Temptation

Across the canon

In the King James text (141 verses)

Every verse where Scripture speaks of temptation, gathered by word. Quoted below: a spread across the whole canon, Old Testament and New — never more than two from any one book. The complete list is one click beneath them.

1. Genesis 22:1

   And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Deuteronomy 4:34

   Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 4:341 voice

   “From the midst of another nation - This was a most extraordinary thing, that a whole people, consisting of upwards of 600,000 effective men, besides women and children, should, without striking a blow, be brought out of the midst of a very powerful nation, to the political welfare of which their services were so essential; that they should be brought out in so open and public a manner; that the sea itself should be supernaturally divided to afford this mighty host a passage; and that, in a desert utterly unfriendly to human life, they should be sustained for forty years.

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 4:34→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. 1 Samuel 18:21

   And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 18:212 voices

   “And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him,.... The cause and occasion of his fall and ruin, by means of what he should propose to him as the condition of marriage; but instead of proving a snare to him, as he hoped, she was the means of his deliverance, when Saul sent messengers to slay him, 1Sa 19:11, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him; provoked by what he should put him upon doing to them.

   “In the one of the twain - Some prefer “the second time” Job 33:14. The first contract had been broken by giving Merab to Adriel.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 18:21→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Psalms 9:16

   The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

   ›Commentary on Psalms 9:161 voice

   “The Lord is known by the judgment - It is not every casualty that can properly be called a judgment of God. Judgment is his strange work; but when he executes it, his mind is plainly to be seen. There are no natural causes to which such calamities can be legally attributed. The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands - There is nothing that a wicked man does that is not against his own interest.

   Everything gathered on Psalms 9:16→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Isaiah 7:12

   But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.

   ›Commentary on Isaiah 7:122 voices

   “For the one and the same Spirit of God, who proclaimed by the prophets what and of what sort the advent of the Lord should be, did by these elders give a just interpretation of what had been truly prophesied; and He did Himself, by the apostles, announce that the fulness of the times of the adoption had arrived, that the kingdom of heaven had drawn nigh, and that He was dwelling within those that believe on Him who was born Emmanuel of the Virgin.

   “(Verse 12.) And Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord. This is not humility, but pride, that he does not want to ask for a sign from the Lord. Although it is written in Deuteronomy: You shall not test the Lord your God (Deut. 6:16), and the Savior used this against the devil as a testimony (Matt. 4): nevertheless, being commanded to ask, he should have fulfilled the command in obedience, especially since both Gideon and Manoah asked for and received a sign (Judges 6 and 13).

   Everything gathered on Isaiah 7:12→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Ezekiel 12:13

   My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.

   ›Commentary on Ezekiel 12:131 voice

   “I will bring - him to Babylon - yet shall he not see it - Because Nebuchadnezzar caused him to have his eyes put out at Riblah. To Babylon he was carried in his blind state, and there he died. In saying, My net also will I spread upon him, there is probably a reference to an ancient manner of fighting.

   Everything gathered on Ezekiel 12:13→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Malachi 3:15

   And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

   ›Commentary on Malachi 3:152 voices

   “(Verse 15) Therefore now we call the arrogant blessed, for they who practice wickedness are built up and they have tested God, and they have escaped. LXX: And now we call the arrogant blessed. Yes, they who work wickedness are built up; yes, they tempted God and escaped. Therefore, we call those arrogant individuals blessed, who boast against God and hurl impious blasphemies. Indeed, they have been successful and enjoy prosperity even after their crimes and blasphemies. They have tested God, whether they resist Him or not, and have been saved.

   “And now we call the proud happy,.... Or "therefore now" (q); since this is the case, that the worshippers of God are not regarded, and there is nothing got by serving him; they that are proud and haughty, that neither fear God nor regard men, are the happy persons; even presumptuous sinners, as the word (r) signifies, that stretch out their hands against God, and strengthen themselves against the Almighty; these enjoy all worldly happiness, while they that serve the Lord are mourning in sackcloth, and are in the utmost distress.

