The term "feigned" refers to something that is pretended, insincere, or counterfeit. In the context of the Bible, it often describes actions, words, or attitudes that are not genuine, reflecting a heart that is not aligned with truth or righteousness. The concept of feigned behavior is addressed in various passages, highlighting the importance of sincerity and authenticity in one's relationship with God and others.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, the idea of feigned behavior is often associated with deceit and hypocrisy. For example, in Jeremiah 3:10, the prophet speaks of Judah's insincere return to God: "In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense," declares the LORD. Here, the term "pretense" captures the essence of feigned repentance, indicating a superficial change that lacks true commitment.

The Psalms also address the issue of feigned obedience. Psalm 78:36-37 states, "But they deceived Him with their mouths, and lied to Him with their tongues. Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant." This passage underscores the disconnect between outward expressions and inward reality, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, Jesus frequently confronted the Pharisees and religious leaders for their feigned righteousness. In Matthew 23:28, He declares, "In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." This rebuke highlights the danger of maintaining an outward appearance of piety while harboring a heart far from God.

The Apostle Paul also warns against feigned love and faith. In Romans 12:9, he exhorts believers, "Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good." The call for sincere love implies that feigned affection is contrary to the Christian ethic. Similarly, in 1 Timothy 1:5, Paul writes, "The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith." Here, sincerity is presented as a hallmark of genuine Christian living.

Theological Implications

Feigned behavior is antithetical to the biblical call for integrity and truthfulness. Scripture consistently emphasizes that God desires truth in the inward being (Psalm 51:6) and that He sees beyond outward appearances to the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Feigned actions, therefore, are not only ineffective in achieving true righteousness but are also offensive to God, who values authenticity and transparency.

The biblical narrative encourages believers to examine their hearts and motives, ensuring that their faith and actions are not merely performative but are rooted in a genuine relationship with God. This call to authenticity is a recurring theme, urging followers of Christ to align their inner lives with their outward expressions, thereby reflecting the transformative power of the Gospel.1. (imp. & p. p.) of Feign.

2. (a.) Not real or genuine; pretended; counterfeit; insincere; false.

4112. plastos -- formed, molded
... formed, molded. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: plastos Phonetic Spelling:
(plas-tos') Short Definition: formed, molded, feigned Definition: formed ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4112.htm - 7k

5272. hupokrisis -- a reply, answer, playacting, hypocrisy
... hypocrisy. From hupokrinomai; acting under a feigned part, ie (figuratively)
deceit ("hypocrisy") -- condemnation, dissimulation, hypocrisy. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5272.htm - 7k

4820. mirmah -- deceit, treachery
... treachery (2). craft, deceitful false, feigned, guile, treachery. From ramah
in the sense of deceiving; fraud -- craft, deceit(-ful ...
/hebrew/4820.htm - 6k

3584. kachash -- to disappoint, deceive, fail, grow lean
... lean NASB Word Usage cringe (1), deceive (1), deceived (1), deceives (1), deception
(1), denied (2), deny (3), denying (1), fail (2), give feigned obedience (1 ...
/hebrew/3584.htm - 6k

Of the Feigned Patience of Some who Offer the Other Cheek to be ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XX. Of the feigned patience of
some who offer the other cheek to be smitten. We are not ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xx of the feigned.htm

The Threefold Kind of Man Feigned by These Heretics: Good Works ...
... Against Heresies: Book I Chapter VI."The threefold kind of man feigned by these
heretics: good works needless for them, though necessary to others: their ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter vi the threefold kind of.htm

That the Mind of those who Wish for Pre-Eminence for the Most Part ...
... IX. That the mind of those who wish for pre-eminence for the most part
flatters itself with a feigned promise of good works. But ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter ix that the mind.htm

Hence is Also that which Thou Hast Mentioned that they Speak Of...
... near to the village whither they were going, He made as though He would have gone
farther: where the Evangelist, saying, "But He Himself feigned that He would ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/against lying/section 28 hence is also.htm

But Upon those who have Used Dissimulation Like David...
... But upon those who have used dissimulation like David, who feigned himself to be
mad [2292] to avoid death, being not mad in reality; and those who have not ...
/.../peter/the writings of peter of alexandria/canon v but upon those.htm

Of the Origin, Life, Reign, Name and Death of Jupiter, and of ...
... For he who is without virtue, who is overpowered by desire and wicked lusts, is
not, as the poet feigned, in subjection to Cupid, but to everlasting death. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xi of the origin life.htm

But Now, that as Bearing with the Infirmity of Men He did This...
... him not be circumcised;" [2508] that he did those things, in which, by persons not
understanding and not enough attending, he has been accounted to have feigned ...
/.../augustine/of the work of monks /section 12 but now that.htm

Faustus Seeks to Justify the Docetism of the Manich??ans. Augustin ...
... While they assert the death of Christ to have been not real but feigned, why do
they make out that He had no birth at all, not even of the same kind as His ...
/.../faustus seeks to justify the.htm

Now Suppose that While You were Writing This, as You Tell us You ...
... you will then pronounce worthy of execration because of his strange doctrines; as
to what you are writing about mad dogs bringing feigned charges against him ...
/.../21 now suppose that while.htm

Five Books in Reply to Marcion.
... Of dreadful magic's renegadoes led,. Wondering at a mass of feigned lore; ... By any
compact, partner of the flesh; But Spirit-form, and body feigned beneath. ...
/.../fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/5 five books in reply.htm

Feigned (8 Occurrences)
... 1. (imp. & pp) of Feign. 2. (a.) Not real or genuine; pretended; counterfeit; insincere;
false. Multi-Version Concordance Feigned (8 Occurrences). ...
/f/feigned.htm - 9k

Feign (11 Occurrences)
... David, 1 Samuel 21:13; compare Jeremiah 25:16; Jeremiah 50:38); hupokrinomai, "to
give judgment, or act, under a mask" (Luke 20:20, "who feigned themselves to ...
/f/feign.htm - 12k

Issue (59 Occurrences)
... See General issue, under General, and Feigned issue, under Feigned. 11. (vi) To
pass or flow out; to run out, as from any enclosed place. 12. ...
/i/issue.htm - 29k

Fiction (2 Occurrences)
... mind. 2. (n.) That which is feigned, invented, or imagined; especially,
a feigned or invented story, whether oral or written. Hence ...
/f/fiction.htm - 7k

Kiss (39 Occurrences)
... (3) Of love; compare Songs 1:2, "Let him kiss me with the kisses (neshiqah) of his
mouth"; Proverbs 7:13 (of the feigned love of "the strange woman"). ...
/k/kiss.htm - 25k

Unfeigned (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Not feigned; not counterfeit; not hypocritical; real;
sincere; genuine; as, unfeigned piety; unfeigned love to man. Int. ...
/u/unfeigned.htm - 8k

Lip (20 Occurrences)
... Numerous other expressions need no further explanation, such as "perverse lips"
(Proverbs 4:24), "uncircumcised lips" (Exodus 6:12, 30), "feigned lips" (Psalm ...
/l/lip.htm - 18k

Lingereth (2 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise
of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their ...
/l/lingereth.htm - 7k

Witchcraft (8 Occurrences)
... Scripture. The "witch of En-dor" (1 Samuel 28) was a necromancer, ie, one
who feigned to hold converse with the dead. The damsel ...
/w/witchcraft.htm - 23k

Insane (10 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 21:13 He changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their
hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall ...
/i/insane.htm - 9k

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Feigned: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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