word meaning · kjv
Hypocrite in the Bible
What is a hypocrite in the Bible? The Greek word hypokrites originally meant 'actor under a mask.' Jesus used it 17 times — here's what Scripture records.
What Is a Hypocrite in the Bible?
The English word "hypocrite" comes directly from the Greek ὑποκριτής (hypokritēs, Strong's G5273). In Classical Greek, the word literally meant "actor" — a stage performer who spoke beneath a mask. The word is built from two parts:
- Hypo (ὑπό) — "under"
- Krínō (κρίνω) — "to judge, decide"
Together: "one who judges/speaks from under [a mask]" — a pretender, someone whose outward performance differs from their inner reality.
How Jesus Used the Word
The word appears 17 times in the New Testament, and almost every occurrence comes from Jesus himself. His most concentrated use is in Matthew 23, where he pronounces seven "woes" against the scribes and Pharisees — calling them "hypocrites" in each:
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness." — Matthew 23:27
Jesus used the word to describe a specific pattern: outward religious display without inward reality. In the Sermon on the Mount, he warned against three specific forms of hypocrisy — all involving religious performance done "to be seen of men":
- Matthew 6:2 — giving alms to be seen
- Matthew 6:5 — praying to be seen
- Matthew 6:16 — fasting to be seen
The "Beam and Mote" Passage
Perhaps the most famous use is Matthew 7:5:
"Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."
Old Testament Equivalent
The KJV sometimes uses "hypocrite" in the Old Testament to translate the Hebrew chaneph (חָנֵף, H2611) — literally "profane, godless, impious." Modern translations generally render this as "godless" rather than "hypocrite," since the Hebrew emphasizes a different concept than Greek hypokritēs:
- Job 8:13 — "the hypocrite's hope shall perish"
- Isaiah 33:14 — "fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites"
Jesus Quoting Isaiah
In Mark 7:6, Jesus directly quotes Isaiah 29:13 when calling out hypocrisy: "Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from me." The Hebrew original in Isaiah does not use chaneph — but Jesus applies the concept in Greek using hypokritēs.
What does 'hypocrite' mean in the Bible?
The Bible addresses hypocrite with deep compassion and clarity. From the Psalms to the words of Jesus, Scripture meets you in this exact feeling and offers comfort, strength, and direction. Here are the most powerful verses — each chosen because they speak directly to what you're going through.
Most Powerful Verses
Matthew 6:2
“Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
— Bible
Matthew 6:5
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
— Bible
Matthew 6:16
“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast.”
— Bible
Matthew 7:5
“Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”
— Bible
Matthew 23:13
“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”
— Bible
Want Scripture chosen specifically for you?
Share what you're feeling and our AI will find the 3 Bible verses that speak directly to your heart right now.
Speak Your Heart →More Verses
Matthew 23:27
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.”
Mark 7:6
“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”
Luke 12:56
“Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?”
Job 8:13
“So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:”
Related Topics
God's Word sees your soul
These verses are even more powerful when chosen specifically for your story. No account needed. No payment. Just you and God's Word.
Begin Your Journey →