ἀνακαλύπτω (anakaluptō)
anakaluptō
to unveil
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb anakaluptō means to lift a veil or uncover something that was previously hidden. Its literal sense involves drawing back a covering to reveal what lies beneath. In the New Testament, this action is rare, appearing only twice in the entire text, both within Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians.
Paul uses the word metaphorically to describe spiritual perception rather than physical sight. He contrasts the old covenant, where a veil remains over the hearts of those who read Moses, with the new covenant experience. When one turns to the Lord, this veil is removed (2 Corinthians 3:16). The result is that believers can see the glory of God clearly and are transformed into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The word combines a prefix indicating reversal or removal with a root meaning "veil." This etymology highlights the shift from obscurity to clarity. Translators typically render it as "unveiled" or "removed," capturing the idea that spiritual truth is no longer obscured but directly accessible to those who believe.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read about having an unveiled face, it speaks to a profound shift in how we see God. The word ἀνακαλύπτω describes lifting a covering that once hid what was true. In the life of faith, this means moving from confusion to clarity. We no longer look at spiritual truths through layers of misunderstanding or hardness of heart.
Instead, we behold the glory of the Lord directly. This vision is not just for observation; it changes us. As we keep our eyes fixed on Him, we gradually become more like His image. It is a gentle transformation, happening from one level of glory to another, guided by the Spirit who removes every barrier between us and God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- unveiled1×
- being lifted,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνακεκαλυμμένῳ1×
- ἀνακαλυπτόμενον,1×
Key Verses
-
II Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.
This verse shows the positive result of the word: believers see God's glory with an unveiled face and are actively transformed into His image.
-
II Corinthians 3:14
But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away.
This occurrence highlights the contrast, noting that a veil remains over hardened minds unless it is removed in Christ.