Definition and Nature:
Trickery, in the biblical context, refers to the act of deception, cunning, or deceit to achieve a particular end. It often involves misleading others through falsehoods or manipulation. The Bible presents trickery as contrary to the nature of God, who is characterized by truth and righteousness.

Biblical Instances of Trickery:

1. Jacob and Esau: One of the most notable instances of trickery in the Bible is the account of Jacob and Esau. Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, deceives his father Isaac to receive the blessing meant for his brother Esau. Genesis 27:35 states, "But Isaac replied, 'Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.'"

2. Laban's Deception: Jacob himself becomes a victim of trickery when his uncle Laban deceives him. After working seven years to marry Rachel, Jacob is tricked into marrying Leah instead. Genesis 29:25 recounts Jacob's realization: "So in the morning there was Leah! 'What is this you have done to me?' said Jacob to Laban. 'Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?'"

3. The Gibeonites: In Joshua 9, the Gibeonites use trickery to make a treaty with Israel. They pretend to be from a distant land to avoid destruction. Joshua 9:4 describes their actions: "they acted with cunning and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended."

4. Delilah and Samson: Delilah's deceitful actions towards Samson, as recorded in Judges 16, highlight personal betrayal. She repeatedly seeks to discover the secret of his strength to hand him over to the Philistines. Judges 16:15 shows her manipulation: "Then she said to him, 'How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times and have not told me where your great strength lies.'"

Moral and Ethical Implications:

The Bible consistently portrays trickery as a negative trait, often leading to conflict, broken relationships, and divine disapproval. Proverbs 12:22 states, "Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight." This verse underscores the value God places on truthfulness and integrity.

Consequences of Trickery:

1. Broken Trust: Trickery often results in a loss of trust, as seen in the relationship between Jacob and Esau. The deceit led to years of estrangement and conflict between the brothers.

2. Divine Judgment: The Bible warns of divine judgment against deceitful actions. In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira face severe consequences for their deceit regarding the sale of their property.

3. Personal Downfall: Trickery can lead to one's downfall, as illustrated by the account of Haman in the Book of Esther. His deceitful plot against the Jews ultimately leads to his own demise.

God's Call to Truthfulness:

The Bible calls believers to live lives marked by truth and honesty. Ephesians 4:25 exhorts, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another." This call to truthfulness reflects the character of God and the ethical standards expected of His people.

Conclusion:
While the Bible records numerous instances of trickery, it consistently upholds truth and integrity as virtues to be pursued. Believers are encouraged to reject deceit and embrace honesty in their dealings with others, reflecting the nature of a holy and truthful God.(n.) A trick used to deceive; artifice; stratagem; fraud; imposture.2940. kubeia -- dice playing
... dice playing. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kubeia Phonetic Spelling:
(koo-bi'-ah) Short Definition: trickery, sleight Definition: (lit ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2940.htm - 6k

3180. methodeia -- craft, deceit
... scheming, trickery. From a compound of meta and hodeuo (compare "method"); travelling
over, ie Travesty (trickery) -- wile, lie in wait. see GREEK meta. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3180.htm - 7k

3834. panourgia -- cleverness, craftiness
... Word Origin from panourgos Definition cleverness, craftiness NASB Word Usage
craftiness (4), trickery (1). cunning, craftiness, subtilty. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3834.htm - 7k

2686. katasophizomai -- to deal craftily with
... with. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katasophizomai Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-as-of-id'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I circumvent by trickery Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2686.htm - 6k

1388. dolos -- a bait, fig. craft, deceit
... 1388 -- properly, bait; (figuratively) deceit (trickery) using to ("hook")
people, especially those in , (brought on by themselves). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1388.htm - 7k

539. apate -- deceit
... Cognate: 539 -- a false impression, made to deceive or cheat -- ie deceit motivated
by guile and treachery (trickery, fraud). See 538 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/539.htm - 6k

698. orbah -- an artifice
... 697, 698. orbah. 699 . an artifice. Transliteration: orbah Phonetic Spelling:
(or-ob-aw') Short Definition: trickery. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/698.htm - 6k

