ὑποκρίνομαι

I act the part, pretend

Definition

The verb ὑποκρίνομαι primarily means 'to act a part, pretend, or feign.' In its most common sense, it describes someone presenting a false appearance or pretending to be something they are not, often with a negative moral connotation. In the New Testament, this meaning is vividly illustrated in Luke 20:20, where spies 'pretended' to be sincere inquirers to trap Jesus. While the word can also carry the neutral, classical Greek sense of 'to answer' or 'to interpret,' this usage is not found in the biblical text; the New Testament exclusively employs it to denote hypocrisy or deceitful acting.

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ὑποκρίνομαι is used only once, in Luke 20:20. Here, it describes the deliberate, deceptive strategy of religious authorities who sent spies to question Jesus, pretending to be honest men in order to catch him in his words. This singular occurrence is part of a narrative highlighting the opposition Jesus faced, where hypocrisy is a tool used against him. The related noun ὑπόκρισις (hypocrisy) appears more frequently, but the verb itself captures the specific action of engaging in such pretense.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek ὑπό (under) and κρίνω (to judge, decide), the verb originally meant 'to answer' or 'to interpret,' as an actor would interpret a role. From this theatrical root—an actor speaking from under a mask—the meaning developed to signify 'playing a part' or 'feigning,' which is the sense carried into the New Testament. This etymological background enriches our understanding of biblical hypocrisy as a performance of false piety.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it directly addresses the sin of hypocrisy, a major theme in Jesus' teachings against religious pretense (e.g., Matthew 23). Understanding ὑποκρίνομαι as 'acting a part' underscores the contrast between external religious performance and genuine, internal faith. It enriches Bible reading by highlighting the seriousness with which God views authenticity of heart versus mere outward appearance, a core concern in the prophetic and gospel traditions.

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, the word was closely tied to the theater, where actors (ὑποκριταί) performed roles by speaking from behind masks. This cultural association would have been immediately familiar to New Testament readers, making the metaphor of 'hypocrisy' as playing a false role particularly powerful. The modern understanding of a 'hypocrite' has lost this vivid theatrical imagery, but the original context paints hypocrisy as a conscious, dramatic performance of deceit.

προσποιέομαι (prospoieomai, G4364) — also means to pretend or make a show, but can imply a more active feigning of a condition. ὑπόκρισις (hypokrisis, G5272) — the noun form, meaning 'hypocrisy' or 'pretense,' denoting the state or quality. ἀνυπόκριτος (anypokritos, G505) — an adjective meaning 'unhypocritical' or 'sincere,' showing the opposite quality.

Word Details

Scripture References