tempters

A tempter is a person or agent who induces another to engage in behavior they would ordinarily avoid, often by appealing to desire, fear, or social gain. In secular contexts the term can refer to anyone who entices others toward wrongdoing or imprudence, whether through persuasion, pressure, or deception.

Historically, the word derives from Latin tentare via Old French tenter, related to testing or trying. The concept is closely associated with temptation as a moral or spiritual test.

Religious contexts: In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, tempters appear as beings or forces that try to lead humans away from righteousness. In the Hebrew Bible, the serpent and the figure of Satan are described as temptations; in Christian tradition Satan is often called the Tempter. In Islam, Iblis or Shaytan is viewed as the tempter who invites humans to sin while remaining under God’s sovereignty.

Cultural usage: The tempter motif appears in literature, theology, and film as a source of conflict, challenging characters’ virtue and resolve. The theme is used to explore choice, consequence, and moral responsibility.

Psychological perspective: Temptation is studied in ethics and psychology as a problem of self-control, desire, and vulnerability. Research explores how context, cognitive biases, and social influence shape susceptibility and the efficacy of self-regulation strategies.