A pitfall, in biblical terms, often refers to a hidden or unexpected danger or difficulty that can lead to one's downfall. The concept of pitfalls is frequently used metaphorically in Scripture to describe spiritual and moral dangers that can ensnare individuals, leading them away from righteousness and into sin.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, pitfalls are often associated with traps set by enemies or the consequences of wickedness. For example, in Psalm 7:15 , it is written, "He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making." This verse illustrates the idea that those who set traps for others may ultimately fall into their own snares, highlighting the justice of God in dealing with the wicked.

Proverbs frequently warns against the pitfalls of folly and sin. Proverbs 22:5 states, "Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them." Here, pitfalls are depicted as obstacles that the wise and righteous must avoid to maintain their spiritual integrity.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, pitfalls are often related to spiritual vigilance and the need to remain steadfast in faith. Jesus warns His disciples about the dangers of temptation and the need to be watchful. In Matthew 26:41 , He advises, "Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak." This admonition underscores the importance of spiritual alertness to avoid falling into the pitfalls of sin.

The Apostle Paul also addresses the concept of pitfalls in his epistles. In 1 Timothy 6:9 , he warns, "Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction." Here, the pursuit of wealth is identified as a potential pitfall that can lead believers away from their faith and into spiritual peril.

Spiritual and Moral Implications

The Bible consistently portrays pitfalls as dangers that can lead to spiritual and moral failure. Believers are encouraged to seek wisdom and discernment to recognize and avoid these traps. In Ephesians 5:15-16 , Paul exhorts, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." This passage emphasizes the need for careful living and the avoidance of pitfalls through wise decision-making.

Practical Application

In practical terms, avoiding pitfalls requires a commitment to living according to God's Word and being guided by the Holy Spirit. Regular prayer, study of Scripture, and fellowship with other believers are essential practices that help Christians remain vigilant against the snares of the enemy. As Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This reliance on God provides the guidance necessary to navigate the potential pitfalls of life.(n.) A pit deceitfully covered to entrap wild beasts or men; a trap of any kind.6354. pachath -- a pit
... pit. Word Origin from an unused word Definition a pit NASB Word Usage caves
(1), chasm (1), pit (7), pitfall (1). hole, pit, snare. ...
/hebrew/6354.htm - 6k

The Burning of Athens.
... Thessalians."Their hostility to the Phocaeans."Defeat of the Thessalians."Phocaean
stratagem."A spectral army."Thessalian cavalry."Pitfall for the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter x the burning of.htm

Light after Darkness
... The night made a wall ahead of him which was imminent and indiscernible. It was
like a great weight upon his shoulders and a pitfall at his feet. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxxv light after darkness.htm

Letter v. To an Unknown Person, Entreating Him to Deal Gently with ...
... to show favor to good intentions, so that he who, by the goodness of God, has entered
on a pious duty, should not be forced to sink into the pitfall of the ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /letter v to an unknown.htm

Man was to be Rescued from the Power of the Devil, not by Power ...
... And compared to this, the power, how great soever, of those men who are called powerful
on earth, is found to be ridiculous weakness, and a pitfall is dug ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 13 man was to be.htm

The Answer on the Devil's Illusion, Because He Promises us the ...
... that despise Me shall be contemned." [2322] But you ought to know that this is the
subtlest device of the devil, this is his best concealed pitfall, into which ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xix the answer on.htm

How those are to be Admonished who Commit Very Small but Frequent ...
... standing outwardly, and lest, according to the retribution of the strict judge,
elation on account of lesser righteousness become a way to the pitfall of more ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xxxiii how those are.htm

Of Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium.
... who has kept clear of lascivious passion is fixed fast in the toils of avarice;
and if he prove superior to greed there on the other side is the pitfall of envy ...
/.../chapter xvi of amphilochius bishop of.htm

The Cry of the Lost Answered
... And listen'd for its bleating night and day. Lost in a pitfall, yet alive
it lay,. To breathe the faint sad call that He would know; ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cccci the cry of the.htm

He Seeks Rest in God, and Pardon of his Sins.
... Better the precipice than the pitfall; better the tortures of curable disease than
the painlessness of mortification; and so, whatever your soul's guilt and ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter v he seeks rest in.htm

How the Preacher, when He Has Accomplished all Aright, Should ...
... Whence it is brought about, that before the eyes of the just judge the memory of
virtue is a pitfall of the soul; because, in calling to mind what it has done ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/part iv how the preacher.htm

Pitfall (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A pit deceitfully covered to entrap wild beasts or
men; a trap of any kind. Multi-Version Concordance Pitfall (3 Occurrences). ...
/p/pitfall.htm - 7k

Pitchers (12 Occurrences)

/p/pitchers.htm - 10k

Pit (110 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) Any abyss; especially, the grave, or Hades. 6. (n.) A covered deep hole
for entrapping wild beasts; a pitfall; hence, a trap; a snare. ...
/p/pit.htm - 41k

Pitfalls (2 Occurrences)

/p/pitfalls.htm - 6k

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