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Strong's Concordance
Greek Word Study

Strong's G538 ἀπατάω (apatao)

Apatao means “deceive” — full meaning, definition, and every linked Bible usage across the indexed canon.

Same number, other testament: Strong's H538 — amam in the Hebrew Bible.

Strong's Number G538
Language Greek
Linked Usages 42
Books 19

Strong's G538 Quick Answer

Strong's G538 ἀπατάω (apatao) is a Greek Strong's word-study entry. apatao (ap-at-ah'-o) v. 1. to deceive, i.e. delude [of uncertain derivation] It has 42 linked Bible usages across 19 books. Visible English usage signals include deceive. Indexed coverage on this page includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

Meaning
apatao (ap-at-ah'-o) v. 1. to deceive, i.e. delude [of uncertain derivation]
Usage
42 linked usages
Books
19 indexed books
Corpus
New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Usage Words
deceive

Meaning and Definition

apatao (ap-at-ah'-o) v. 1. to deceive, i.e. delude [of uncertain derivation] KJV: deceive Compare: G4105, G5574

Original Word
ἀπατάω
Transliteration
apatao
Morphology
verb

Across Lexicons

How independent scholarly lexicons define Strong's G538. Each definition is shown with its source so you can compare and cite the original reference works.

Extended Strong's Greek Lexicon (Abbott-Smith based)

to trick

Usage: ἀπατάω, -ῶ (ἀπάτη), [in LXX for פָּתָה, נָשָׁא hi., etc. ;] to deceive: with accusative, Jas.1:26; with accusative of person(s), dative of thing(s), Eph.5:6; pass., 1Ti.2:14 (on its infrequency in late writers, see MM, VGT, see word; cf. ἐξαπατάω).† (AS)

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How Strong's G538 Is Translated

The English word each shown verse actually uses to render apatao, taken from the interlinear word alignment (the same word underlined in the excerpts below). Where a rendering is used more than once, the count is shown.

deceive Ephesians 5:6

How Strong's G538 Usage Compares

Indexed coverage includes Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, and New Testament. Each section below keeps corpus counts and sample passages visible so readers can compare the word across contexts instead of reading one flat concordance list.

  • The largest indexed corpus on this page is Septuagint / Greek Old Testament with 28 linked usages.
  • This page lets readers compare New Testament usage with Septuagint / Greek Old Testament usage, which is a key THF advantage over narrower Strong's pages.
  • Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha rows are counted separately so readers can decide how those texts relate to the main word study.

In the Septuagint (LXX)

Strong's G538 (ἀπατάω) appears 42 times in the Greek Septuagint — the Old Testament the New Testament authors quoted.

Sample Septuagint occurrences:

Read the full Greek Septuagint interlinear with Strong's →

Strong's G538 by Corpus

Indexed usage grouped by testament and extended corpus so readers can compare this word across the Bible, Septuagint, deuterocanonical books, and 1 Enoch where present.

Strong's G538 in the New Testament

3 indexed usages in New Testament.

Ephesians 5:6 KJV

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

1 Timothy 2:14 KJV

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

James 1:26 KJV

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Strong's G538 in the Septuagint / Greek Old Testament

28 indexed usages in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament.

Genesis 3:13 Septuagint / Brenton

And the Lord God said to the woman, Why hast thou done this? And the woman said, The serpent deceived me and I ate.

Exodus 22:15 Septuagint / Brenton

And if anyone deceive a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her for a wife to himself.

Judges 14:15 Septuagint / Brenton

And it came to pass on the fourth day, that they said to the wife of Samson, Deceive now thy husband, and let him tell thee the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: did ye invite us to do us violence?

Strong's G538 in the deuterocanonical books / Apocrypha

11 indexed usages in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

Judith 7:15 Septuagint / Brenton

Thus shalt thou render them an evil reward; because they rebelled, and met not thy person peaceably.

Judith 9:3 Septuagint / Brenton

wherefore thou gavest their rulers to be slain, so that they dyed their bed in blood, being deceived, and smotest the servants with their lords, and the lords upon their thrones;

Judith 12:16 Septuagint / Brenton

Now when Judith came in and sat down, Holofernes his heart was ravished with her, and his mind was moved, and he desired greatly her company: for he waited a time to deceive her, from the day that he had seen her.

Usage Excerpts

First 42 linked usage excerpts for Strong's G538.

Genesis 3:13 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And the Lord God said to the woman, Why hast thou done this? And the woman said, The serpent deceived me and I ate.
Exodus 22:15 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And if anyone deceive a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her for a wife to himself.
Judges 14:15 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And it came to pass on the fourth day, that they said to the wife of Samson, Deceive now thy husband, and let him tell thee the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: did ye invite us to do us violence?
Judges 16:5 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And the princes of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, Beguile him, and see wherein his great strength is, and wherewith we shall prevail against him, and bind him to humble him; and we will give thee each eleven hundred pieces of silver.
2 Kingdoms 3:25 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Knowest thou not the mischief of Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all things that thou doest?
3 Kingdoms 22:20 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And the Lord said, Who will deceive Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall in Ramoth-gilead? and one spoke one way, and another another way.
3 Kingdoms 22:21 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And there came forth a spirit and stood before the Lord, and said, I will deceive him.
3 Kingdoms 22:22 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And the Lord said to him, Whereby? And he said, I will go forth, and will be a false spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt deceive him, yea, and shalt prevail: go forth, and do so.
4 Kingdoms 18:32 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
until I come and remove you to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, and bread and vineyards, a land of olive oil, and honey, and ye shall live and not die: and do not ye hearken to Hezekiah, for he deceives you, saying, The Lord shall deliver you.
2 Chronicles 18:2 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And he went down after a term of years to Ahab to Samaria: and Ahab slew for him sheep and calves, in abundance, and for the people with him, and he much desired him to go up with him to Ramoth of the country of Gilead.
2 Chronicles 18:19 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And the Lord said, Who will deceive Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up, and fall in Ramoth-gilead? And one spoke this way, and another spoke that way.
2 Chronicles 18:20 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will deceive him. And the Lord said, Whereby?
2 Chronicles 18:21 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt deceive him, and shalt prevail: go forth, and do so.
2 Chronicles 32:11 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Does not Hezekiah deceive you, to deliver you to death and famine and thirst, saying, The Lord our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
2 Chronicles 32:15 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Now then, let not Hezekiah deceive you, and let him not make you thus confident, and believe him not: for no god of any kingdom or nation is at all able to deliver his people out of my hand, or the hand of my fathers: therefore your God shall not deliver you out of my hand.
Job 31:27 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And if my heart was secretly deceived, And if I have laid my hand upon my mouth and kissed it:
Job 36:16 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And he has also enticed thee out of the mouth of the enemy:
Psalms 76:3 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
In the day of mine affliction I earnestly sought the Lord; Even with my hands by night before him, and I was not deceived; My soul refused to be comforted.
Psalms 77:36 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Yet they loved him only with their mouth, And lied to him with their tongue.
Proverbs 24:15 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: Neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
Isaiah 36:14 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
thus says the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you with words: he will not be able to deliver you.
Isaiah 36:18 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Let not Hezekiah deceive you, saying, God will deliver you. Have the gods of the nations delivered each one his own land out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians?
Isaiah 37:10 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Thus shall ye say to Hezekiah king of Judea, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of the Assyrians.
Jeremiah 4:10 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And I said, O sovereign Lord, verily thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, There shall be peace; whereas behold, the sword has reached even to their soul.
Jeremiah 20:7 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Thou hast deceived me, O Lord, and I have been deceived: thou hast been strong, and hast prevailed: I am become a laughingstock, I am continually mocked every day.
Jeremiah 20:10 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
For I have heard the reproach of many gathering round, saying, Conspire ye, and let us conspire together against him, even all his friends: watch his intentions, if perhaps he shall be deceived, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall be avenged on him.
Jeremiah 30:2 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
their place has been deceived. Dig deep for a dwelling, ye that inhabit Dedan, for he has wrought grievously: I brought trouble upon him in the time at which I visited him.
Jeremiah 45:22 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And, behold, all the women that are left in the house of the king of Judah were brought forth to the princes of the king of Babylon; and they said, The men who were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and will prevail against thee; and they shall cause thy foot to slide and fail, they have turned back from thee.
Ephesians 5:6 New Testament, KJV
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
1 Timothy 2:14 New Testament, KJV
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
James 1:26 New Testament, KJV
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
Judith 7:15 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
Thus shalt thou render them an evil reward; because they rebelled, and met not thy person peaceably.
Judith 9:3 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
wherefore thou gavest their rulers to be slain, so that they dyed their bed in blood, being deceived, and smotest the servants with their lords, and the lords upon their thrones;
Judith 12:16 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
Now when Judith came in and sat down, Holofernes his heart was ravished with her, and his mind was moved, and he desired greatly her company: for he waited a time to deceive her, from the day that he had seen her.
Judith 13:16 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
As the Lord liveth, who hath kept me in my way that I went, my countenance hath deceived him to his destruction, and yet hath he not committed sin with me, to defile and shame me.
1 Maccabees 5:25 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
where they met with the Nabateans, who came unto them in a peaceable manner, and told them everything that had happened to their brethren in the land of Gilead:
1 Maccabees 11:60 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
Then Jonathan went forth, and passed through the cities beyond the water, and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves unto him for to help him: and when he came to Ascalon, they of the city met him honorably.
1 Maccabees 11:68 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
And, behold, the host of strangers met them in the plain, who, having laid men in ambush for him in the mountains, came themselves over against him.
1 Maccabees 14:40 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
For he had heard say, that the Romans had called the Jews their friends and confederates and brethren; and that they had entertained the ambassadors of Simon honorably:
Wisdom of Solomon 4:11 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, Or deceit beguile his soul.
Wisdom of Sirach 14:16 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
Give, and take, and sanctify thy soul; For there is no seeking of dainties in the grave.
Wisdom of Sirach 30:23 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
And comfort thy heart, Remove sorrow far from thee: For sorrow hath killed many, And there is no profit therein.

