The concept of pretending, or acting in a way that is not genuine, is addressed in various contexts throughout the Bible. Pretending can involve deceit, hypocrisy, or insincerity, and is often portrayed negatively in Scripture. The Bible emphasizes the importance of truthfulness and sincerity in one's relationship with God and others.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, pretending is often associated with deceit and falsehood. One notable example is found in the account of Jacob and Esau. Jacob pretends to be his brother Esau in order to receive the blessing from their father Isaac (Genesis 27:18-27). This act of deception leads to significant family conflict and serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of pretending and deceit.

Another example is found in the account of David and the Philistines. David, fleeing from King Saul, pretends to be insane in the presence of Achish, the king of Gath, to protect himself (1 Samuel 21:12-15). While this act of pretending is not condemned in the text, it highlights the complexity of human behavior in difficult situations.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, Jesus frequently addresses the issue of hypocrisy, which can be understood as a form of pretending. The Pharisees and teachers of the law are often criticized for their hypocritical behavior. Jesus warns against practicing righteousness before others to be seen by them, calling such behavior hypocritical (Matthew 6:1-2). He also rebukes the Pharisees, saying, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence" (Matthew 23:25).

The Apostle Paul also addresses the issue of pretending in his letters. In Romans 12:9, he exhorts believers to "Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good" . This call to sincerity underscores the importance of genuine love and authenticity in the Christian life.

Spiritual Implications

Pretending, particularly in the form of hypocrisy, is seen as a barrier to true spiritual growth and relationship with God. The Bible calls believers to live authentically and truthfully, both in their relationship with God and with others. In 1 John 3:18, believers are encouraged to "love not with words or speech but with actions and in truth" , emphasizing the importance of genuine love and integrity.

The Bible also warns against the dangers of self-deception. James 1:22 cautions, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves" . This highlights the importance of aligning one's actions with one's professed beliefs, avoiding the pretense of faith without corresponding deeds.

Practical Application

For Christians, the call to avoid pretending involves cultivating a life of honesty, integrity, and transparency. This includes being truthful in speech, sincere in worship, and genuine in relationships. The Bible encourages believers to examine their hearts and motives, seeking to live in a way that is pleasing to God and reflective of His truth.

In summary, the Bible presents pretending, particularly in the form of deceit and hypocrisy, as contrary to the character of God and the life He calls His followers to lead. Believers are encouraged to pursue authenticity and sincerity, reflecting the truth of the Gospel in all aspects of their lives.1. (v. t.) To lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim.

2. (v. t.) To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden.

3. (v. t.) To hold out, or represent, falsely; to put forward, or offer, as true or real (something untrue or unreal); to show hypocritically, or for the purpose of deceiving; to simulate; to feign; as, to pretend friendship.

4. (v. t.) To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt.

5. (v. t.) To hold before one; to extend.

6. (v. i.) To put in, or make, a claim, truly or falsely; to allege a title; to lay claim to, or strive after, something; -- usually with to.

7. (v. i.) To hold out the appearance of being, possessing, or performing; to profess; to make believe; to feign; to sham; as, to pretend to be asleep.

4364. prospoieo -- to attach to, take to oneself, hence to pretend
... to attach to, take to oneself, hence to pretend. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
prospoieo Phonetic Spelling: (pros-poy-eh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4364.htm - 6k

5271. hupokrinomai -- to answer, reply, to answer on a stage, to ...
... to answer, reply, to answer on a stage, to pretend. Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: hupokrinomai Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-ok-rin'-om-ahee) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5271.htm - 6k

5569. pseudadelphos -- a false brother
... Masculine Transliteration: pseudadelphos Phonetic Spelling: (psyoo-dad'-el-fos)
Short Definition: a false brother Definition: a false brother, pretend Christian ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5569.htm - 6k

3878. parakouo -- to overhear, to hear amiss, to take no heed
... Phonetic Spelling: (par-ak-oo'-o) Short Definition: I refuse to hear, disobey,
disregard Definition: (a) I hear carelessly or incidentally, or I pretend not to ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3878.htm - 7k

56. abal -- to mourn
... to mourn NASB Word Usage caused lamentations (1), grieve (1), grieved (1), lament
(1), mourn (13), mourned (7), mourning (3), mourns (10), pretend to be a ...
/hebrew/56.htm - 6k

5235a. nakar -- to act or treat as foreign or strange, to disguise
... foreign or strange, to disguise NASB Word Usage another woman (2), delivered (1),
disguised (1), disguises (1), made an alien (1), misjudge (1), pretend to be ...
/hebrew/5235a.htm - 5k

2470a. chalah -- to be weak or sick
... 1), grievous (2), incurable (2), infected (1), lovesick* (2), made himself ill
(1), made weak (1), make you sick (1), makes the sick (1), pretend to be ill (1 ...
/hebrew/2470a.htm - 6k

3584. kachash -- to disappoint, deceive, fail, grow lean
... 1), deceives (1), deception (1), denied (2), deny (3), denying (1), fail (2), give
feigned obedience (1), grown lean (1), lied (3), pretend obedience (2 ...
/hebrew/3584.htm - 6k

Of Certain Persons who Pretend that Christ Wrote Books on the Arts ...
... the harmony of the gospels.Book I. Chapter IX."Of Certain Persons Who
Pretend that Christ Wrote Books on the Arts of Magic. 14. ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter ix of certain persons who.htm

Of those who Pretend to Patience but Excite their Brethren to ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XVIII. Of those who pretend to patience
but excite their brethren to anger by their silence. ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xviii of those who.htm

Not Enough, as the Marcionites Pretend, that the Supreme God ...
... Marcion. Chapter XVII."Not Enough, as the Marcionites Pretend, that the Supreme
God Should Rescue Man; He Must Also Have Created Him. ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xvii not enough as the.htm

Jesus Condemns those who Pretend to be Good
... THE NEW TESTAMENT JESUS CONDEMNS THOSE WHO PRETEND TO BE GOOD. The common
people were listening to Jesus eagerly. As he taught he ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/jesus condemns those who pretend.htm

Wherefore if they Pretend to Foretell the Future...
... Life of Antony. Section 31. Wherefore if they pretend to foretell the future?
31. Wherefore if they pretend to foretell the future ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/life of antony section 31.htm

We must Adhere to those who Cultivate Peace, not to those who ...
... Chapter XV."We must adhere to those who cultivate peace, not to those
who merely pretend to do so. Let us cleave, therefore, to ...
/.../chapter xv we must adhere to.htm

We must Adhere to those who Cultivate Peace, not to those who ...
... The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. Chapter XV."We Must Adhere to Those
Who Cultivate Peace, Not to Those Who Merely Pretend to Do So. ...
/.../keith/the epistles of clement/chapter xv we must adhere to.htm

"If we Say that we have Fellowship with Him, and Walk in Darkness ...
... They generally pretend to Christianity in general, and to an interest in salvation,
but if we descend into the chief parts and members of Christianity, as ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xii if we say.htm

I Should have Thought that this Statement, I Mean the Words, I ...
... Where can they find the words which they pretend that I have said, and on which
they ground their calumnious accusations, namely, that I have removed what was ...
/.../16 i should have thought.htm

"Wash You, Make You Clean; Put Away the Evil of Your Doings from ...
... But because all men pretend a willingness to have Christ their Saviour, and their
sins pardoned through his blood, who, notwithstanding, hate to be reformed ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xi wash you make.htm

Pretend (9 Occurrences)
... offer, as true or real (something untrue or unreal); to show hypocritically, or
for the purpose of deceiving; to simulate; to feign; as, to pretend friendship. ...
/p/pretend.htm - 10k

Pretended (9 Occurrences)
... 1. (imp. & pp) of Pretend. ... Thus and thus you shall tell her; for it will be, when
she comes in, that she will pretend to be another woman." (See RSV). ...
/p/pretended.htm - 9k

Feign (11 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To pretend; to imagine; to invent; as, to
feign an injury. 2. (vt) To represent by a false appearance ...
/f/feign.htm - 12k

Ahijah (23 Occurrences)
... Thus and thus you shall tell her; for it will be, when she comes in, that she will
pretend to be another woman." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/a/ahijah.htm - 21k

Pretence (5 Occurrences)

/p/pretence.htm - 8k

Jonadab (11 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). 2 Samuel 13:5 Jonadab said to
him, "Lay down on your bed, and pretend to be sick. When ...
/j/jonadab.htm - 10k

Lazarus (19 Occurrences)
... But, in any case, the Synoptics do not pretend to give all the deeds of Jesus, and
in the report by them we have few save those which were wrought in Galilee. ...
/l/lazarus.htm - 21k

Intend (30 Occurrences)
... 8. (vt) To design mechanically or artistically; to fashion; to mold. 9. (vt) To
pretend; to counterfeit; to simulate. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/i/intend.htm - 18k

False.
... 11. (v.) To mislead by want of truth; to deceive. 12. (v.) To feign; to pretend
to make. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CHRISTS, FALSE. ...
/f/false..htm - 16k

Maker (55 Occurrences)
... phrases may be mentioned, "What makest thou in this place?" (Judges 18:3), the Revised
Version (British and American) "doest"; "made" for "pretend" (2 Samuel 13 ...
/m/maker.htm - 35k

If our salvation is eternally secure, why does the Bible warn so strongly against apostasy? | GotQuestions.org

Why are all Christians hypocrites? Are all Christians hypocrites? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to have a double tongue? | GotQuestions.org

Pretend: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus