Deception is a theme woven throughout the Bible, offering warnings and lessons. From the serpent in Eden to the Pharisees in Jesus’ time, the consequences of dishonesty are clear. Bible verses about deception expose the dangers of deceit, both for those deceiving and those being deceived.
God’s Word calls believers to truth and integrity in every aspect of life. Recognizing and overcoming deception strengthens our relationship with God. His Word is a guide against the tricks of the enemy. We see the importance of discerning truth from lies through Bible verses about deception. These scriptures encourage us to guard our hearts against deception.
Deception is often subtle, making it crucial to be vigilant and grounded in faith. The Bible equips us with wisdom to identify and reject deceit. Each verse carries a lesson to help us stay aligned with God’s truth.
Below is a carefully selected list of Bible verses about deception, offering wisdom and guidance on avoiding its traps.
List of Bible Verses About Deception
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Proverbs 12:22
“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”
Matthew 24:24
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
James 1:26
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”
Leviticus 19:11
“Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.”
John 8:44
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Psalm 101:7
“No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.”
1 Corinthians 3:18
“Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become ‘fools’ so that you may become wise.”
Jeremiah 9:5
“Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning.”
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Colossians 3:9
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.”
Proverbs 20:17
“Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.”
2 Corinthians 11:14
“And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
Zechariah 8:17
“Do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord.”
Titus 1:10
“For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.”
Micah 6:12
“Your rich people are violent; your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully.”
Galatians 6:7
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”
Psalm 119:118
“You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their delusions come to nothing.”
2 Thessalonians 2:10
“And all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”
Isaiah 32:7
“Scoundrels use wicked methods, they make up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.”
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1 Timothy 4:1
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
Proverbs 14:8
“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.”
Revelation 12:9
“The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”
Hosea 10:13
“But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception.”
Ephesians 5:6
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”
Psalm 5:6
“You destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest.”
1 John 1:8
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
Romans 16:18
“For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”
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Psalm 36:3
“The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good.”
2 Timothy 3:13
“While evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
Proverbs 24:28
“Do not testify against your neighbor without cause—would you use your lips to mislead?”
2 Peter 2:13
“They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.”
Psalm 52:2
“You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor.”
Revelation 20:3
“He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended.”
Nahum 3:1
“Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims!”
1 Corinthians 6:9
“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men.”
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Psalm 109:2
“For people who are wicked and deceitful have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues.”
1 John 2:26
“I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.”
Obadiah 1:7
“All your allies will force you to the border; your friends will deceive and overpower you; those who eat your bread will set a trap for you, but you will not detect it.”
Proverbs 27:6
“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
Ezekiel 13:6
“Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, ‘The Lord declares,’ and expect him to fulfill their words.”
Job 15:35
“They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb fashions deceit.”
Zephaniah 3:13
“They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”
Mark 7:22
“Greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.”
Amos 8:5
“Saying, “When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?”—skimping on the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales.”
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Proverbs 21:6
“A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.”
Acts 5:3
“Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?'”
1 Kings 22:23
“So now the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.”
Proverbs 19:9
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish.”
2 John 1:7
“I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.”
Isaiah 59:13
“Rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, inciting revolt and oppression, uttering lies our hearts have conceived.”
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Conclusion
Deception is a powerful tool used by the enemy. Bible verses about deception serve as a guide against its influence. These scriptures remind us to be vigilant and truthful. Embracing truth helps us resist lies and deception.
The Bible clearly shows that God values honesty and integrity. Bible verses about deception teach us to reject deceit in all forms. We are called to walk in truth, following God’s ways.
Through these verses, we learn how to protect ourselves. They guide us in discerning truth from deception, helping us stay aligned with God’s will.