Yeah, this is certainly interesting to me, since my JW dad recently admitted he was a hypocrite, and said that everyone was a hypocrite. It would be interesting to prove that in the Bible as JW's see it, the word he admits to being is in fact the same word JW's say is 'apostate'... I am going to cross reference that with other Bible translations and see if the NWT is the only one using 'apostate.
Edited: Just had a quick blast over Bible.com and WT.org & a dictionary.
Oxford Dictionary:
Hypocrisy: Simulation of virtue or goodness, insincerity.
Hypocrite: Person guilty of hypocrisy.
Godless: Not believing in God or a god; impious, wicked.
Profane: 1. Not sacred, secular. 2. Irreverent, blasphemous. ? v.t. to treat (a scared thing) with irreverence or disregard; to violate or pollute (what is entitled to respect)
Apostate: One who renounces his former belief principles, or party, etc.
Job 13:16
KJV: 16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
RSV: 16 This will be my salvation, that a godless man shall not come before him.
Darby: 16 This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face
NWT: 16 He would also be my salvation, For before him no apostate will come in.
Job: 27: 8-9
KJV: 8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? 9 Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
RSV: 8 For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts him off, when God takes away his life? 9 Will God hear his cry, when trouble comes upon him?
Darby: 8 For what is the hope of the ungodly, when [God] cutteth him off, when +God taketh away his soul? 9 Will ùGod hear his cry when distress cometh upon him?
NWT: 8 For what is the hope of an apostate in case he cuts [him] off, In case God carries off his soul from him? 9 Will God hear an outcry of his In case distress comes upon him?
Job 36: 13-14
KJV: 13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. 14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
RSV: 13 "The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them. 14 They die in youth, and their life ends in shame.
Darby: 13 But the godless in heart heap up anger; they cry not when he bindeth them: 14 Their soul dieth in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
NWT: 13 And those apostate in heart will themselves lay up anger. They should not cry for help because he has bound them. 14 Their soul will die in youth itself, And their life among male temple prostitutes.
Psalms 35:15-17
KJV: 15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: 16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
RSV: 15 But at my stumbling they gathered in glee, they gathered together against me; cripples whom I knew not slandered me without ceasing; 16 they impiously mocked more and more, gnashing at me with their teeth. 17 How long, O LORD, wilt thou look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my life from the lions!
Darby: 15 But at my halting they rejoiced, and gathered together: the slanderers gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not: 16 With profane jesters for bread, they have gnashed their teeth against me. 17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my only one from the young lions.
NWT: 15 But at my limping they rejoiced and gathered together; They gathered together against me, Striking [me] down when I did not know it; They ripped [me] to pieces and did not keep silent. 16 Among the apostate mockers for a cake There was a grinding of their teeth even against me. 17 O Jehovah, how long will you keep seeing [it]? Do bring back my soul from their ravages,Even my only one from the maned young lions.
Proverbs 11:9
KJV: 9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
RSV: 9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
Darby: 9 With his mouth a hypocrite destroyeth his neighbour; but through knowledge are the righteous delivered.
NWT: 9 By [his] mouth the one who is an apostate brings his fellowman to ruin, but by knowledge are the righteous rescued.
Isaiah 9:17
KJV: 17 Therefore the LORD shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
RSV: 17 Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; for every one is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away and his hand is stretched out still.
Darby: 17 Therefore the Lord will not rejoice in their young men, neither will he have mercy on their fatherless and on their widows; for every one is a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.
NWT: 17 That is why Jehovah will not rejoice even over their young men, and upon their fatherless boys and upon their widows he will have no mercy; because all of them are apostates and evildoers and every mouth is speaking senselessness. In view of all this his anger has not turned back, but his hand is stretched out still.
Isaiah 32:6
KJV: 6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
RSV: 6 For the fool speaks folly, and his mind plots iniquity: to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the LORD, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink.
Darby: 6 for the vile man will speak villainy, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against Jehovah, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
NWT: 6 because the senseless one himself will speak mere senselessness, and his very heart will work at what is hurtful, to work at apostasy and to speak against Jehovah what is wayward, to cause the soul of the hungry one to go empty, and he causes even the thirsty one to go without drink itself.
Isaiah 33:14
KJV: 14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Revised Standard Version: 14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: "Who among us can dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?"
Darby: 14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling hath surprised the hypocrites: Who among us shall dwell with the consuming fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting flames?
NWT: 14 In Zion the sinners have come to be in dread; shivering has grabbed hold of the apostates: ?Who of us can reside for any time with a devouring fire? Who of us can reside for any time with long-lasting conflagrations??
Isaiah 62:2
KJV: 2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
Darby: 2 And the nations shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory; and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehovah will name.
RSV: 2 The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the LORD will give.
NWT: 2 ?And the nations will certainly see your righteousness, [O woman,] and all kings your glory. And you will actually be called by a new name, which the very mouth of Jehovah will designate.
Jeremiah 17:13
KJV: 13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.
RSV: 13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake thee shall be put to shame; those who turn away from thee shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water.
Darby: 13 Thou hope of Israel, Jehovah! all that forsake thee shall be ashamed. They that depart from me shall be written in the earth; because they have forsaken Jehovah, the fountain of living waters.
NWT: 13 O Jehovah, the hope of Israel, all those who are leaving you will be put to shame. Those apostatizing from me will be written down even in the earth, because they have left the source of living water, Jehovah.
