GT WH Tr txt. om. Tr mrg. br. the words ri pe πειράζετε) ; Jn. viii. 6. c. to try or test one’s faith, virtue, character, by enticement to sin; hence ace. to the context i. 4. to solicit to sin, to tempt: Jas. i. 13 sq.; Gal. vi. 1; Rev. ii. 10; of the temptations of the devil, Mt.iv. 1,3; Mk. 1.13; Lk.iv.2; 1 Co. vii.5; 1 Th. 111. δ; hence, 6 πειρά(wv, subst., Vulg. tentator, ete., the tempter: Mt.iv.3; 1 ΤῊ. iii. 5. ἃ. After the O. T. usage a. of God; to inflict evils upon one in order to prove his character and the steadfastness of his faith: 1 Co. x. 13; Heb. ii. 18; iv. 15 [see πειράω]; xi. 17, 37 [where see WH. App.]; Rey. iii. 10, (Gen. xxii. 1; Ex. xx. 20; Deut. viii. 2; Sap. iii. 5; xi. 10 (9); Judith viii. 25 sq.). B. Men are said πειράζειν τὸν θεόν, --- by exhibitions of distrust, as though they wished to try whether he is not justly distrusted ; by impious or wicked conduct to test God’s justice and patience, and to challenge him, as it were, to give proof of his perfections: Acts xv. 10; Heb. iii. 9 RG, (Ex. xvii. 2,7; Num. xiv. 22; Ps. Ixxvii. (Ixxviii-) 41, 56; ev. (evi.) 14, ete.; ef. Grimm, Exgt. Hdb. on Sap. p- 49); se. τὸν Χριστόν [1,1 Tr txt. WH τ. κύριον], 1 Co. x. 9 [but Lmrg. TWH mrg. ἐξεπείρασαν) ; τὸ πνεῦμα κυρίου, Acts v. 9; absol. πειράζειν ἐν δοκιμασίᾳ (see δοκιμαcia), Heb. iii. 91, T Tr WH. [On πειράζω (as compared with δοκιμάζω), see Trench § lxxiv.; ef. Cremer s. v. Comp.: ἐκ-πειράζω.}
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
πειράζω peirazō 38x
to make proof or trial of, put to the proof, whether with good or mischievous intent, Mt. 16:1; 22:35; absol. to attempt, Acts 16:7; 24:6; in NT to tempt, Mt. 4:1; to try, subject to trial, 1 Cor. 10:13
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
πειράζω, poët. and late prose form of πειράω, q.v.,
[in LXX for נסה pi.;]
to make proof of (Hom.).
to try, attempt (Luc., Polyb., al.): c. inf. (v. M, Pr., 205; Bl., § 69, 4), Ac 9:26 16:7 24:6.
In LXX and NT, like Heb. נסה, c. acc. pers., to test, try, prove; in a good sense: Jo 6:6, II Co 13:5, He 11:17, Re 2:2; esp. of trials and afflictions sent or permitted by God (Ge 22:1, Ex 20:20, Wi 3:5, al.), I Co 10:13, He 2:18 4:15 11:17, 37, Re 3:10;
in a bad sense (Apoll. Rhod., 3, 10): of the attempts made to ensnare Jesus in his speech, Mt 16:1 19:3 22:18, 35, Mk 8:11 10:2 12:15, Lk 11:16, Jo 8:[6]; of temptation to sin, to tempt, Ja 1:13, 14 (v. Hort, in l.), Ga 6:1, Re 2:10; esp. of temptations of the devil, Mt 4:1, 3, Mk 1:13, Lk 4:2, I Co 7:5, I Th 3:5; ὁ πειράζων, the tempter, Mt 4:3, I Th 3:5;
in bad sense also (Ex 17:2, 7, Nu 14:22, al.), of distrustful testing, trying or challenging of God: Ac 15:10, I Co 10:9 (WH, mg., ἐξεπείρασαν), He 3:9; τ. πνεῦμα Κυρίου, Ac 5:9 (cf. ἐκ-πειράζω).†
SYN.: δοκιμάζω, q.v.
Trench — Synonyms of the New Testament
THESE words occur not seldom together, as at 2 Cor. xiii. 5; Ps. xciv. 10 (at Heb. iii. 9 the better reading is ἐν δοκιμασίᾳ) ; but notwithstanding that they are both in our English Version rendered ‘ prove’ (Luke xiv. 19; John vi. 6), both ‘try’ (1 Cor. iii. 18; Rev. ii. 2), both ‘examine’ (1 Cor. xi. 28 ; 2 Cor. xiii. 5), they are not perfectly synonymous. In δοκιpatew, which has four other renderings in our Version,— namely, ‘discern’ (Luke xii. 56); ‘like’ (Rom. i. 28); ‘approve’ (Rom. ii. 18); ‘allow’ (Rom. xiv. 22),—lies ever the notion of proving a thing whether it be worthy to be received or not, being, as it is, nearly connected with δέχεσθαι. In classical Greek it is the technical word for putting money to the δοκιμή or proof, by aid of the δοκίμιον or test (Plato, Timeus, 65 c; Plutarch, Def. Orac. 21) ; that which endures this proof being δόκιμος, that which fails ἀδόκιμος, which words it will be well to recollect are not, at least immediately, connected with δοκιμάζειν, but with δέχεσθαι. Resting on the fact that this proving is through fire (1 Cor. ili. 13), doxμάζειν and πυροῦν are often found together (Ps. lxv. 9; Jer. ix. 7). As employed in the N. T. δοκιμάζειν almost always implies that the proof is victoriously surmounted, the proved is also approved (2 Cor. vill. 8; 1 Thess. ii. 4; 1 Tim. iii. 10), just as in English we speak of tried men (= δεδοκιμασμένοι), meaning not merely those who have been tested, but who have stood the test. It is then very nearly equivalent to ἀξιοῦν (2 Thess. i. 11; cf. Plutarch, Thes. 12). Sometimes the word will advance even a step further, and signify not merely to approve the proved, but to select or choose the approved (Xenophon, Anab. iii. 8. 20; ef. Rom. 1. 28). But on the δοκιμασία there follows for the most part not merely a victorious coming out of the trial, but it is further implied that the trial was itself made in the expectation and hope that the issue would be such ; at all events, with no contrary hope or expectation. The ore is not thrown into the g§~xxiv SYNONYMS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT 261 fining pot—and this is the image which continually underlies the use of the word in the O. T. (Zech. xiii. 9; Prov. viii. 10; os ovine Ιχνν LO, Jer. νι 7 ΠΡΟΙΠΒ. do: Wisd. iii. 6; cf. 1 Pet. i. 7)—except in the expectation and belief that, whatever of dross may be found mingled with it, yet it is not all dross, but that some good metal, and better now than before, will come forth from the fiery trial (Heb. xii. 5-11; 2 Mace. vi. 12-16). It is ever so with the proofs to which He who sits as a Refiner in his Church submits his own ; his intention in these being ever, not indeed to find his saints pure gold (for that He knows they are not), but to make them such; to purge out their dross, never to make evident that they are all dross. As such, He is δοκιμαστὴς τῶν καρδιῶν (1 Thess. ii. 4; Jer. xi. 20; Ps. xvi. 4); as such, Job could say of Him, using another equivalent word, διέκρινέ με ὥσπερ τὸ χρυσίον (xxiii. 10). To Him, as such, his people pray, in words like those of Abelard, expounding the sixth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, ‘Da ut per tentationem probemur, non reprobemur.’ And here is the point of divergence between δοκιμάζειν and πειράζειν, as will be plain when the latter word has been a little considered. This putting to the proof may have quite another intention, as it may have quite another issue and end, than such as have been just described; nay, it certainly will have such in the case of the false-hearted, and those who belong to God only in semblance and in show. Being ‘ proved’ or tempted, they will appear to be what they have always been ; and this fact, though not overruling all the uses of πειράζειν, does yet predominantly affect them. Nothing in the word itself required that it should oftenest signify a making -trial with the intention and hope of entangling the person tried in sin. Πειράζειν, connected with ‘perior,’ ‘experior,’ πείρω, means properly no more than to make an experience of (πεῖραν λαμBévew, Heb. xi. 29, 36); to pierce or search into (thus of the wicked it is said, πειράζουσι θάνατον, Wisd. 11. 25 } Che ΣΧ: 26 ; Ecelus. xxxix. 4); or to attempt (Acts xvi. 7; xxiv. 6). It came next to signify the trying intentionally, and with the 262 SYNONYMS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT § Uxxiv purpose of discovering what of good or evil, of power or weakness, was in a person or thing (Matt. xvi. 1; xix. 3; xxii. 18; 1 Kin. x. 1); or, where this was already known to the trier, revealing the same to the tried themselves ; as when St. Paul addresses the Corinthians, ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε, “ try,” or, as we have it, ‘‘ examine yourselves” (2 Cor. xiii. 5). It is thus that sinners are said to tempt God (Matt. iv. 7 [ἐκπειράζειν] ; Acts v.9; 1 Cor.x. 9; Wisd.i. 2), putting Him to the proof, refusing to believe Him on his own word, or till He has manifested his power. At this stage, too, of the word’s history and successive usages we must arrest it, when we affirm of God that He ‘tempts’ men (Heb. xi. 17: οἵ. Gen. xxii. 1; Exod. xv. 25; Deut. xiii. 3); in no other sense or intention can He do this (Jam. i. 18); but because He does tempt in this sense (γυμνασίας χάριν καὶ avappyoews, (σαmenius), and because of the self-knowledge which may be won through these temptations,—so that men may, and often do, come out of them holier, humbler, stronger than they were when they entered in,!—St. James is able to say, “ Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” (i. 2; ef. ver 12). But the word itself enters on another stage of meaning. The melancholy fact that men so often break down under temptation gives to πειράζειν a predominant sense of putting to the proof with the intention and the hope that the ‘ proved’ may not turn out ‘approved,’ but ‘reprobate’; may break down under the proof; and thus the word is constantly applied to the solicitations and suggestions of Satan (Matt. iv. 1; 1 Cor. vii. 5; Rev. ii. 10), which are always made with such a malicious hope, he himself bearing the name of ‘ The 1 Augustine (Serm. Ixxi. c. 10): ‘In eo quod dictum est, Deus neminem tentat, non omni sed quodam tentationis modo Deus neminem tentare intelligendus est; ne falsum sit illud quod scriptum est, Tentat vos Dominus Deus vester [Deut. xiii. 3]; et ne Christum negemus Deum, vel dicamus falsum Evangelium, ubi legimus quia interrogabat discipulum, tentans eum [Joh. vi. 6]. Est enim tentatio adducens peccatum, qua Deus neminem tentat : et est tentatio probans fidem, qua et Deus tentare dignatur.’ Cf. Serm. lvii. 6. 9; Enarr. in Ps. lv. 1; Serm. ii. ¢. ὃ: ‘Deus tentat, ut doceat: diabolus tentat, ut decipiat.’ §Lxxv SYNONYMS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT 263 Tempter ’ (Matt. iv. 3; 1 Thess. 111. 5), and evermore revealing himself as such (Gen. ili. 1, 4, 5; 1 Chron. xxi. 1). We may say then in conclusion, that while πειράζειν may be used, but exceptionally, of God, δοκιμάζειν could not be used of Satan, seeing that he never proves that he may approve, nor tests that he may accept. δ lxxv. σοφία, φρόνησις, γνῶσις, ἐπίγνωσις.
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
πειράζω. This poetic and late prose form of πειράω (g.v.), even when used in the general sense of ‘‘try,’’ ‘‘ test,” has always the idea of probation associated with it: see the instances cited by Hort ad Jas 1%, especially Plut. Wora/ia 15, p. 230a where “ἡ Namertes being congratulated on the multitude or his friends asked the spokesman εἰ δοκίμιον ἔχει τίνι τρόπῳ πειράζεται ὁ πολύφιλος ; and when a desire was expressed to know he said ᾿Ατυχίᾳ.᾽ For a more sinister sense cf. Vett. Val. p. 17° καθόλου δὲ κακεντρεχῶν τῇ διανοίᾳ, μάλιστα κατὰ τῶν πειραζόντων ἢ τῶν πονηρὰ δρώντων. The Biblical usage is fully discussed by Hort 7c. See also Kennedy Sowrces, p. 106 f., and the exx. from late Greek in Anz Subsidia, p. 274. MGr πειράζω (Thumb Ae//en. p- 218).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
πειράζω (peirazō) — to test/tempt: tempt. πειράζω, (πεῖρα) used by early authors only in present and imperfect, the other tenses being supplied by πειράω, -άομαι: Cretan dialect future πειράξω [Refs]: aorist 1 imperative πείρᾰσον [Refs 1st c.AD+]: aorist passive ἐπειράσθην [LXX+NT]: perfect participle πεπειρασμένος [NT]:—make proof or trial of, with genitive, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
2. with infinitive, attempt to do, [NT+2nd c.BC+]; π. τι attempt a thing, ἄλλος ἄλλην ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ πειράζει τέχνην [Refs 2nd c.AD+]make trial of, [Refs]: absolutely, make an attempt, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
3. passive, ἤθη.. ἐν χρόνῳ πειράζεται are tried, proved, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; to be experienced, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
II. with accusative person, try, tempt a person, put him to the test, [LXX]; ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε, εἰ.. [NT]; τί πειράζετε τὸν Κύριο; [LXX+NT]
II.2. in bad sense, seek to seduce, tempt, Ἀθηναίην [Refs 3rd c.BC+] the Tempter, [NT]:—passive, to be sorely tried, πειραζομένη βασανίζομαι [Refs 1st c.BC+]; to be attacked, ὑποχύσει [Refs 1st c.AD+]; to be tempted to sin, [NT]
πειράζω (peirazō) — to test/tempt: test. πειράζω, (πεῖρα) used by early authors only in present and imperfect, the other tenses being supplied by πειράω, -άομαι: Cretan dialect future πειράξω [Refs]: aorist 1 imperative πείρᾰσον [Refs 1st c.AD+]: aorist passive ἐπειράσθην [LXX+NT]: perfect participle πεπειρασμένος [NT]:—make proof or trial of, with genitive, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
2. with infinitive, attempt to do, [NT+2nd c.BC+]; π. τι attempt a thing, ἄλλος ἄλλην ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ πειράζει τέχνην [Refs 2nd c.AD+]make trial of, [Refs]: absolutely, make an attempt, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
3. passive, ἤθη.. ἐν χρόνῳ πειράζεται are tried, proved, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; to be experienced, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
II. with accusative person, try, tempt a person, put him to the test, [LXX]; ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε, εἰ.. [NT]; τί πειράζετε τὸν Κύριο; [LXX+NT]
II.2. in bad sense, seek to seduce, tempt, Ἀθηναίην [Refs 3rd c.BC+] the Tempter, [NT]:—passive, to be sorely tried, πειραζομένη βασανίζομαι [Refs 1st c.BC+]; to be attacked, ὑποχύσει [Refs 1st c.AD+]; to be tempted to sin, [NT]
πειράζω (peirazō) — to test/tempt: try. πειράζω, (πεῖρα) used by early authors only in present and imperfect, the other tenses being supplied by πειράω, -άομαι: Cretan dialect future πειράξω [Refs]: aorist 1 imperative πείρᾰσον [Refs 1st c.AD+]: aorist passive ἐπειράσθην [LXX+NT]: perfect participle πεπειρασμένος [NT]:—make proof or trial of, with genitive, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
2. with infinitive, attempt to do, [NT+2nd c.BC+]; π. τι attempt a thing, ἄλλος ἄλλην ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ πειράζει τέχνην [Refs 2nd c.AD+]make trial of, [Refs]: absolutely, make an attempt, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
3. passive, ἤθη.. ἐν χρόνῳ πειράζεται are tried, proved, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; to be experienced, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
II. with accusative person, try, tempt a person, put him to the test, [LXX]; ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε, εἰ.. [NT]; τί πειράζετε τὸν Κύριο; [LXX+NT]
II.2. in bad sense, seek to seduce, tempt, Ἀθηναίην [Refs 3rd c.BC+] the Tempter, [NT]:—passive, to be sorely tried, πειραζομένη βασανίζομαι [Refs 1st c.BC+]; to be attacked, ὑποχύσει [Refs 1st c.AD+]; to be tempted to sin, [NT]
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
Bible Occurrences (34)
📖 Greek Word Study — In-Depth Study from Precept Austin
Tempt (3985) peirazo