ἀποκρύπτω (apokruptō)
apokruptō
to conceal
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apokruptō means to hide or conceal something, often with the specific nuance of keeping it secret. In the New Testament, it appears in four verses, primarily within Luke’s Gospel and Pauline letters like 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, and Colossians. The word carries a sense of deliberate concealment, suggesting that what is hidden is not merely lost but intentionally kept from view.
Its root combines the prefix apo-, indicating separation or removal, with kruptō, meaning to hide. This etymology underscores the act of setting something apart from public knowledge. For instance, in Luke 10:21, Jesus rejoices that certain truths have been hidden from the wise and learned but revealed to little children, highlighting a divine choice to conceal wisdom from some while revealing it to others.
Translators often render apokruptō as "conceal" or "keep secret," reflecting its emphasis on intentional secrecy. In 1 Corinthians 2:7, Paul speaks of God’s wisdom being hidden in a mystery, which no one has ever known. This usage aligns with the broader biblical theme of divine mysteries that remain concealed until revealed by God.
Understanding apokruptō helps illuminate passages where God’s plans or truths are deliberately kept hidden until the appropriate time for revelation. It invites readers to consider how divine wisdom operates beyond human understanding, often remaining concealed until it is purposefully unveiled.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we encounter this word, we are reminded that God’s wisdom does not always follow human logic or academic achievement. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus thanks the Father for hiding certain truths from the wise and learned, choosing instead to reveal them to those with childlike trust. This suggests that spiritual understanding is a gift of grace, not a prize earned by intellectual effort.
Similarly, the apostle Paul describes God’s plan as a mystery kept hidden for ages before being unveiled to believers. This concealment was not an act of exclusion, but a deliberate timing designed to highlight the depth of divine love. We can find comfort in knowing that what seems obscure or difficult to grasp is often part of a larger, beautiful design that God is patiently revealing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hidden2×
- hidden,1×
- You have hidden1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπέκρυψας1×
- ἀποκεκρυμμένου1×
- ἀποκεκρυμμένον1×
- ἀποκεκρυμμένην,1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 10:21
In that same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.”
This verse highlights the divine choice to conceal truth from the self-sufficient wise while granting it to those with humble hearts.
-
I Corinthians 2:7
But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory,
Here the word emphasizes that God’s wisdom was pre-ordained and kept secret before creation, underscoring its eternal nature.
-
Ephesians 3:9
and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ,
Paul uses this term to describe the long-hidden administration of the mystery, now made visible through Christ for all believers.