Religious Masquerade: ὑποκριτής (Strong’s G5273: hypokritēs) Unmasks False Righteousness

Strong’s G5273: A noun originally denoting an actor in Greek theater, meaning one who plays a part. In biblical usage, it describes those who pretend religious devotion for show, specifically addressing the practice of performing righteousness rather than living it genuinely.

U- Unveiling the Word

ὑποκριτής (hypokritēs) transitioned from theatrical terminology, where it described stage actors, to become Jesus’ stern designation for religious pretenders. First appearing in Matthew 6:2, it characterizes those who perform righteous acts for public acclaim rather than genuine devotion. The early church adopted this term as a serious warning against religious showmanship and false teaching. Today, it continues to challenge believers to examine whether their religious practices flow from authentic faith or mere performance.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὑποκριτής, hypokritēs, hoop-o-kree-TACE
• Detailed Pronunciation: hoop (as in “hoop”) + o (as in “go”) + kree (as in “creek”) + tace (as in “face”)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• From ὑποκρίνομαι (hypokrinomai) – “to answer, pretend”
• ὑπό (hypo) – prefix meaning “under”
• κρίνω (krinō) – verb meaning “to judge”
• -της (-tēs) – agent noun suffix

D – Defining Meanings

• Stage actor
• Religious pretender
• One who feigns virtue

For compound words:

• ὑπό indicates concealment
• κρίνω contributes judgment aspect
• -της makes it a personal noun

Translation Options:

• “Hypocrite” – captures religious pretense
• “Pretender” – emphasizes false appearance
• “Religious actor” – maintains theatrical metaphor

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ψευδάδελφος (pseudadelphos, psyoo-DAD-el-fos) – “false brother”
  See G5569
• ψευδοδιδάσκαλος (pseudodidaskalos, psyoo-do-did-AS-kal-os) – “false teacher”
  See G5572
• πλάνος (planos, PLAN-os) – “deceiver”
  See G4108

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a noun, ὑποκριτής exhibits these features:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, or Accusative
• Number: Singular or Plural
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: First

Examples of case usage:

• Nominative singular: ὑποκριτής
• Genitive singular: ὑποκριτοῦ
• Dative singular: ὑποκριτῇ
• Accusative singular: ὑποκριτήν
• Plural forms adjust accordingly

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons trace ὑποκριτής’s evolution from theatrical to religious context. BDAG emphasizes its transformation from neutral theatrical term to severe religious criticism. Thayer’s highlights Jesus’ particular usage in condemning religious pretense. LSJ documents its classical theatrical origins. Vine’s connects it to the practice of wearing masks in Greek theater. Strong’s emphasizes its development from stage acting to moral pretense. Moulton and Milligan note its transition from drama to moral judgment.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 6:2: “Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the [ὑποκριτής] hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men.”

Additional References:
Matthew 6:5
Matthew 6:16
Matthew 15:7
Matthew 23:13-29
Mark 7:6
Luke 12:56

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

ὑποκριτής powerfully warns against the danger of religious performance over genuine faith. Through this term, Jesus exposes the gulf between outward show and inner reality. The good news is that He offers transformation from performance-based religion to authentic relationship with God. In the Messiah, we find freedom to be genuine before God and others, no longer needing to wear spiritual masks.

D – Did You Know?

• Ancient Greek actors were highly respected professionals
• Jesus used this term more than any other negative designation
• The word’s meaning shifted dramatically from neutral to negative

Strong’s G5273: A noun originally denoting an actor in Greek theater, meaning one who plays a part. In biblical usage, it describes those who pretend religious devotion for show, specifically addressing the practice of performing righteousness rather than living it genuinely.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: hypocrisy, pretense, religious performance, false teaching, authenticity, theater, Jesus’ teaching, Pharisees, sincerity, genuine faith​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​