6122. oqbah -- insidiousness
... subtilty. Feminine of an unused form from aqab meaning a trick; trickery -- subtilty.
see HEBREW aqab. 6121b, 6122. oqbah. 6123 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6122.htm - 6k

6195. ormah -- craftiness, prudence
... guile, prudence, subtilty, wilily, wisdom. Feminine of orem; trickery; or (in a
good sense) discretion -- guile, prudence, subtilty, wilily, wisdom. ...
/hebrew/6195.htm - 6k

Argument: Octavius Arranges his Reply, and Trusts that He Shall be ...
... But in my friend Natalis"I will not allow, I do not believe in, any
chicanery"far from his simplicity is crafty trickery. [1761] What then? ...
/.../the octavius of minucius felix/chapter xvi argument octavius arranges his.htm

Can Our Dead Speak to Us?
... But while it is true that the results of trickery have often been palmed off as
genuine manifestations, there have been, also, marked exhibitions of ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 34 can our dead.htm

Spiritualism.
... But while it is true that the results of trickery have often been palmed off as
genuine manifestations, there have been, also, marked exhibitions of ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /34 spiritualism.htm

Treatise on Good Works
... For the greatest of all questions has been raised, the question of Good Works; in
which is practised immeasurably more trickery and deception than in anything ...
/.../luther/a treatise on good works/treatise on good works.htm

The Testament of Reuben Concerning Thoughts.
... the gall. The fourth (4) is the spirit of fawning and trickery, that through
over-officiousness a man may be fair in seeming. The ...
/.../i the testament of reuben concerning.htm

Letter viii. Who are the Cultivated?
... rich but uncultivated" is regarded as a greater slur upon the social standing of
families than to be reported as having gained wealth by dishonesty or trickery ...
/.../letter viii who are the.htm

God's Peace Obtained in Answer to Prayer
... Prince of Peace. Jesus was never excited and perturbed by the trickery and
hypocrisy of the religious leaders of His day. He never ...
/.../anderson/prayer availeth much/chapter 3 gods peace obtained.htm

The Songs of the Fugitive.
... He is far more buoyant when he is an exile once more in the wilderness, and when
the masks of plot and trickery are fallen, and the danger stands clear before ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/xv the songs of the.htm

Definition of Actual Grace
... It was by such trickery that their leader succeeded in persuading the bishops assembled
at the Council of Diospolis or Lydda (AD415) that his teaching was ...
/.../pohle/grace actual and habitual/section 1 definition of actual.htm

Chapter eleven
... the nomination and election of good men, and plunge into the very depths of the
entire horrible whirlpool of deceit, bribery, political trickery and saloonism ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter eleven.htm

Trickery (5 Occurrences)
... imposture. Multi-Version Concordance Trickery (5 Occurrences). Luke 20:23
But he saw through their trick and said to them, (See NAS). ...
/t/trickery.htm - 7k

Jugglery
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Sleight of hand; trickery; deception. 2. (n.)
Trickery; imposture; as, political jugglery. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/j/jugglery.htm - 6k

Tricked (25 Occurrences)

/t/tricked.htm - 13k

Knavery (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Dishonesty; deceitfulness; petty tricks; fraud;
trickery; as, a knavish action. 2. (n.) Roguish or mischievous tricks. ...
/k/knavery.htm - 7k

Wiles (3 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness ...
/w/wiles.htm - 7k

Infants (71 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness ...
/i/infants.htm - 28k

Fleece (6 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To strip of money or other property unjustly, especially by trickery
or fraud; to bring to straits by oppressions and exactions. ...
/f/fleece.htm - 9k

Tossed (19 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness ...
/t/tossed.htm - 12k

Tricking (2 Occurrences)

/t/tricking.htm - 7k

Deed (71 Occurrences)
... to wicked deed, crime, a meaning which is frequently associated with the plural
of praxis (compare English "practices" in the sense of trickery; so often in ...
/d/deed.htm - 30k

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