In biblical terms, the concept of a "lure" often relates to the idea of temptation and enticement, drawing individuals away from righteousness and towards sin. The Bible frequently addresses the dangers of being lured by worldly desires, false teachings, and the deceitfulness of sin.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides numerous examples of individuals and nations being lured away from God's commandments. In Genesis 3, the serpent lures Eve into disobedience by questioning God's command and promising wisdom: "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5). This initial act of being lured into sin sets the stage for humanity's ongoing struggle with temptation.

The Israelites, during their journey to the Promised Land, were repeatedly lured into idolatry and rebellion. In Numbers 25, the Moabite women lure the Israelites into worshiping Baal of Peor, leading to God's anger and a subsequent plague: "While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices for their gods" (Numbers 25:1-2).

Wisdom Literature

The wisdom literature of the Old Testament, particularly the Book of Proverbs, frequently warns against the lure of sinful behavior. Proverbs 1:10-16 advises against being enticed by sinners: "My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, 'Come along with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause... do not walk in the way with them; keep your foot from their path" (Proverbs 1:10-11, 15).

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the theme of being lured by temptation continues, with a focus on spiritual vigilance and the need for discernment. James 1:14-15 describes the process of being lured into sin: "But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death" (James 1:14-15).

Jesus Himself warns against the lure of wealth and worldly concerns in the Parable of the Sower. In Matthew 13:22, He explains, "The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful" (Matthew 13:22).

Apostolic Warnings

The apostles also caution believers about the lure of false teachings and immoral behavior. In 2 Peter 2:18-19, Peter warns of false teachers who "entice by fleshly desires and debauchery those who are barely escaping from others who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to corruption" (2 Peter 2:18-19).

Paul, in his letters, frequently admonishes believers to remain steadfast and not be lured by deceptive philosophies or empty deceit. In Colossians 2:8, he writes, "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, rather than according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8).

Spiritual Armor and Resistance

The Bible encourages believers to resist the lure of temptation by putting on the full armor of God. Ephesians 6:11 exhorts, "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes" (Ephesians 6:11). This spiritual armor includes truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Word of God, equipping believers to withstand the lures of the enemy.

Throughout Scripture, the concept of a lure serves as a reminder of the constant spiritual battle faced by believers. It underscores the importance of vigilance, discernment, and reliance on God's strength to resist the enticements that lead away from a life of holiness and obedience to God.1. (n.) A contrivance somewhat resembling a bird, and often baited with raw meat; -- used by falconers in recalling hawks.

2. (n.) Any enticement; that which invites by the prospect of advantage or pleasure; a decoy.

3. (n.) A velvet smoothing brush.

4. (n.) To draw to the lure; hence, to allure or invite by means of anything that promises pleasure or advantage; to entice; to attract.

5. (v. i.) To recall a hawk or other animal.

1185. deleazo -- to lure
... to lure. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: deleazo Phonetic Spelling:
(del-eh-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I allure, entice by a bait Definition: I allure ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1185.htm - 6k

538. apatao -- to deceive
... 538 (from 539 ) -- properly, , like seduction, giving , etc. 538 ("lure into
deception") emphasizes the to bring in error (delusion). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/538.htm - 7k

1389. doloo -- to ensnare, fig. to adulterate
... Cognate: 1389 (from 1388 , "bait") -- properly, to lure (or snare) -- holding out
the worm and concealing the hook!; ; "primarily, ; then to corrupt -- used of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1389.htm - 7k

1387. dolioo -- to deceive
... Cognate: 1387 (from 1388 , "bait") -- properly, to lure, using to pull someone in;
to deceive, preying on people who are blinded by their own bitterness, greed ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1387.htm - 6k

3369. yaqosh -- to lay a bait or lure
... 3368, 3369. yaqosh. 3370 . to lay a bait or lure. Transliteration: yaqosh Phonetic
Spelling: (yaw-koshe') Short Definition: snared. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/3369.htm - 6k

4170. moqesh -- a bait or lure, a snare
... 4169, 4170. moqesh or moqesh. 4171 . a bait or lure, a snare. Transliteration:
moqesh or moqesh Phonetic Spelling: (mo-kashe') Short Definition: snare. ...
/hebrew/4170.htm - 6k

6983. qush -- to lay bait or lure
... to lay bait or lure. Transliteration: qush Phonetic Spelling: (koshe) Short Definition:
ensnare. ... root Definition to lay bait or lure NASB Word Usage ensnare (1). ...
/hebrew/6983.htm - 6k

But Perhaps Some one is Alarmed at Hearing us Discourse of the ...
... it were a hook concealed beneath the form and fashion of human flesh (He being,
as the Apostle Paul says, "found in fashion as a man"), might lure on the ...
/.../16 but perhaps some one.htm

The Paradoxes of Christianity
... round after all. The earth itself is shaped like an orange in order to lure
some simple astronomer into calling it a globe. A blade ...
/.../chesterton/orthodoxy/vi the paradoxes of christianity.htm

Special Efforts
... front light. The devil should not lure men to destruction with a brighter
light than that by which she showed the way to Heaven! Soon ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/vi special efforts.htm

Excess in Dress, as Well as in Personal Culture, to be Shunned ...
... Those times of life, in fact, which are at last blest with quiet and withdrawn into
the harbour of modesty, the splendour and dignity of dress lure away (from ...
/.../tertullian/on the apparel of women/chapter ix excess in dress as.htm

God Neither Known nor Loved by the World
... They hear me not"alas! how fond to rove. In endless chase of folly's specious
lure! 'Tis here alone, beneath this shady grove,. ...
/.../god neither known nor loved.htm

First Tractate.
... That great soul must stand pictured before another soul, one not mean, a soul that
has become worthy to look, emancipate from the lure, from all that binds its ...
//christianbookshelf.org/plotinus/the six enneads/first tractate 5.htm

Tapestry Threads.
... them. He couldn't withstand the pull of the crowd. The lure of its intense
need was irresistible to Him. Yet He knew crowds rarely. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/tapestry threads.htm

The First Lie.
... Sometimes we have found ourselves wishing Eve had died with the fruit in her mouth,
instead of living to do the devil's work, and lure her loved husband to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/lviii the first lie.htm

To Miss Mitford: Authoress of 'Our Village'
... The same examples lure, You in each woodland, me on breezy moor" With kindred aim
the same sweet path along, To knit in loving knowledge rich and poor. ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/to miss mitford authoress of.htm

The Image of God.
... Jesus is God giving the race a new Leader who would withstand the lure of temptation
and realize the ambition of God's heart for His darling. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/the image of god.htm

Lure (2 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) To draw to the lure; hence, to allure or invite by means of anything that
promises pleasure or advantage; to entice; to attract. ...Lure (2 Occurrences). ...
/l/lure.htm - 7k

Old (3966 Occurrences)
... This is what the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 2:17) means.
The tree by its very name was alike a test and a lure. ...
/o/old.htm - 101k

Testament (13 Occurrences)
... This is what the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 2:17) means.
The tree by its very name was alike a test and a lure. ...
/t/testament.htm - 101k

Luncheon (1 Occurrence)

/l/luncheon.htm - 7k

Lured (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Lure. Multi-Version Concordance
Lured (3 Occurrences). James 1:14 But each one is tempted ...
/l/lured.htm - 7k

Train (17 Occurrences)
... enticement; allurement. 10. (v.) Hence, something tied to a lure to entice
a hawk; also, a trap for an animal; a snare. 11. (v.) That ...
/t/train.htm - 14k

Trap (35 Occurrences)
... men." Isaiah 42:22 uses this expression, "snared in holes." This might mean that
a snare was placed in a hole, or that the hole was the snare to lure bird or ...
/t/trap.htm - 19k

Beguile (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To delude by guile, artifice, or craft;
to deceive or impose on, as by a false statement; to lure. ...
/b/beguile.htm - 10k

Bait (3 Occurrences)
... to a hook, snare, enclosure, or net. 2. (vi) Anything which allures; a
lure; enticement; temptation. 3. (n.) A portion of food or ...
/b/bait.htm - 8k

Allure (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To attempt to draw; to tempt by a lure or bait, that is, by the offer of
some good, real or apparent; to invite by something flattering or acceptable ...
/a/allure.htm - 7k

How is the fear of man a snare (Proverbs 29:25)? | GotQuestions.org

Why did Jesus mention the tower of Siloam in Luke 13:4? | GotQuestions.org

What is spiritual adultery? | GotQuestions.org

Lure: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus