Cloke (pretense)
Cloke (pretense)
is “a covering, a means of hiding” (epi, “upon,” kalupto, “to cover”); hence, “a pretext, a cloke, for wickedness,” 1Pe 2:16. In the Sept. it is used in Exo 26:14; Exo 39:21, “coverings;” 2Sa 17:19; Job 19:29, “deceit.”
either from pro, “before,” and phaino, “to cause to appear shine,” or, more probably, from pro, and phemi, “to say,” is rendered “cloke” (of covetousness) in 1Th 2:5; “excuse” in Joh 15:22 (AV “cloke”); “pretense” in Mat 23:14; Mar 12:40; Luk 20:47 (AV “show”); Phi 1:18; “color” in Act 27:30. It signifies the assuming of something so as to disguise one’s real motives. See PRETENSE, SHOW.