Attempt
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In the context of the Bible, the concept of "attempt" can be understood as the act of trying or endeavoring to achieve a particular goal or outcome. This notion is woven throughout the biblical narrative, illustrating both human efforts and divine interventions. The Bible provides numerous examples of attempts, both successful and unsuccessful, that reveal the nature of human ambition, faith, and reliance on God.

Human Attempts and Divine Will

The Bible often contrasts human attempts with the sovereign will of God. In Genesis 11:1-9, the account of the Tower of Babel illustrates humanity's attempt to build a city and a tower "with its top in the heavens" (Genesis 11:4). This endeavor was driven by a desire to make a name for themselves and avoid being scattered across the earth. However, God intervened, confusing their language and dispersing them, demonstrating that human attempts contrary to divine will are ultimately futile.

Attempts in Faith and Obedience

The Bible also highlights attempts made in faith and obedience to God. In Genesis 22, Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac is a profound example of an attempt rooted in faith. Abraham's readiness to obey God's command, even when it seemed to contradict God's promise, exemplifies a faithful attempt to align with divine instruction. Hebrews 11:17-19 commends Abraham's faith, noting that he "reasoned that God could raise the dead."

Attempts and Human Weakness

Scripture acknowledges human weakness and the limitations of human attempts. In Matthew 26:41 , Jesus advises His disciples, "Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak." This highlights the struggle between human intention and the frailty of the flesh, emphasizing the need for divine assistance in overcoming challenges.

Attempts at Righteousness

The Apostle Paul addresses the futility of attempting to achieve righteousness through human effort alone. In Romans 10:3 , he writes about the Israelites, "Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness." This underscores the biblical teaching that true righteousness comes through faith in Christ, not through human attempts to fulfill the law.

Attempts and Perseverance

The Bible encourages perseverance in righteous attempts, even in the face of adversity. James 1:12 states, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." This verse highlights the value of steadfastness in attempts to live a godly life, promising divine reward for those who endure.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on attempts encompasses a range of human experiences, from endeavors that align with God's will to those that fall short due to human frailty or misguided ambition. Through these narratives, the Bible teaches the importance of aligning human attempts with divine purposes, relying on God's strength, and persevering in faith.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. t.) To make trial or experiment of; to try; to endeavor to do or perform (some action); to assay; as, to attempt to sing; to attempt a bold flight.

2. (v. t.) To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to tempt.

3. (v. t.) To try to win, subdue, or overcome; as, one who attempts the virtue of a woman.

4. (v. t.) To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force; as, to attempt the enemy's camp.

5. (v. i.) To make an attempt; -- with upon.

6. (n.) A essay, trial, or endeavor; an undertaking; an attack, or an effort to gain a point; esp. an unsuccessful, as contrasted with a successful, effort.

Greek
3987. peiraomai -- to try, attempt
... to try, attempt. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: peiraomai Phonetic Spelling:
(pi-rah'-o) Short Definition: I try, attempt Definition: mid: I try, attempt ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3987.htm - 6k

2021. epicheireo -- to put one's hand to, hence to attempt
... to put one's hand to, hence to attempt. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
epicheireo Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-khi-reh'-o) Short Definition: I take in hand ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2021.htm - 6k

3985. peirazo -- to make proof of, to attempt, test, tempt
... to make proof of, to attempt, test, tempt. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
peirazo Phonetic Spelling: (pi-rad'-zo) Short Definition: I try, tempt, test ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3985.htm - 9k

3984. peira -- a trial, an experiment
... of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: peira Phonetic Spelling: (pi'-rah) Short
Definition: a trial, experiment Definition: a trial, experiment, attempt. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3984.htm - 6k

5574. pseudomai -- to lie
... to lie, speak falsely. Middle voice of an apparently primary verb; to utter
an untruth or attempt to deceive by falsehood -- falsely, lie. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5574.htm - 7k

3730. horme -- a rapid motion forwards, onrush, assault
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition a rapid motion forwards, onrush, assault
NASB Word Usage attempt (1), inclination (1). assault. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3730.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
5254. nasah -- to test, try
... adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try. A primitive root; to test; by implication,
to attempt -- adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try. 5253, 5254. nasah. 5255 ...
/hebrew/5254.htm - 6k
Library

An Attempt to Account for Jesus
... AN ATTEMPT TO ACCOUNT FOR JESUS. 'But when ... view. It was the first attempt of
unbelievers to explain where Christ's power came from. Like ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/an attempt to account for.htm

Preface. --It is Useless to Attempt to Benefit those who Will Not
... Book I. Section 1. Preface."It is useless to attempt to benefit those who
will not. accept help. It seems that the wish to benefit ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 1 preface it is useless.htm

The Attempt is Made to Distinguish Out of the Scriptures the ...
... Book XIII. Chapter 1."The Attempt is Made to Distinguish Out of the
Scriptures the Offices of Wisdom and of Knowledge. That in ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 1 the attempt is made.htm

