4392. prophasis
Lexical Summary
prophasis: Pretext, excuse, pretense

Original Word: πρόφασις
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: prophasis
Pronunciation: PRO-fah-sis
Phonetic Spelling: (prof'-as-is)
KJV: cloke, colour, pretence, show
NASB: pretense, appearance's sake, excuse, pretext
Word Origin: [from a compound of G4253 (πρό - before) and G5316 (φαίνω - appeared)]

1. an outward showing, i.e. pretext

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
pretense, outward showing

From a compound of pro and phaino; an outward showing, i.e. Pretext -- cloke, colour, pretence, show.

see GREEK pro

see GREEK phaino

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from pro and phainó
Definition
a pretense
NASB Translation
appearance's sake (2), excuse (1), pretense (3), pretext (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4392: πρόφασις

πρόφασις, προφασεως, (προφαίνω, i. e. properly, 'to cause to shine before' (or 'forth'; but many derive πρόφασις directly from προφημι)), from Homer down;

a. a pretext (alleged reason, pretended cause): τῆς πλεονεξίας, such as covetousness is accustomed to use, 1 Thessalonians 2:5 ((A. V. cloak of covetousness) the meaning being, that he had never misused his apostolic office in order to disguise or to hide avaricious designs); πρόφασιν ἔχειν (a phrase frequent in Greek authors, cf. Passow, under the word πρόφασις 1 b. vol. ii., p. 1251b; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, I. 3 e.)) περί τῆς ἁμαρτίας, John 15:22 (A. V. marginal reading R. V. excuse).

b. show: προφάσει ὡς κτλ. (A. V.) under color as though they would etc. Acts 27:30; προφάσει (A. V. for a pretence), in pretence, ostensibly: Matthew 23:14-13Rec.; Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47; Philippians 1:18.

Topical Lexicon
Overview of Concept

Strong’s 4392 expresses the idea of an outward reason put forward to mask an inner agenda—an appearance offered to hide the real motive. Scripture consistently treats such “pretext” as morally bankrupt and spiritually dangerous, contrasting it with sincerity, truth, and godly transparency.

Occurrences and Patterns

The term surfaces seven times in the Greek New Testament. Three Synoptic woes (Matthew 23:14; Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47) denounce religious leaders for predatory greed under the guise of piety. Acts 27:30 records sailors disguising self-preservation as seamanship. Paul twice measures gospel ministry against false fronts (Philippians 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 2:5). Finally, Jesus in John 15:22 states that His coming removed every “excuse” for unbelief. The contexts fall into two broad categories: hypocrisy that exploits others and hypocrisy that distorts gospel proclamation.

Narrative Exposure of Religious Hypocrisy

In the Temple courts, scribes and Pharisees cultivated respectability with “lengthy prayers.” Beneath that façade lay covetous schemes—“they devour widows’ houses” (Mark 12:40). The Lord’s indictment unmasks a perennial danger: ritual display can coexist with hardened hearts. By tying this hypocrisy to a “greater condemnation,” Jesus signals that hidden motives are fully visible to God and will figure prominently in final judgment.

Luke and Acts: From Piety to Maritime Survival

Luke echoes the Gospel rebuke (Luke 20:47) and then illustrates the broader principle in Acts. During the storm off Crete, sailors “let down the lifeboat into the sea, pretending they were going to lower anchors from the bow” (Acts 27:30). Their deception endangered the whole crew, reminding readers that self-serving pretext, whether religious or secular, places communities at risk.

Pauline Treatment of Motive in Ministry

Philippians 1:18 records Paul’s remarkable confidence in the sovereignty of God: “whether by pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice.” While rejoicing in the advance of the gospel even through impure motives, Paul never condones such motives. He later writes, “we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover greed—God is our witness!” (1 Thessalonians 2:5). For Paul, genuine ministry must be free from hidden agendas, yet God’s purposes surpass human duplicity.