All Indexed Usage Links

Every indexed verse link for Strong's G538, grouped by book.

Genesis 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Exodus 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Judges 2 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
2 Kingdoms 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
3 Kingdoms 3 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
4 Kingdoms 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
2 Chronicles 6 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Job 2 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Psalms 2 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Proverbs 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Isaiah 3 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Jeremiah 5 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Ephesians 1 usage, New Testament
1 Timothy 1 usage, New Testament
James 1 usage, New Testament
Judith 4 usages, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
1 Maccabees 4 usages, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Wisdom of Solomon 1 usage, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Wisdom of Sirach 2 usages, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha

Strong's G538 FAQ

What does apatao (ἀπατάω) mean?

Apatao (Strong's G538) is a Greek word most simply glossed "deceive". apatao (ap-at-ah'-o) v. 1. to deceive, i.e. delude [of uncertain derivation]

How many times is apatao (ἀπατάω) used in the Bible?

This page currently indexes 42 linked usages for Strong's G538 across 19 books.

Where can I study apatao (ἀπατάω) in context?

Use the linked verse references on this page to study Strong's G538 in context. The indexed coverage includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

What English words translate apatao (ἀπατάω)?

The visible usage excerpts most often surface English words such as deceive. These are scanning signals from the displayed verses, not replacements for the original-language definition.

Does Strong's G538 appear in the Septuagint or deuterocanonical books?

Yes. The current local index includes 28 in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament and 11 in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha for Strong's G538, with linked reader references where each row is available.