Of the Jews; of their Attempt at Building, and of the Heaven-Sent ...
... Book III. Chapter XV."Of the Jews; of their attempt at building, and of
the heaven-sent plagues that befel them. Julian, who had ...
/.../theodoret/the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xv of the jews of.htm

Attempt to Invalidate this Rule of Faith Rebutted the Apostles ...
... The Prescription Against Heretics. Chapter XXII."Attempt to Invalidate This Rule
of Faith Rebutted The Apostles Safe Transmitters of the Truth. ...
/.../the prescription against heretics/chapter xxii attempt to invalidate this.htm

Josephus Makes an Attempt Upon Sepphoris but is Repelled. Titus ...
... CHAPTER 4. Josephus Makes An Attempt Upon Sepphoris But Is Repelled. Titus
Comes With A Great Army To Ptolemais. 1. Now the auxiliaries ...
/.../chapter 4 josephus makes an.htm

For Should any Attempt to Dispute against These Two Last Opinions. ...
... Book XII Chapter XXII For should any attempt to dispute against these two
last opinions? For should any attempt to dispute against ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xxii for should any.htm

His Unsuccessful Attempt to be Consistent with his Own Statements ...
... Book I. Section 40. His unsuccessful attempt to be consistent with his own
statements after Basil has confuted him. For notice how ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 40 his unsuccessful attempt.htm

The Pharisees Attempt to Arrest Christ. --He Warns them that they ...
... Section 194. The Pharisees attempt to arrest Christ."He warns them that they should
seek Him, but should not find Him. (John, vii., 30, seq.). ...
/.../section 194 the pharisees attempt.htm

My First Attempt Therefore, Upon any Man, to Convince Him of the ...
... [Way-1-60] My first attempt therefore, upon any man, to convince him of
the fall? My first attempt therefore, upon any man, to ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-1-60 my first attempt therefore.htm

Thesaurus
Attempt (23 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To make trial or experiment of; to try; to endeavor to do or perform (some
action); to assay; as, to attempt to sing; to attempt a bold flight. ...
/a/attempt.htm - 14k

Assay (3 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) The alloy or metal to be assayed. 7. (v.) To try; to attempt; to apply.
8. (v.) To affect. ... 11. (vi) To attempt, try, or endeavor. Int. ...
/a/assay.htm - 9k

Creeds
... certain facts which they formulate into a confession; and lastly, not content with
the outward act or the verbal interpretation of it, they attempt to express ...
/c/creeds.htm - 28k

Attempted (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Attempt. Multi-Version Concordance
Attempted (8 Occurrences). Luke 1:1 Seeing that many ...
/a/attempted.htm - 8k

Polygamy
... word polygamy. It is an attempt to cover up by the term "plural marriage"
what is not marriage and cannot be marriage. There is ...
/p/polygamy.htm - 19k

Offer (403 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To attempt; to undertake. ... 7. (vi) To present itself; to be at hand. 8. (vi)
To make an attempt; to make an essay or a trial; -- used with at. ...
/o/offer.htm - 39k

Try (84 Occurrences)
... 10. (vt) To essay; to attempt; to endeavor. ... (vi) To exert strength; to endeavor;
to make an effort or an attempt; as, you must try hard if you wish to learn. ...
/t/try.htm - 31k

Adonijah (28 Occurrences)
... 1:5-53). He afterwards made a second attempt to gain the throne, but was
seized and put to death (1 Kings 2:13-25). (2.) A Levite ...
/a/adonijah.htm - 22k

Ramothgilead (19 Occurrences)
... Kings 22:1-36). A similar attempt was afterwards made by Ahaziah and Joram,
when the latter was wounded (2 Kings 8:28). In this city ...
/r/ramothgilead.htm - 19k

Ramoth-gilead (20 Occurrences)
... Kings 22:1-36). A similar attempt was afterwards made by Ahaziah and Joram,
when the latter was wounded (2 Kings 8:28). In this city ...
/r/ramoth-gilead.htm - 20k

Resources
What is the history of the Bible in English? | GotQuestions.org

What is cultural translation? Is cultural translation needed to properly understand the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Invisible Pink Unicorn argument? | GotQuestions.org

Attempt: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Attempt (23 Occurrences)

Luke 3:13
And he said to them, Do not make an attempt to get more money than the right amount.
(BBE)

Luke 6:30
Give to everyone who comes with a request, and if a man takes away your property, make no attempt to get it back again.
(BBE)

Luke 11:53
After He had left the house, the Scribes and Pharisees commenced a vehement attempt to entangle Him and make Him give off-hand answers on numerous points,
(WEY)

Luke 12:58
For if anyone has a cause at law against you, and you are going with him before the ruler, make an attempt, on the way, to come to an agreement with him, for if you do not, he may take you before the judge and the judge will give you up to the police, and they will put you in prison.
(BBE)

Luke 13:24
Do your best to go in by the narrow door, for I say to you, A number will make the attempt to go in, but will not be able to do so.
(BBE)

Luke 17:33
If anyone makes an attempt to keep his life, it will be taken from him, but if anyone gives up his life, he will keep it.
(BBE)