Christ’s Removal of Every Excuse

“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin” (John 15:22). Here the word points not to an offered pretext but to its final collapse. Christ’s revelation nullifies all self-justification. Every mask falls before the incarnate Word, who exposes hearts and calls all people to repentant faith.

Historical Background

In first-century Judaism, public prayer, almsgiving, and fasting were common avenues for social honor. Unscrupulous leaders leveraged these practices to win trust and access vulnerable estates, particularly those of widows lacking male defenders. Roman maritime culture likewise valued skilled seamanship; a claim to nautical prudence could cloak cowardice. The term 4392 captures both religious and secular manipulations, revealing a common human impulse across cultures: using respected forms to conceal selfish ends.

Spiritual and Ethical Implications

1. God discerns motive. No religious veneer can deceive the Omniscient Judge.
2. Pretext harms others. Widows lost homes; sailors risked passengers; congregations can be exploited.
3. Gospel integrity matters. Workers must renounce hidden greed or rivalry, trusting God to vindicate faithful labor.
4. Revelation eliminates excuse. The clearer the light of Christ, the less tenable any self-defense.

Ministry Applications

• Leadership: shepherds must cultivate open accountability, ensuring financial and pastoral decisions withstand scrutiny.
• Preaching: motives should be examined in prayer; Christ is proclaimed best when hearts seek His glory, not personal platform.
• Benevolence: care for the vulnerable must be free of ulterior gain; churches imitate Christ by sacrificial, transparent love.
• Personal discipleship: believers confess concealed sins, inviting the Spirit to replace duplicity with integrity.

Conclusion

Strong’s 4392 stands as a scriptural warning against the perennial temptation to cloak selfishness in respectable forms. From Jerusalem’s courtyards to a storm-tossed ship and the halls of early Christian ministry, the word exposes the heart. The antidote is authenticity grounded in the gospel: open motives, honest dealings, and a life lived “before God, who tests our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).

Forms and Transliterations
προφασει προφάσει προφάσεις προφασιν πρόφασιν προφασιστικούς prophasei prophásei prophasin próphasin
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 23:14 Noun-DFS
GRK: χηρῶν καὶ προφάσει μακρὰ προσευχόμενοι
KJV: houses, and for a pretence make long
INT: of widows and as a pretext at great length praying

Mark 12:40 N-DFS
GRK: χηρῶν καὶ προφάσει μακρὰ προσευχόμενοι
NAS: houses, and for appearance's sake offer
KJV: houses, and for a pretence make long
INT: widows and as a pretext at great length pray

Luke 20:47 N-DFS
GRK: χηρῶν καὶ προφάσει μακρὰ προσεύχονται
NAS: houses, and for appearance's sake offer
KJV: houses, and for a shew make long
INT: widows and as a pretext at great length pray

John 15:22 N-AFS
GRK: νῦν δὲ πρόφασιν οὐκ ἔχουσιν
NAS: they have no excuse for their sin.
KJV: they have no cloke for their
INT: now however excuse not they have

Acts 27:30 N-DFS
GRK: τὴν θάλασσαν προφάσει ὡς ἐκ
NAS: into the sea, on the pretense of intending
KJV: the sea, under colour as though
INT: the sea with pretext as from

Philippians 1:18 N-DFS
GRK: τρόπῳ εἴτε προφάσει εἴτε ἀληθείᾳ
NAS: way, whether in pretense or in truth,
KJV: way, whether in pretence, or in truth,
INT: way whether in pretext or in truth

1 Thessalonians 2:5 N-DFS
GRK: οὔτε ἐν προφάσει πλεονεξίας θεὸς
NAS: nor with a pretext for greed--
INT: nor with a pretext of covetousness God [is]

Strong's Greek 4392
7 Occurrences


προφάσει — 6 Occ.
πρόφασιν — 1 Occ.

4391
Top of Page
Top of Page