Original Word: חָנֵף
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: chaneph
Pronunciation: khaw-nafe'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-nafe')
KJV: hypocrite(-ical)
NASB: godless, godless man
Word Origin: [from H2610 (חָנֵף - polluted)]

1. soiled (i.e. with sin), impious

hypocritical

From chaneph; soiled (i.e. With sin), impious -- hypocrite(-ical).

see HEBREW chaneph

Word Origin
from chaneph
Definition
profane, irreligious
NASB Translation
godless (11), godless man (2).

חָנֵף adjective profane, irreligious (Syriac profane, hence often Healthen, apostate; Arabic inclining to a right state, especially the true religion a Muslim) — absolute ׳ח Job 8:13 10t.; plural חֲנֵפִים Isaiah 33:14; חַנְפֵי Job 36:13; Psalm 35:16; — profane, godless: of persons, ׳אָדָם ח Job 34:30; ׳גּוֺי ח Isaiah 10:6; as substantive godless man Isaiah 9:16 ("" מרע) Job 8:13; Job 13:16; Job 17:8; Job 20:5; Job 27:8; Proverbs 11:9; collective ׳עֲדַת ח Job 15:34; plural Isaiah 33:14; חַנְפֵילֵֿב Job 36:13; בְּחַנְפֵי לַעֲגֵי מָעוֺג Psalm 35:16 as profane men, mockers for cake (i.e. table-jesters; on construct see Ges ^{§ 130. 5}), but text dubious (see Che^{critical note} Bae).

Scope of the Word

In the Hebrew Scriptures חָנֵף designates people who are outwardly associated with the covenant community yet inwardly warped by irreverence, moral compromise, and practical atheism. The word carries the double thrust of “godless” and “hypocritical,” exposing both the absence of real piety and the presence of a counterfeit substitute.

Concentration in Job

No book employs the term more than Job (eight of the thirteen occurrences). Job’s counselors equate the condition with short-lived prosperity (Job 20:5) and inevitable judgment (Job 15:34; Job 27:8). Elihu widens the perspective, explaining that divine discipline aims “so that a godless man should not reign, nor lay snares for the people” (Job 34:30). From Job’s own lips comes the contrast between his integrity and the fate of the chaneph: “He also shall be my salvation, for a godless man cannot come before Him” (Job 13:16). Job 17:8 shows that the very sight of such hypocrisy offends “the innocent,” revealing the communal damage wrought by covert ungodliness.

Wisdom Literature: Words and Relationships

Proverbs 11:9 spotlights speech: “With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are delivered”. The hypocrite’s tongue is weaponized; truth-rooted wisdom, by contrast, rescues. Psalm 35:16 depicts chaneph as mockers at a feast, demonstrating that scoffing is a hallmark of hidden impiety.

Prophetic Warnings Against Corporate Hypocrisy

Isaiah applies the word to whole generations. In Isaiah 9:17 the Lord “has no pleasure in their young men nor compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer.” The term underlines why impending judgment is unavoidable. Isaiah 10:6 labels arrogant Assyria “an ungodly nation,” showing that chaneph can describe pagan powers when they usurp divine prerogatives. Finally, Isaiah 33:14 pictures “sinners in Zion” terrified as God draws near, proving that mere covenant membership cannot cloak hypocrisy before consuming holiness.

Theological Trajectory

1. Inner Reality Over Outward Form. Chaneph unmasks religious formalism. The prophets insist that sacrifices, festivals, and even national identity are worthless when divorced from sincere devotion.
2. Inevitable Judgment. Whether individual (Job) or national (Isaiah), concealed irreverence invites public exposure and divine wrath.
3. Social Corruption. The godless man “lays snares for the people” (Job 34:30). Hypocrisy spreads injustice, poisons community life, and emboldens oppression.
4. Divine Separation. “A godless man cannot come before Him” (Job 13:16). Fellowship with God requires integrity; hypocrisy creates an impassable gulf.

Connections to New Testament Teaching

While the Hebrew term does not reappear in the Greek Scriptures, its ethical substance is echoed when Jesus denounces “hypocrites” (for example, Matthew 23). Paul’s warnings against a “form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5) parallel the Old Testament indictment of chaneph. Thus, the canon speaks with one voice: authenticity of heart is non-negotiable.

Ministry Implications

• Personal Examination: Believers must routinely test motives, lest unconfessed sin harden into hypocrisy.
• Discipleship and Church Discipline: Leaders guard the flock by addressing deceptive religiosity early, following patterns seen in Job’s protests and Isaiah’s calls to repentance.
• Evangelism: The gospel both exposes and cures chaneph, offering new hearts that love truth (John 3:21).
• Cultural Engagement: As Isaiah confronted Assyrian pride, the church must challenge societal systems that feign righteousness while denying God.

Summary

חָנֵף portrays a perilous blending of outward religiosity with inward rebellion. Scripture presents the certainty of divine reckoning, the social havoc wrought by hidden impiety, and the hope of genuine righteousness that comes only through wholehearted submission to God.

בְּ֭חַנְפֵי בחנפי וְֽחַנְפֵי־ וחנפי־ חֲנֵפִ֑ים חָ֭נֵף חָנֵ֗ף חָנֵ֣ף חָנֵ֥ף חָנֵף֙ חנף חנפים bə·ḥan·p̄ê Bechanfei bəḥanp̄ê chaNef chaneFim ḥă·nê·p̄îm ḥā·nêp̄ ḥānêp̄ ḥănêp̄îm vechanfei wə·ḥan·p̄ê- wəḥanp̄ê-Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts