Peirazó (3895 in Strong's Concordance) is a verb in Ancient Greek that means to try, attempt, test, or tempt someone or something.
While the word can sometimes be understood as tempted, it is a broad term. Therefore, it is essential to understand how the word functions in its given context.
For example, all of the following can be found in scripture:
You can accuse someone of tempting you (James 1:13)
You can be tempted by your own desire (James 1:14)
You can be labeled as 'one who tempts' (Matthew 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:5)
You can test how somebody will respond (John 6:6)
You can be tested for how you will respond (Matthew 19:3, Mark 10:2)
You can try or attempt to do something (Acts 9:26, 16:7)
Perhaps the most remarkable example is Satan testing Jesus Christ in the wilderness. However, there are also incredibly benign uses of the word such as Paul attempting to join the disciples, or attempting to enter Bithynia. At the extreme end, a woman who tested the Lord spontaneously dies.
Related Terms
The following terms are often used in connection with peirazó:
peirazó - to test, tempt, or attempt something
ekpeirazó - to thoroughly test
peirasmos - an experiment, a trial, or a temptation
apeirastos - something or someone incapable of being tempted
Usage
Peirazó is used 39 times across 35 verses. Below is a list of all references to peirazó in the New Testament:
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 4:1 ESV
And the tempter [one tempting] came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
Matthew 4:3 ESV
And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
Matthew 16:1 ESV
And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?”
Matthew 19:3 ESV
But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?
Matthew 22:18 ESV
And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.
Matthew 22:35 ESV
And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
Mark 1:13 ESV
The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
Mark 8:11 ESV
And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
Mark 10:2 ESV
But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”
Mark 12:15 ESV
...for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.
Luke 4:2 ESV
...while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven.
Luke 11:16 ESV
He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
John 6:6 ESV
This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.
John 8:6 ESV
But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
Acts 5:9 ESV
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.
Acts 9:26 ESV
Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
Acts 15:10 ESV
And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
Acts 16:7 ESV
He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.
Acts 24:6 ESV
Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 7:5 ESV
We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents...
1 Corinthians 10:9 ESV
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Galatians 6:1 ESV
For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter [one tempting] had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
1 Thessalonians 3:5 ESV
For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:18 ESV
...where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.
Hebrews 3:9 ESV
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 ESV
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son...
Hebrews 11:17 ESV
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, [they were tempted], they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated...
Hebrews 11:37 ESV
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
James 1:13 ESV
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
James 1:14 ESV
I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.
Revelation 2:2 ESV
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 2:10 ESV
Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 3:10 ESV
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