The word guile may date back as early as the 12th century, but is not very common in our vernacular today. At first it seemed to me this might mean “lies,” but there is more to it. Webster defines it as “deceitful cunning : duplicity.” This doesn’t get us very far unless we understand those words too:
- deceitful – having a tendency or disposition to deceive, not honest, deceptive, misleading
- cunning – dexterous or crafty in the use of special resources (as skill or knowledge) or in attaining an end, characterized by wiliness and trickery
- duplicity – contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially : the belying of one’s true intentions by deceptive words or action
The word comes from the Middle English gile, from Anglo-French. It’s related to the Old English/French wigle or wigila, which refer to sorcery or witchcraft. It’s also related to the Old English word wil or wile, meaning a trick.
Of course, one derivation of the word is beguile, which is the verb form of the word, meaning “to lead by deception, hoodwink (to deceive by false appearance)” or “to influence by trickery, flattery, etc.; mislead; delude.”
Another way to learn about the word is to see how it is used in the scriptures. Here are a few examples:
- Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings…
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (1 Peter 2:1, 21-22) - Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. (Psalms 32:3)
- Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. (Psalms 34:13)
- Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! (John 1:47)
- For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: (Thessalonians 2:3)
- For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: (1 Peter 3:10)
- And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. (Revelations 14:5)
One of the most predominant uses of the word is in the beguiling of Eve in the Garden of Eden. For an excellent treatment of this subject, I would recommend Jeffrey M. Bradshaw’s recent article on Meridian Magazine, “Was Eve Beguiled?“