ὑπόκρισις

hypocrisy, dissembling

Definition

Hypokrisis originally meant 'acting' or 'stage-playing' in ancient Greek. In the New Testament, it refers to hypocrisy—the act of pretending to have virtues, beliefs, or feelings that one does not truly possess. This involves a deliberate concealment of one's true motives or character behind a false appearance, often of piety or righteousness. For example, Jesus condemns the religious leaders for appearing outwardly righteous while being inwardly full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matthew 23:28). In a slightly different sense, it can describe a specific act of dissembling or pretense, as seen when Peter and others acted hypocritically by withdrawing from Gentile believers (Galatians 2:13).

Biblical Usage

The word is used primarily in contexts exposing religious or moral pretense. Jesus uses it to denounce the Pharisees' outward show of piety (Matthew 23:28, Luke 12:1) and to warn against their deceptive questions (Mark 12:15). The apostolic writings apply it to false teaching and insincerity within the Christian community, such as those who abandon sound doctrine (1 Timothy 4:2), or to general malice and deceit among believers (1 Peter 2:1). James 5:12 uses it in the context of oath-taking, urging straightforward speech to avoid hypocrisy. It appears in Gospels, Pauline epistles, and general epistles, highlighting a consistent concern for authentic faith versus mere performance.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek verb ὑποκρίνομαι (hypokrinomai, G5271), meaning 'to answer, to play a part on stage, to pretend.' The noun ὑπόκρισις (hypokrisis) literally meant 'acting' or 'the playing of a role.' It comes from ὑπό (hypo, 'under') and κρίνω (krinō, 'to judge or decide'), suggesting the idea of interpreting or answering from behind a mask. In secular Greek, it was a neutral term for theatrical performance, but in the New Testament, it developed a strongly negative moral and religious sense of insincerity and pretense.

Semantic Range

Hypokrisis is theologically significant as it addresses the integrity of faith and the danger of external religiosity without internal transformation. It contrasts true righteousness, which comes from the heart, with mere performance for human approval. Jesus' condemnation of hypocrisy (e.g., Matthew 23) underscores that God values authenticity over ritual observance. Understanding this Greek term enriches Bible reading by highlighting the biblical call to genuine discipleship, warning against self-deception and challenging believers to examine their motives, ensuring their outward actions align with inward faith.

In ancient Greek culture, hypokrisis was initially a neutral term for acting in theater, where performers wore masks to play roles. This background informs its biblical usage: just as an actor pretends to be someone else, a hypocrite puts on a false spiritual mask. The New Testament repurposes this theatrical metaphor to critique religious leaders and others who perform piety without true devotion. This contrasts with modern uses of 'hypocrisy,' which often focus more on general inconsistency rather than the specific, dramatic pretense implied by the original term.

προσωπολημψία (prosōpolēmpsia, G4382) — partiality or favoritism, often shown hypocritically; ἀνυπόκριτος (anypokritos, G505) — 'unhypocritical,' describing genuine love or faith without pretense; δόλος (dolos, G1388) — deceit or treachery, focusing on cunning rather than role-playing.

Word Details

Scripture References