Word: Pharisaicical

PHARISA'IC'ICAL, a. [from Pharisee.] Pertaining to the Pharisees; resembling the Pharisees, a sect among the Jews, distinguished by their zeal for the traditions of the elders, and by their exact observance of these traditions and the ritual law. Hence pharisaic denotes addicted to external forms and ceremonies; making a show of religion without the spirit of it; as pharisaic holiness.

Word: Pharisaicalness

PHARISA'ICALNESS, n. Devotion to external rites and ceremonies; external show of religion without the spirit of it.

Word: Pharisaism

PHAR'ISAISM, n. The notions, doctrines and conduct of the Pharisees, as a sect. 1. Rigid observance of external forms of religion without genuine piety; hypocrisy in religion.

Word: Pharisean

PHARISE'AN, a. Following the practice of the Pharisees.

Word: Pharisee

PHAR'ISEE, n. [Heb. to separate.] One of a sect among the Jews, whose religion consisted in a strict observance of rites and ceremonies and of the traditions of the elders,and whose pretended holiness led them to separate themselves as a sect, considering themselves as more righteous than other Jews.

G5330

Φαρισαῖος

Pharisaios

far-is-ah'-yos

Of Hebrew origin (compare [H6567]); a separatist, that is, exclusively religious; a Pharisaean, that is, Jewish sectary: - Pharisee.

H6567

פּרשׁ

pârâsh

paw-rash'

A primitive root; to separate, literally (to disperse) or figuratively (to specify); also (by implication) to wound: - scatter, declare, distinctly, shew, sting.

During the Maccabean period in the reign of John Hyrcanus (134-104 B.C.), the conflicting parties in Judaism, the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Essenes, came into existence. The Pharisees were apparently successors to the Hasidim (“the pious”), who stood true to the law under Antiochus Epiphanes' proscription of Judaism in 168 B.C. They were rigid legalistic separatists, with watchwords of prayer, repentance and charitable giving. From an admirable beginning in the fires of Maccabean suffering, they gradually degenerated into empty, unprincipled religionists in Yeshua's day.

(Ungers Bible Handbook; Merrill F. Unger, THD.,PHD. ©1966 Moody Press Chicago First Edition p.461)1)