Hypocrite

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Hypocrite . This word occurs in the NT only in the Synoptic Gospels; but ‘hypocrisy’ is used in the Epistles (  Galatians 2:13 ,   1 Timothy 4:2 ,   1 Peter 2:1 ), and the verb ‘to play the hypocrite’ in   Luke 20:20 (tr. [Note: translate or translation.] ‘feigned’). The hypocrisy of the Gospels is the ‘appearing before men what one ought to be, but is not, before God.’ At times it is a deliberately played part ( e.g.   Matthew 6:2;   Matthew 6:5;   Matthew 6:16;   Matthew 22:18 etc.), at others it is a deception of which the actor himself is unconscious ( e.g.   Mark 7:6 ,   Luke 6:42;   Luke 12:56 etc.). Thus, according to Christ, all who play the part of religion, whether consciously or unconsciously, without being religious, are hypocrites; and so fall under His sternest denunciation (  Matthew 23:1-39 ). This meaning of the word has led some to give it the wider interpretation of ‘godlessness’ in some passages ( e.g.   Matthew 24:51; cf.   Luke 12:46 ); but as there may always be seen in the word the idea of a religious cloak over the godlessness, the ordinary sense should stand.

In the AV [Note: Authorized Version.] of OT ( e.g.   Job 8:13 ,   Isaiah 9:17 ) ‘hypocrite’ is a mistranslation of the Heb. word chânçph . It passed into the AV [Note: Authorized Version.] from the Latin, which followed the Greek Versions. In RV [Note: Revised Version.] it is rendered ‘godless,’ ‘profane.’

Charles T. P. Grierson.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Ὑποκριτής (Strong'S #5273 — Noun Masculine — hupokrites — hoop-ok-ree-tace' )

corresponding to the above, primarily denotes "one who answers;" then, "a stage-actor;" it was a custom for Greek and Roman actors to speak in large masks with mechanical devices for augmenting the force of the voice; hence the word became used metaphorically of "a dissembler, a hypocrite." It is found only in the Synoptists, and always used by the Lord, fifteen times in Matthew; elsewhere,  Mark 7:6;  Luke 6:42;  11:44 (in some mss.); 12:56; 13:15.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

The general acceptation of this word, and the character of the person under the influence of hypocrisy, is not well understood. We perfectly, well apprehend, that an hypocrite, and especially in religion, means one that wishes to be thought what he is not, and takes pains to impose upon others a seeming sanctity of character, which, in fact, his heart is a stranger to. This is the supposed meaning of an hypocrite, and this, as far as it goes, is right; but this is not all. For the full arid complete description of the character is, when he imposeth upon himself also: this is the finishing of the term hypocrisy. And very awful is it to say, that the deception is but too possible. Our Lord's expression is solemn to this amount. ( Luke 12:1-2) "Beware ye of the leaven of the pharisees, which is hypocrisy: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known." Hence that most interesting desire of the soul as expressed by David, "cleanse thou me from secret faults." ( Psalms 19:12)

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

a word from the Greek, which signifies one who feigns to be what he is not; who puts on a masque or character, like actors in tragedies and comedies. It is generally applied to those who assume appearances of a virtue, without possessing it in reality. Our Saviour accused the Pharisees of hypocrisy. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word caneph, which is rendered "hypocrite," "counterfeit," signifies also a profane wicked man, a man polluted, corrupted, a man of impiety, a deceiver. It was ingeniously said by Basil, that the hypocrite did not put off the old man, but put the new man upon it.

King James Dictionary

HYP'OCRITE, n.

1. One who feigns to be what he is not one who has the form of godliness without the power, or who assumes an appearance of piety and virtue, when he is destitute of true religion.

And the hypocrite's hope shall perish.  Job 8

2. A dissembler one who assumes a false appearance.

Fair hypocrite, you seek to cheat in vain.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One who, like a stage-player, feigns to be what he is not. The epithet is generally applied to those who assume the appearance of virtue or piety, without possessing the reality. Our Savior accused the Pharisees of hypocrisy,  Luke 12:1 .

Webster's Dictionary

(n.) One who plays a part; especially, one who, for the purpose of winning approbation of favor, puts on a fair outside seeming; one who feigns to be other and better than he is; a false pretender to virtue or piety; one who simulates virtue or piety.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Matthew 6:2,5,16 Job 8:13 Jeremiah 23:11

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Greek Ὑποκριτής ) signifies one who Feigns to be what he is not; who puts on a false person, like actors in tragedies and comedies. It is generally applied to those who assume appearances of a virtue without possessing it in reality. Our Savior accused the Pharisees of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is vain and foolish, and, though intended to cheat others, is, in truth, deceiving ourselves. No man would flatter or dissemble if he thought that he was seen and discovered. All his hypocrisy, however, is open to the eye of God, from whom nothing call be hid. The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he seeth all his doings; there is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. Whoever dissembles, and seems to be what he is not, thinks that he ought to possess such a quality as he pretends to; for to counterfeit and dissemble is to assume the appearance of some real excellence.

But it is best for a man to be in reality what he would seem to be. It is difficult to personate and act a false part long, because, where truth does not exist, nature will endeavor to return, and make a discovery. Truth carries its own light and evidence with it, and not only commends us to every man's conscience, but to God, the searcher of our hearts. Hence sincerity is the truest wisdom, for integrity has many advantages over all the artful ways of dissimulation and deceit. On the contrary, a dissembler must be always upon his guard, lest he contradict his own pretences lie acts an unnatural part, and puts a continual force and restraint upon himself. Truth always lies uppermost, and will be apt to make its appearance; but he who acts sincerely has an easy task, and needs not invent pretences before, or excuses after, for what he says or does. Insincerity is difficult to manage; for a liar will be apt to contradict at one time what he said at another. Truth is always consistent with itself, needs nothing to assist it, and is always near at hand; but a lie is troublesome; it sets a man's invention upon the rack, and is frequently the occasion of many more. Truth and sincerity in our words and actions will carry us through the world, when all the arts of cunning and deceit shall fail and deceive us. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, plainness and sincerity will appear the most perfect beauty; the craftiness of men, who lie in wait to deceive, will be stripped of all its colors; all specious pretences, all the methods of deceit, will then be disclosed before men and angels, and no artifice to conceal the deformity of iniquity can there take place. Then the ill-designing men of this world shall with shame be convinced that the upright simplicity, which they despised, was the truest wisdom, and that those dissembling and dishonest arts which they so highly esteemed were in reality the greatest folly.

Hypocrites have been divided into four sorts:

1. The Worldly hypocrite, who makes a profession of religion, and pretends to be religious merely from worldly considerations ( Matthew 23:5);

2. The Legal hypocrite, who relinquishes his vicious practices in order thereby to merit heaven, while at the same time he has no real love to God ( Romans 10:3);

3. The Evangelical hypocrite, whose religion is nothing more than a bare conviction of sin; who rejoices under the idea that Christ died for him, and yet has no desire to live a holy life ( Matthew 13:20;  2 Peter 2:20);

4. The Enthusiastic hypocrite, who has an imaginary sight of his sin and of Christ; talks of remarkable impulses and high feelings; and thinks himself very wise and good while he lives in the most scandalous practices ( Matthew 13:39;  2 Corinthians 11:14). — Robinson, Theol. Dictionary; Buck, Theol. Dictionary; Warner, System Of Morality, 3, 323; Grove, Moral Philosophy, 2, 253; Gilfillan, Essays On Hypocrisy (1825); Ellis, Sef Deceiver Discovered (1731); Edwards, Worls (see Index). (See Hypocrisy).