   Everything gathered on Malachi 3:15→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Matthew 4:1

   Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

   ›Commentary on Matthew 4:12 voices

   “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit - Led up by the Spirit. Luke says Luk 4:1 that Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit;” and it was by his influence, therefore, that he went into the desert to be tempted. It was not done by presumption on the part of Jesus, nor was it for a mere display of his power in resisting temptation; but it was evidently that it might be seen that his holiness was such that he could not be seduced from allegiance to God.

   “(Chapter 4 - Verse 1) Then Jesus was led into the desert by the spirit. There is no doubt that it was the Holy Spirit. It follows: In order to be tempted by the devil. However, he is led not unwillingly or captivated, but by his own will to fight.

   Everything gathered on Matthew 4:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Acts 5:9

   Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

   ›Commentary on Acts 5:92 voices

   “Peter wanted to save her, because the husband was the instigator of the sin. That is why he gives her time to justify herself and repent. Perhaps someone will say that Peter acted cruelly toward them, but what cruelty is there? If the one who …

   “The punishment by death from the wisest Peter against those who erred is not out of madness but out of teaching of prescient, letting go the many transgressions of mankind. For at that time they began sowing the seeds of the gospel, and knowing that …

   Everything gathered on Acts 5:9→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. 1 Thessalonians 3:5

    For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

    ›Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 3:52 voices

    “I, he says, did not suppose that you were shaken, except perhaps because you were subjected to temptations. Do you see that disturbance in afflictions is the work of the devil, and especially when some are scandalized as a result of others experiencing misfortune? So …

    “For this cause - Since I knew that you were so liable to be persecuted, and since I feared that some might be turned from the truth by this opposition. When I could no longer forbear - See the notes at 1Th 3:1. I sent to know your faith - That is, your fidelity. or your steadfastness in the gospel. Lest by some means - Either by allurements to apostasy, set before you by your former pagan friends; or by the arts of false teachers; or by the severity of suffering.

    Everything gathered on 1 Thessalonians 3:5→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Hebrews 2:18

    For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

    ›Commentary on Hebrews 2:182 voices

    “He can help those who are being tempted, thus it must be understood. For when, he says, the Evil One attacked the sinless body of the Lord and attempted to surround it with temptations (Matt. 4:1-11); (for he attacked, tempting for his own sake; and …

    “For in that he himself hath suffered - The maxim on which this verse is founded is the following: A state of suffering disposes persons to be compassionate, and those who endure most afflictions are they who feel most for others. The apostle argues that, among other causes, it was necessary that Jesus Christ should partake of human nature, exposed to trials, persecutions, and various sufferings, that he might the better feel for and be led to succor those who are afflicted and sorely tried.

    Everything gathered on Hebrews 2:18→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Revelation 3:10

    Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

    ›Commentary on Revelation 3:102 voices

    “The word of my patience - The doctrine which has exposed you to so much trouble and persecution, and required so much patience and magnanimity to bear up under its attendant trials. The hour of temptation - A time of sore and peculiar trial which might have proved too much for their strength. He who is faithful to the grace of God is often hidden from trials and difficulties which fall without mitigation on those who have been unfaithful in his covenant.

    " Also to the angel of the church in Pergamus (mention was made) of Antipas, the very faithful martyr, who was slain where Satan dwelleth. Also to the angel of the church in Philadelphia (it was signified) that he who had not denied the name of the Lord was delivered from the last trial.

    Everything gathered on Revelation 3:10→

    Verse page →Original language →

Words searched, at word start, across the King James text: tempt… · entice… · snare…

Lives that met it (2)

Curated character profiles whose own account speaks of temptation.

• AdamFirst Man, Father of Humanity · CreationAdam was the first man, created by God from the dust of the ground and animated by divine breath. He was placed in Eden as its keeper, named all animals, received Eve as his wife, but brought sin and death upon humanity through his disobedience.
• JosephVizier of Egypt · PatriarchalJoseph rose from pit to palace through God's providence. Sold by jealous brothers, he became Egypt's vizier and saved his family from famine. His life powerfully prefigures Christ's rejection and exaltation.