Pharisee — Meaning in the Bible
A member of a Jewish group in Jesus' time devoted to careful keeping of the law and its traditions. Jesus often debated with Pharisees; Nicodemus and Paul were Pharisees.
The New Testament's criticisms target particular attitudes and people; it should not be read as describing every Pharisee.
What it means
The Gospels show Pharisees questioning Jesus about the Sabbath, washing and table fellowship with sinners. Jesus criticised hypocrisy among some of them. Mark 2:23–28Mark 7:1–8Luke 15:1–2Matthew 23:23–28
Not all Pharisees opposed Jesus: Nicodemus came to him at night, and Gamaliel urged caution. Paul calls himself "a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees". John 3:1–2Acts 5:34–39Acts 23:6Philippians 3:5
Key passages
- Mark 2:23–28 — A Sabbath debate.
- Luke 18:9–14 — The Pharisee and the tax collector.
- Matthew 23:23–28 — Woes against hypocrisy.
- John 3:1–21 — Nicodemus.
- Acts 23:6–9 — Paul, a Pharisee.
Original language
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Study further
- Luke 18:9–14 A parable.
- John 3:1–21 Nicodemus.
- Acts 5:34–42 Gamaliel.