The Greek verb exapatao (ἐξαπατάω) means to thoroughly deceive or completely mislead. The ex- prefix intensifies simple deception — this is not mere error but systematic, pervasive misleading. It appears six times in the New Testament.
Paul uses exapatao to describe Eve's deception by the serpent (2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:14): the serpent thoroughly deceived Eve. The word captures the totality of the Fall's epistemic damage — a fundamentally corrupted way of seeing reality. Romans 7:11 deploys exapatao for sin's operation: sin thoroughly deceived Paul. The antidote is always the Word of truth, which unmasks the deception and restores reality.