59 Bible Verses about Deception

Most Relevant Verses

Matthew 24:4

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no one deceive you.

Jeremiah 9:6

Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.

2 Thessalonians 2:11

Therefore, for this cause, God shall send the operation of error in them, that they should believe the lie;

Colossians 2:4

And this I say lest anyone should beguile you with enticing words.

Revelation 20:8

and shall go out to deceive the Gentiles which are upon the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Jeremiah 3:23

Truly the hills are vanity, the multitude of mountains; truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.

1 Timothy 2:14

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived in the rebellion;

Proverbs 26:26

Even though his hatred is covered up in the desert, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.

2 Corinthians 12:16

But be it so, I did not burden you; nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

Jeremiah 9:5

And they will deceive each one his neighbour and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies and weary themselves to commit iniquity.

Psalm 12:2

Each one speaks vanity with his neighbour: they speak with flattering lips and with a double heart.

1 Corinthians 3:18

Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you seems to be wise in this age, let them become a fool that they may be wise.

Jeremiah 29:8

For thus hath the LORD of the hosts the God of Israel said: Let not your prophets and your diviners that are in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye dream.

2 Chronicles 18:21

And he said, I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail; go out and do even so.

Psalm 120:2

Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue.

Jeremiah 9:8

Their tongue is as a sharp arrow; it speaks deceit: one speaks peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth but in heart he lays in wait.

1 John 4:6

We are of God; he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Job 12:16

With him is strength and existence; he who errs and he who leads astray are his.

2 Thessalonians 2:10

and with all deception of iniquity working in those that perish because they did not receive the charity of the truth, to be saved.

Jeremiah 20:7

O LORD, thou hast seduced me, and I was seduced; thou wert stronger than I and hast overcome me; I am in derision daily; every one mocks me.

Romans 7:11

For sin, having had occasion, deceived me by the commandment and by it killed me.

Proverbs 23:3

Do not be desirous of his dainties; for they are deceitful food.

John 7:47

Then the Pharisees answered them, Are ye also deceived?

From Thematic Bible


Deception » Religious persons guilty of

Genesis 27:19

And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau, thy firstborn; I have done according as thou didst command me; arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

Genesis 12:13

Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister, that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Genesis 20:2

And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

Genesis 26:7

And the men of that place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister, for he feared to say, She is my wife, lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah because she was fair to look upon.

Deception » Deceivers

2 John 1:7

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in flesh. This same is a deceiver and antichrist.

Psalm 55:23

But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of the grave; bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in thee.

Proverbs 14:25

The true witness delivers souls, but the deceitful one speaks lies.

Proverbs 26:18-19

As a mad man who casts firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man that destroys his friend and says, Am I not in sport?

Deception » General examples of

Joshua 9:4

they worked with prudence and went and made as if they had been ambassadors and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old and rent and bound up,

Matthew 2:8

and sending them to Bethlehem, he said, Go there and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship him also.

Judges 3:20

And Ehud came unto him, and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a word from God unto thee. Then he arose out of his seat.

2 Samuel 13:6

So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick, and when the king came to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar, my sister, come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight that I may eat at her hand.

More verses: 2 Kings 5:22

Deception » Not letting anyone deceive you

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

Now we beseech you, brethren, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together unto him, that ye not be easily shaken in understanding or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us, as if the day of Christ is at hand. Let no one deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,

Deception » What is deceit/deceitful

Jeremiah 17:9-10

The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who shall know it? I the LORD search the heart; I try the kidneys, even to give each man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.

Deception » Who deceives themselves

Galatians 6:3-4

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let everyone prove his own work, and then he shall have glory regarding only himself, and not in another.

James 1:22-26

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if anyone hears the word and does not put it into practice, this same is like unto the man beholding his natural face in a mirror: For he considered himself and went his way and in one hour forgot what he was like. read more.
But whosoever has looked attentively into the perfect law of liberty and has persevered in it, not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, the same shall be blessed in their deed. If anyone among you thinks to be religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, his religion is vain.

Deception » Of self » Spiritual poverty

Deception » Instances of » Abraham, in stating that sarah was his sister

Genesis 12:13

Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister, that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Genesis 20:2

And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

Deception » Who shall not be deceitful

Zephaniah 3:13

The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they shall be fed and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.

Deception » Not being deceitful

Deception » Bread of deceit

Deception » Instances of » Joseph, in his ruse with his brothers

Deception » Of self » Conceit

Deception » Instances of » Hushai deceives absalom

2 Samuel 16:15-19

And Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. And it came to pass when Hushai the Archite, David's special companion, came unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, Long live the king, Long live the king. And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy mercy to thy friend? Why didst thou not go with thy friend? read more.
And Hushai said unto Absalom, No, but whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. And again, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

Deception » Instances of » David feigns madness

1 Samuel 21:10-15

And David arose and fled that day from the presence of Saul and went to Achish, the king of Gath. And the slaves of Achish said unto him, Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands? And David laid up these words in his heart and was sore afraid of Achish, the king of Gath. read more.
And he changed his behaviour before them and feigned himself a fool in their hands and scrabbled on the doors of the gate and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. Then Achish said unto his slaves, Behold, ye see the man is mad; why then have ye brought him to me? Have I need of mad men that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?

Deception » Instances of » By absalom » When he avenged his sister

2 Samuel 13:24-28

And Absalom came to the king and said, Behold now, thy slave has sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his slaves go with thy slave. And the king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go lest we be burdensome unto thee. And he pressed him; however, he would not go but blessed him. Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? read more.
But because Absalom pressed him, he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him. Fear not; have I not commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant.

Deception » Of self » Spiritual bondage

Deception » Instances of » In representing to their father that joseph had been destroyed by wild beasts

Genesis 37:29-35

And Reuben returned unto the cistern; and, behold, Joseph was not inside, and he rent his clothes. And he returned unto his brethren and said, The young man is not; and I, where shall I go? Then they took Joseph's coat and killed a kid of the goats and dipped the coat in the blood; read more.
and they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father and said, We have found this, recognize now whether it is thy son's coat or not. And he knew it and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. Then Jacob rent his clothes and put sackcloth upon his loins and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted, and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

Deception » Instances of » Jacob's sons, in entrapping the shechemites

Genesis 34:13-31

And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully and talked because he had defiled Dinah their sister: And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised, for among us that is a reproach. But with this condition we will consent unto you: If ye will become as we are that every male of you be circumcised, read more.
then we will give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised, then we will take our daughter, and we will be gone. And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor's son. And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter and he was the most honourable of all the house of his father. Then Hamor and Shechem, his son, came unto the gate of their city and communed with the men of their city, saying, These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. Only with this condition will these men consent to dwell with us that we may be one people: if every male among us be circumcised as they are circumcised. Shall not their livestock and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? Only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us. And unto Hamor and unto Shechem, his son, hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword and came upon the city boldly and slew all the males. And they slew Hamor and Shechem, his son, with the edge of the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and spoiled the city because they had defiled their sister. They took their sheep and their oxen and their asses and that which was in the city and that which was in the field and all their wealth and all their little ones and their wives they took captive and spoiled even all that was in the house. And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot?

Deception » Instances of » Amnon deceives tamar by feigning sickness

2 Samuel 13:6-14

So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick, and when the king came to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar, my sister, come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight that I may eat at her hand. Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house and make him something to eat. So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, and he was lying down. And she took flour and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes. read more.
Then she took a pan and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Send everyone out from me. And they all went out from him. Then Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber that I may eat from thy hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon, her brother. And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. And she answered him, No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Do not commit this folly. And I, where shall I go with my reproach? And as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now, therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king, for he will not withhold me from thee. Howbeit, he would not hearken unto her voice, but, being stronger than she, forced her and lay with her.

Deception » Instances of » Jacob and rebekah, in imposing jacob on his father, and jacob's impersonating esau

Genesis 27:6-23

Then Rebekah spoke unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau, thy brother, saying, Bring me venison and make me savoury food that I may eat and bless thee before the LORD before my death. Now, therefore, my son, hearken unto my voice according to that which I command thee. read more.
Go now to the flock and bring me from there two good kids of the goats, and I will make them savoury food for thy father, such as he loves; and thou shalt bring it to thy father that he may eat and that he may bless thee before his death. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau, my brother, is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man; my father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon myself, and not a blessing. And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son; only obey my voice and go bring me them. And he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savoury food, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took good clothes of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob, her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands and upon the smooth of his neck, and she gave the savoury food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. And he came unto his father and said, My father, and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau, thy firstborn; I have done according as thou didst command me; arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. Then Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he discerned him not because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.

Deception » Instances of » The gibeonites, in misrepresenting their habitat

Joshua 9:3-15

But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, they worked with prudence and went and made as if they had been ambassadors and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old and rent and bound up, and old patched shoes upon their feet, and old garments upon them, and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. read more.
Thus they came unto Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said unto him and to the men of Israel, We are come from a far country; now, therefore, make ye a covenant with us. And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us, and how shall we make a covenant with you? And they said unto Joshua, We are thy slaves. And Joshua said unto them, Who are you and where do you come from? And they said unto him, From very far lands thy slaves are come because of the name of the LORD thy God, for we have heard the fame of him and all that he did in Egypt and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side of the Jordan, and to Sihon, king of Heshbon, and to Og, king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. Therefore, our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take provision with you for the journey and go to meet them and say unto them, We are your slaves; therefore, now make ye a covenant with us. This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to come unto you, but now, behold, it is dry and mouldy. These bottles of wine, we also filled new, and, behold, they are rent, and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. And the men of Israel took of their provision and did not ask counsel at the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; also the princes of the congregation swore unto them.

