Pronunciation Guide: pag-id-YOO-oh
Quick Answer: παγιδεύω means “to ensnare” or “entangle” through clever questioning designed to trap someone in their own words. In Matthew 22:15, the Pharisees plotted to use this tactic against the Messiah, attempting to create a verbal trap that would incriminate Him. This word reveals both human cunning and divine wisdom.
What Does παγιδεύω Mean?
Strong’s G3802: παγιδεύω represents the calculated attempt to ensnare someone through strategic verbal manipulation, specifically designed to elicit incriminating responses. This word appears only once in the New Testament at Matthew 22:15, where the Pharisees “took counsel how they might entangle him [παγιδεύσωσιν] in his talk.” The term encompasses the deliberate construction of verbal traps intended to force the target into impossible positions where any answer becomes self-incriminating. In the context of Matthew 22, this reveals the religious leaders’ desperate attempt to discredit יהוה’s anointed Messiah through cunning rather than confronting His teachings directly. The word exposes the contrast between human scheming and divine wisdom, as the Messiah’s responses consistently turned their traps back upon themselves.
Key Insight: True wisdom cannot be ensnared by human cunning—it exposes and transforms the trapper’s own heart.
Where Does παγιδεύω Come From?
- Part of Speech: Verb (transitive)
- Root Words: Derived from παγίς (pagis – G3803) meaning “snare” or “trap”
- Language Origin: Koine Greek, specifically biblical usage
- Primary Usage: Metaphorical trapping through words or questions
- Hebrew Equivalents: פַח (pach – trap), יָקַשׁ (yaqash – to lay snares)
What Is the Historical and Cultural Context of παγιδεύω?
Etymology and Development
παγιδεύω derives from the noun παγίς, which originally described physical hunting traps—devices designed to catch birds or animals unaware. The lexicographers note this as “a word unknown to the Greeks” in classical literature, indicating its specialized development within Hellenistic Jewish contexts. The root παγίς itself comes from πήγνυμι (to make fast, to fix), emphasizing the concept of something that holds or restrains its victim securely.
Cultural and Historical Significance
In the first-century Holy Land, verbal entrapment was a recognized rhetorical technique used by religious and political opponents. The Pharisees and Herodians, though normally opposed to each other, united against the Messiah, demonstrating the calculated nature of their plot. The taxation question they posed was particularly crafted: answering “yes” would alienate Jewish patriots who resented Roman occupation, while answering “no” could be construed as sedition against Caesar.
Septuagint Connections
The word appears in the Septuagint in metaphorical contexts, particularly describing attempts to elicit incriminating remarks. References include Ecclesiastes 9:12 for literally ensnaring birds, and metaphorical usage in Proverbs 6:2 regarding being trapped by one’s own words. This biblical usage pattern shows how the term evolved from describing physical snares to describing the more sophisticated trap of verbal manipulation.
Historical Summary: παγιδεύω evolved from hunting terminology to describe the sophisticated art of verbal entrapment used in religious and political conflicts.
How Is παγιδεύω Used in the Bible?
New Testament Usage Pattern
παγιδεύω appears only once in the New Testament, making Matthew 22:15 its sole biblical occurrence. However, its root word παγίς appears five times, consistently describing snares or traps—both literal and metaphorical. The singular usage in Matthew creates dramatic emphasis, highlighting the significance of this particular confrontation between religious authorities and the Messiah.
The grammatical form παγιδεύσωσιν (aorist active subjunctive, third person plural) indicates purposeful intention combined with uncertainty of outcome. The subjunctive mood reveals the Pharisees’ recognition that their success was not guaranteed—they hoped to trap Him but acknowledged the possibility of failure.
Theological Significance
The word’s usage reveals divine sovereignty over human scheming. While the religious leaders plotted to ensnare the Messiah, their attempts consistently backfired, exposing their own spiritual bankruptcy instead. This demonstrates the principle that wisdom from above cannot be caught by earthly cunning.
Usage Summary: παγιδεύω appears once but powerfully, emphasizing the futility of human schemes against divine wisdom and revealing character through attempted deception.
- Matthew 22:15 – “Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him [παγιδεύσωσιν] in his talk.”
How Should παγιδεύω Be Translated?
Primary Meanings:
- To ensnare or entrap (metaphorically)
- To entangle through verbal manipulation
- To catch in a trap of words
- To set a verbal snare
- To plot verbal entrapment
Translation Tip: Context determines whether emphasis falls on the plotting aspect, the execution of the trap, or the intended outcome of verbal entanglement.
παγιδεύω Translation Options:
| Translation | Context | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| “Entangle” | General verbal trapping | Emphasizes the complex, binding nature of the verbal snare |
| “Ensnare” | Deliberate plotting context | Highlights the predatory, hunting-like aspect of the action |
| “Trap” | Simple, direct contexts | Focuses on the mechanism rather than the process |
| “Catch in words” | Explanatory translations | Makes the verbal nature explicit for modern readers |
| “Set a trap for” | When emphasizing preparation | Highlights the premeditated, strategic planning involved |
What Does παγιδεύω Teach Us About God?
Divine Wisdom Transcends Human Cunning
The attempt to παγιδεύω the Messiah reveals יהוה’s infinite wisdom compared to human scheming. Every attempt to trap the Messiah resulted in His opponents being confounded instead, demonstrating that divine wisdom cannot be overcome by earthly cunning. This teaches us that יהוה’s understanding operates on a completely different level from human manipulation and political maneuvering.
God’s Justice Exposes Hearts
The word παγιδεύω reveals how יהוה uses even hostile questioning to expose the true condition of human hearts. The Pharisees’ attempt to trap the Messiah became a mirror reflecting their own spiritual poverty, pride, and rejection of truth. This shows us that יהוה’s justice is not merely punitive but revelatory—it brings hidden motivations and character into the light.
Divine Protection of Truth
The failure of every attempt to παγιδεύω the Messiah demonstrates יהוה’s protective sovereignty over His truth and His anointed ones. No human scheme, regardless of its sophistication or the coalition behind it, can ultimately succeed against יהוה’s purposes. This provides comfort to believers facing opposition and assurance that truth will ultimately prevail over deception.
Theological Core: Divine wisdom transforms every human trap into an opportunity to reveal truth and expose deception.
How Can I Apply παγιδεύω to My Life?
Guard Against Verbal Manipulation
Understanding παγιδεύω alerts us to recognize when others attempt to trap us through loaded questions or manipulative dialogue. Like the Messiah, we should respond with wisdom rather than react emotionally to verbal snares. This requires developing discernment to identify when conversations have shifted from genuine dialogue to strategic entrapment.
Examine Our Own Motives
The Pharisees’ attempt to παγιδεύω the Messiah challenges us to examine whether we ever approach others with hidden agendas or manipulative questions. The Holy Spirit calls us to communicate with integrity, seeking truth rather than victory in our conversations. When we find ourselves crafting clever questions designed to embarrass or trap others, we should recognize this as contrary to the spirit of the Messiah.
Self-Examination Questions: Am I ever tempted to trap others with my words? Do I seek truth or victory in difficult conversations? How can I respond with wisdom when others attempt to ensnare me verbally?
What Words Are Similar to παγιδεύω?
- παγίς (pagis) – “snare, trap” – The root noun describing the physical or metaphorical trap itself rather than the action of trapping – See G3803
- θηρεύω (thereuo) – “to hunt, catch” – Describes hunting or catching in general, less specifically focused on verbal entrapment – See G2340
- δολιόω (dolioo) – “to deceive, use deceit” – Emphasizes deception rather than entrapment through questioning – See G1387
- πειράζω (peirazo) – “to test, tempt, try” – Can involve testing through questions but lacks the specific trapping intention – See G3985
- συλλαμβάνω (syllambano) – “to seize, catch, conceive” – General term for catching or seizing, not specifically through verbal means – See G4815
Did You Know?
- What does παγιδεύω mean in modern Greek? The word has largely disappeared from common usage, but related terms still describe trapping or ensnaring, particularly in metaphorical contexts.
- How did classical authors use παγιδεύω? Interestingly, Thayer notes this was “a word unknown to the Greeks” in classical literature, making it uniquely biblical in its development and usage.
- What’s the difference between παγιδεύω and πειράζω? While πειράζω can involve testing through questions, παγιδεύω specifically implies creating a verbal trap designed to incriminate the respondent regardless of their answer.
- Why does the Bible use παγιδεύω in Matthew 22:15? The word choice emphasizes the calculated, predatory nature of the Pharisees’ strategy—they weren’t seeking truth but attempting to create an impossible situation for the Messiah.
- How does παγιδεύω relate to divine sovereignty? The word demonstrates that human attempts to trap divine wisdom inevitably backfire, revealing יהוה’s sovereignty over human scheming and the superiority of heavenly wisdom.
- What causes verbal entrapment attempts today? Pride, fear of losing arguments, desire for control, and rejection of truth often motivate people to use manipulative questioning rather than engaging in honest dialogue.
- The aorist subjunctive form παγιδεύσωσιν reveals uncertainty – Even the Pharisees recognized their trap might fail, showing their subconscious awareness of the Messiah’s superior wisdom.
Remember This
When human cunning meets divine wisdom, the trap becomes a mirror—revealing not the intended victim’s weakness, but the trapper’s own spiritual poverty and desperate need for the very truth they sought to destroy.
