The word generally denotes one who pretends to be religious when he is not (though it is sometimes used to mean simply a bad man, e.g., Job 8: 13; Job 13: 16; Isa. 9: 17; Isa. 33: 14). Hypocrisy was the besetting sin of the Pharisees, and was severely condemned by the Lord (Matt. 23: 13-33; Mark 12: 38-40; Luke 11: 37-44; Luke 20: 46-47).