Deception » Instances of » Ehud deceives eglon, and kills him

Judges 3:15-30

But when the sons of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a saviour, Ehud, the son of Gera, a son of Jemini, a man, who had his right hand impeded, and by him the sons of Israel sent a present unto Eglon, the king of Moab. But Ehud had made himself a two-edged sword of a cubit length, and he girded it under his clothing upon his right thigh. And he brought the present unto Eglon, king of Moab, and Eglon was a very fat man. read more.
And when he had offered the present, he sent away the people that had brought the present. But he, himself turned again from the graven images that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret word for thee, O king, who then said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. And Ehud came unto him, and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a word from God unto thee. Then he arose out of his seat. But Ehud put forth his left hand and took the sword from his right thigh and thrust it into Eglon's belly; in such a manner that the haft also went in after the blade, and the fat closed upon the blade so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly, and the excrement came out. Then Ehud went forth through the porch and shut the doors of the parlour upon him and locked them. When he was gone out, his slaves came; and when they saw that the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Peradventure he covers his feet in his summer chamber. And having waited until they were confounded and he had not opened the doors of the parlour; therefore, they took a key and opened them; and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. But while they had waited, Ehud escaped and passed beyond the graven images and escaped unto Seirath. And as he entered in, he blew the shofar in the mountain of Ephraim, and the sons of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them. Then he said unto them, Follow after me, for the LORD has delivered your enemies, the Moabites, into your hands. And they went down after him and took the fords of the Jordan towards Moab and did not let anyone pass. And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all fat, and all men of war, and there escaped not a man. So Moab was subjected that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest eighty years.

Deception » Instances of » Delilah deceives samson

Judges 16:4-20

And it came to pass afterward that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the cardinals of the Philistines came up unto her and said unto her, Entice him and see what gives him his great strength and by what means we may overcome him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and each one of us will give thee eleven hundred pieces of silver. And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, what gives thee thy great strength and how might thou be bound to afflict thee. read more.
And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green wicker strands that were never dried, then I shall become weak and be as any other man. Then the cardinals of the Philistines brought up to her seven green wicker strands which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. Now there were men lying in wait in a chamber of her house. And she said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he broke the wicker strands as a thread of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known. Then Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me and told me lies; now tell me, I pray thee, how thou might be bound. And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then I shall become weak and be as any other man. Delilah therefore took new ropes and bound him with them and said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And there were men lying in wait abiding in a chamber. But he broke them from off his arms like a thread. And Delilah said unto Samson, Until now thou hast mocked me, and told me lies. Tell me, therefore, now, how thou might be bound. Then he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the cloth. And she fastened it with the stake and said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep and went away with the stake of the loom and with the cloth. And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thy heart is not with me? Thou hast mocked me these three times and hast not yet told me what gives thee thy great strength. And it came to pass that, pressing and grinding him daily with her words, his soul was reduced unto mortal anguish. Therefore, he told her all his heart and said unto her, A razor has never come upon my head, for I am a Nazarite of God from my mother's womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man. And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the cardinals of the Philistines, saying, Come up this time, for he has showed me all his heart. Then the cardinals of the Philistines came up unto her and brought the money in their hand. And she caused him to sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. And she said, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep and said, This time I will go out like before and escape; not knowing that the LORD had departed from him.

Deception » Of self » An unbridled tongue

Deception » Of self » Self-esteem

Psalm 36:2

For he flatters himself in his own eyes until his iniquity is found to be hateful.

Deception » Of self » Careless hearing

Deception » Of self » Sanctimony

Deception » Instances of » The old prophet

1 Kings 13:18

And the other said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art, and an angel spoke unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thy house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.

Deception » Instances of » Job's friends

Job 6:15

My brethren have lied to me as a brook; they passed away as an impetuous stream,

Deception » Instances of » By absalom » When he began his conspiracy

2 Samuel 15:7

And at the end of a predetermined period of forty years, it came to pass that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go to Hebron and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD.

Deception » Instances of » Pharisees

Matthew 22:16

And they sent out unto him their disciples with those of Herod, saying, Master, we know that thou art a lover of truth and teachest the way of God with truth and that thou takest care for no man, for thou art no respecter of persons of men.

Deception » Instances of » Gehazi

2 Kings 5:20

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master has spared Naaman, this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him.

Deception » Instances of » Lawyer

Luke 10:25

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Deception » Instances of » Isaac, in stating that his wife was his sister

Genesis 26:7

And the men of that place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister, for he feared to say, She is my wife, lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah because she was fair to look upon.

Deception » Instances of » Chief priests

Mark 14:1

Two days after was the passover and the days of unleavened bread; and the princes of the priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, that they might kill him.

Deception » Instances of » Doeg

Psalm 52:2

Thy tongue devises wickedness like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

Deception » Instances of » Ananias and sapphira

Acts 5:1

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession

Deception » Instances of » By satan

Deception » Instances of » Herod

Matthew 2:8

and sending them to Bethlehem, he said, Go there and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship him also.

Deception » Instances of » Sanballat tries to deceive nehemiah

Falsehood » Instances of » Gibeonites » Deception

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