Pretense
πρόφασιςStrong’s G4392prophasis
Appears in 7 verses of the New Testament
In short
Prophasis is the Greek word usually translated “as a pretext”, “excuse” and “under pretense”. It appears in 7 verses of the New Testament.
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”
Meaning
Usually translated “as a pretext”, “excuse” and “under pretense”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.
How it's translated
- as a pretext 3
- excuse 1
- under pretense 1
- in pretext 1
- a pretext 1
Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.
Where it's used most
- Matthew 1
- Mark 1
- Luke 1
- John 1
- Acts 1
- Philippians 1
7 books in all.
Explore in Scripture
- Mark 12:40Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
- Luke 20:47Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
- John 15:22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
- Acts 27:30And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
- Philippians 1:18What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:5For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
Greek dictionary
πρόφασις prophasis · pretense
πρό-φασις, -εως, ἡ (φήμι), [in LXX: Psa.141:4 (עֲלִילָה), ??עֲלִילָה), ??Dan.6:4-5(5-6) (עִלָּה) Pro.18:1, Hos.10:4 * ;] a pretence, pretext: Mat.23:1 (WM, R, txt., om.), Mrk.12:40, Luk.20:47 Jhn.15:22, Act.27:30, Php.1:18, 1Th.2:5.† (AS)
From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
How the English word “pretense” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.
PRETENSE, noun
pretens'. [Latin proetensus, proetendo.]
- A holding out or offering to others something false or feigned; a presenting to others, either in words or actions, a false or hypocritical appearance, usually with a view to conceal what is real, and thus to deceive.
- Assumption; claim to notice.
- Claim, true or false.
- Something held out to terrify or for other purpose; as a pretense of danger.
Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.
Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.