Luke 19:3
Made an attempt to get a view of Jesus, and was not able to do so, because of the people, for he was a small man.
(BBE)

John 10:39
Then again they made an attempt to take him; but he got away from them.
(BBE)

Acts 9:26
So he came to Jerusalem and made several attempts to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, being in doubt as to whether he himself was a disciple.
(Root in WEY BBE RSV)

Acts 14:5
When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them,
(WEB BBE NAS RSV)

Acts 16:7
And having come to Mysia, they made an attempt to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not let them;
(BBE DBY RSV)

Acts 26:21
For this reason, the Jews took me in the Temple, and made an attempt to put me to death.
(BBE DBY)

Romans 9:16
So then, it is not by the desire or by the attempt of man, but by the mercy of God.
(BBE)

1 Corinthians 7:27
If you are married to a wife, make no attempt to get free from her: if you are free from a wife, do not take a wife.
(BBE)

Hebrews 8:7
For if that first Covenant had been free from imperfection, there would have been no attempt to introduce another.
(WEY)

Hebrews 11:29
By faith they went through the Red Sea as if it had been dry land, though the Egyptians were overcome by the water when they made an attempt to do the same.
(BBE NAS RSV)

Exodus 34:24
For I will send out the nations before you and make wide the limits of your land; and no man will make an attempt to take your land while you go up to give worship to the Lord, three times in the year.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 28:56
The eye of the tender and luxurious woman in thy midst who would not attempt to set the sole of her foot upon the ground from luxuriousness and from tenderness, shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and her son, and her daughter,
(DBY)

1 Samuel 20:33
And Saul, pointing his spear at him, made an attempt to give him a wound: from which it was clear to Jonathan that his father's purpose was to put David to death.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 21:2
Then the king sent for the Gibeonites; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but were the last of the Amorites, to whom the children of Israel had given an oath; but Saul, in his passion for the children of Israel and Judah, had made an attempt on their lives:)
(BBE)

2 Samuel 21:16
And there came against David one of the offspring of the Rephaim, whose spear was three hundred shekels of brass in weight, and having a new sword, he made an attempt to put David to death.
(BBE)

Ezra 6:12
And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall attempt to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
(WBS NAS)

Daniel 11:15
So the king of the north will come, and put up earthworks and take a well-armed town: and the forces of the king of the south will make an attempt to keep their position, even the best of his army, but they will not have strength to do so.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Attempt

Related Terms

Esarhaddon (3 Occurrences)

Confederate (3 Occurrences)

Amalekite (12 Occurrences)

Lazarus (19 Occurrences)

Passover (81 Occurrences)

Attempting (24 Occurrences)

Attempt (23 Occurrences)

Exploration

James (40 Occurrences)

Zeeb (3 Occurrences)

Knife (10 Occurrences)

Nazareth (29 Occurrences)

Needle (4 Occurrences)

Josephus

Justify (19 Occurrences)

Jericho (59 Occurrences)

Likeness (52 Occurrences)

Liking (2 Occurrences)

Liken (12 Occurrences)

Like (10728 Occurrences)

Insurrection (8 Occurrences)

Flavius

Facts (11 Occurrences)

Tarsus (5 Occurrences)

Teraphim (14 Occurrences)

Thwart (5 Occurrences)

Tertullus (2 Occurrences)

To-day's (1 Occurrence)

Tabeal (1 Occurrence)

Real (26 Occurrences)

Reservoir (1 Occurrence)

En-gedi (6 Occurrences)

Enterprise (1 Occurrence)

Eleazar (74 Occurrences)

En-gannim (3 Occurrences)

Engedi (6 Occurrences)

Engannim (3 Occurrences)

En-dor (3 Occurrences)

Endor (3 Occurrences)

Disorderly (8 Occurrences)

Demetrius (3 Occurrences)

Murder (41 Occurrences)

Mob (8 Occurrences)

Mesha (4 Occurrences)

Monthly (11 Occurrences)

Megiddon (1 Occurrence)

Migron (2 Occurrences)

Micron

Mizpeh (24 Occurrences)

Megiddo (13 Occurrences)

Proceedings (2 Occurrences)

Pergamos (1 Occurrence)

Pond (2 Occurrences)

Pergamum (2 Occurrences)

Pass (1172 Occurrences)

Bones (98 Occurrences)

Behaviour (115 Occurrences)

Bacchides

Bone (35 Occurrences)

Colossians (1 Occurrence)

Commentaries

Confusion (71 Occurrences)

Cleopatra

Christian (41 Occurrences)

Connexion (9 Occurrences)

Commerce (3 Occurrences)

Cambyses

Antiochians

Agaba

Amalek (35 Occurrences)

Ahio (6 Occurrences)

Ahaziah (34 Occurrences)

Assay (3 Occurrences)

Architecture

Aeon

Shetharboznai (4 Occurrences)

Shethar-boznai (4 Occurrences)

Succeed (47 Occurrences)

Sanballat (10 Occurrences)

At-tashheth
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