57 Bible Verses about Deception

Then he began to curse vehemently and to swear, I do not know the man. And straightaway a cock sounded.

And Jacob said to his father, I am Esau thy firstborn. I have done according as thou bade me. Arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

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

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

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

Thou will destroy those who speak lies. LORD abhors the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.

Because many deceivers have gone forth into the world, those not acknowledging Jesus Christ coming in flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

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

A TRUE witness delivers souls, but he who utters lies [causes] deceit.

As a madman who casts firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, Am I not in sport?

they also worked shrewdly, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their donkeys, and wine-skins, old and torn and bound up,

And having sent them to Bethlehem, he said, After going, search diligently about the child. And when ye find him, report to me, so that I also having come, may worship him.

And the serpent said to the woman, Ye shall not surely die.

And Ehud came to him. And he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. And Ehud said, I have a message from God to thee. And he arose out of his seat.

So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet made known what we will be. But we know that whenever he is made known we will be like him, because we will see him as he is.

Be not led astray. Evil associations corrupt good habits.

Let no man deceive you by empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Now we ask you, brothers, on behalf of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, for ye not to be quickly shaken from your mind, nor to be alarmed, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by a letter as by us, as that the day of the Christ has come. Let not any man deceive you in any way, because if not, the defection may come first, and he may be revealed--the man of sin, the son of destruction,

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, [but] a woman who fears LORD, she shall be praised.

The thoughts of the righteous are just. The counsels of the wicked are deceit.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

The wisdom of a prudent man is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it? I, LORD, search the mind. I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

For if some man presumes to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each man examine his own work, and then he will have the boast in himself alone and not in the other man.

But become ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if any man is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this resembles a man observing his natural face in a mirror. For he observes himself, and goes away, and straightaway forgets what kind of man he was. read more.
But he who stooped to look into the perfect law, the one of liberty, and who remained, this man, who did not become a forgetful hearer but a doer of work, this man will be blessed in his doing. If any man among you seems to be religious, not bridling his tongue but deceiving his heart, this man's religion is futile.

If we say that we have no sin, we lead ourselves astray, and the truth is not in us.

Because thou say, I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and do not know that thou are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

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

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

The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth. For they shall feed and lay down, and none shall make them afraid.

Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause, and deceive not with thy lips.

Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

For if some man presumes to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

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 friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, Live, O king. Live, O king. And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? Why did thou not go with thy friend? read more.
And Hushai said to Absalom, No, but whom LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him I will abide. And again, whom should I serve? [Is it] not in the presence of his son? As I have served in thy father's presence, so I will be in thy presence.

And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, Is not this 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 very afraid of Achish the king of Gath. read more.
And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. Then Achish said to his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad. Why then have ye brought him to me? Do I lack madmen, that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?

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

He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

And Reuben returned to the pit, and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit. And he rent his clothes, and he returned to his brothers, and said, The child is not, and I, where shall I go? And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a he-goat, and dipped the coat in the blood. read more.
And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, We have found this. Know 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 torn in pieces. And Jacob rent his garments, 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 to Sheol to my son mourning. And his father wept for him.

And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with guile, and spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister, and said to them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to a man who is uncircumcised, for that is a reproach to us. Only on this condition will we consent to you: If ye will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised. read more.
Then we will give our daughters to 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 to us, to be circumcised, then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone. And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son. And the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter. And he was honored above all the house of his father. And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and conversed with the men of their city, saying, These men are peaceable with us, therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade in it, for, behold, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. Only on this condition will the men consent to us to dwell with us, to become one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. Shall not their cattle and their substance and all their beasts be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us. And all who went out of the gate of his city hearkened to Hamor and to Shechem his son, and every male was circumcised, all who 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 brothers, took each man his sword, and came upon the city unawares, and killed all the males. And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went forth. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister. They took their flocks and their herds and their donkeys, 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 made a prey, even all that was in the house. And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me, to make me odious to the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. And, I being few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and smit And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot?

So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand. Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and make food for him. So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, and he was laid down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. read more.
And she took the pan, and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have all men out from me. And they went out every man from him. And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber that I may eat from thy hand. And Tamar took the cakes that she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. And when she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, Come, lay 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 do thou this folly. And I, where shall I carry my shame? And as for thee, thou will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from thee. However he would not hearken to her voice, but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.

And Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak to Esau thy brother, saying, Bring venison for me, and make savory food for me, that I may eat, and bless thee before LORD before my death. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. read more.
Go now to the flock, and fetch me two good kids of the goats from there. And I will make them savory food for thy father, such as he loves. And thou shall bring it to thy father, that he may eat, so 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 will perhaps feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver. And I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. And his mother said to him, Upon me be thy curse, my son. Only obey my voice, and go fetch them for me. And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother. And his mother made savory food, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took the goodly garments of Esau her elder son, 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 savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. And he came to his father, and said, My father. And he said, Here I am. Who are thou, my son? And Jacob said to his father, I am Esau thy firstborn. I have done according as thou bade me. Arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac said to his son, How is it that thou have found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because LORD thy God sent me good speed. And Isaac said to 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 to 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 did not discern him, because his hands were hairy as his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him.

But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, they also worked shrewdly, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their donkeys, and wine-skins, old and torn and bound up, and old and patched shoes upon their feet, and old garments upon them, and all the bread of their provision was dry and became moldy. read more.
And they went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him, and to the men of Israel, We have come from a far country, now therefore make ye a covenant with us. And the men of Israel said to the Hivites, Perhaps ye dwell among us, and how shall we make a covenant with you? And they said to Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are ye, and from where do ye come? And they said to him, From a very far country. Thy servants have come because of the name of 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 who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, We are your servants, and 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 go to you, but now, behold, it is dry, and has become moldy. And these wine-skins, which we filled, were new, and, behold, they are torn. And these our garments and our shoes have become old by reason of the very long journey. And the men took of their provision, and did not ask counsel at the mouth of LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live, and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.

But when the sons of Israel cried to LORD, LORD raised up for them a savior, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. And the sons of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab. And Ehud made for himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length. And he girded it under his raiment upon his right thigh. And he offered the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man. read more.
And when he had made an end of offering the tribute, he sent away the men who bore the tribute. But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand to thee, O king. And he said, Keep silence. And all who stood by him went out from him. And Ehud came to him. And he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. And Ehud said, I have a message from God to thee. And he arose out of his seat. And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body. And the handle also went in after the blade, and the fat closed upon the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his body, and it came out behind. Then Ehud went forth into the porch, and shut the doors of the upper room upon him, and locked them. Now when he was gone out, his servants came, and they saw, and, behold, the doors of the upper room were locked. And they said, Surely he is covering his feet in the upper chamber. And they delayed till they were ashamed, and, behold, he did not open the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key, and opened, and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. And Ehud escaped while they delayed, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped to Seirah. And it came to pass, when he came, that he blew a trumpet in the hill-country of Ephraim. And the sons of Israel went down with him from the hill-country, and he before them. And he said to them, Follow after me, for LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and did not allow a man to pass over. And they smote about ten thousand men of Moab at that time, every robust man, and every man of valor, and there escaped not a man. So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest eighty years.

And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, Entice him, and see in what his great strength lays, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him. And we will give thee every o And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, in what thy great strength lays, and with what thou might be bound to afflict thee. read more.
And Samson said to her, If they bind me with seven green withes that were never dried, then I shall become weak, and be as another man. Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withes which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. Now she had an ambush abiding in the inner chamber. And she said to him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he broke the withes, as a string of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known. And Delilah said to Samson, Behold, thou have mocked me, and told me lies. Now tell me, I pray thee, with what thou might be bound. And he said to her, If they only bind me with new ropes with which no work has been done, then I shall become weak, and be as another man. So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him with it, and said to him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And the ambushment was abiding in the inner chamber. And he broke them off his arms like a thread. And Delilah said to Samson, Until now thou have mocked me, and told me lies. Tell me with what thou might be bound. And he said to her, If thou weave the seven locks of my head with the web. And she fastened it with the pin, and said to him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web. And she said to him, How can thou say, I love thee, when thy heart is not with me? Thou have mocked me these three times, and have not told me with what thy great strength lays. And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, that his soul was vexed to death. And he told her all his heart, and said to her, There has not come a razor upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be lik And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he has told me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and broug And she made him sleep upon her knees, and she called for a man, and shaved 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, I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free, but he knew not that LORD was departed from him.

If any man among you seems to be religious, not bridling his tongue but deceiving his heart, this man's religion is futile.

For he flatters himself in his own eyes, that his iniquity will not be found out and be hated.

But become ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

If we say that we have no sin, we lead ourselves astray, and the truth is not in us.

And he said to him, I also am a prophet as thou are. And a [heavenly] agent spoke to me by the word of LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thy house that he may eat bread and drink water. [But] he lied to him.

My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away,

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

And they send out their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that thou are true, and teach the way of God in truth, and it is not a concern to thee about a man, for thou look not to the personage of men.

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

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up testing him, and saying, Teacher, having done what, would I inherit eternal life?

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

Now after two days was the Passover and the unleavened bread. And the chief priests and the scholars sought how, having take him with trickery, they might kill him,

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

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

And the serpent said to the woman, Ye shall not surely die.

And having sent them to Bethlehem, he said, After going, search diligently about the child. And when ye find him, report to me, so that I also having come, may worship him.