ἀπόκρυφος (apokruphos)
apokruphos
concealed
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective apokruphos describes something that is hidden away or kept secret. It appears in only three verses in the New Testament, yet it carries a distinct weight. In Mark 4:22 and Luke 8:17, Jesus uses it to explain that nothing remains concealed forever; what is hidden now will eventually be revealed. This usage suggests that secrecy is temporary, not permanent.
The word shares its root with the verb apokryptō, meaning to cover or conceal. While often translated simply as "secret," it implies a state of being stored up or kept out of sight. In Colossians 2:3, Paul describes Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Here, the term points to depth and value rather than mere obscurity. The sources note its frequent use in the Septuagint for the Hebrew word sether, reinforcing this sense of a protected or stored reality.
Translators typically render apokruphos as "hidden" or "secret." The distinction lies in the implication of future disclosure. In the Gospels, the hidden things are destined to come to light. In Colossians, the hidden wisdom is found in Christ. The word does not suggest abandonment but rather a deliberate keeping until the proper time.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
It is natural to feel uneasy about things kept from view. We often worry that secrets hide flaws or that uncertainty signals abandonment. Yet this word reminds us that concealment is rarely permanent. What feels hidden today is simply waiting for the right moment to be brought into the open.
In Colossians, Paul offers a different kind of comfort. He tells us that all true wisdom and knowledge are stored up in Christ. This means you do not need to chase after elusive answers or feel inadequate because you lack understanding. The depth you seek is already present in Him, waiting for you to discover it.
Jesus also assures us that nothing stays buried forever. Whether it is a mistake you fear exposed or a truth you long to understand, time will bring clarity. Instead of living in the shadow of the unknown, you can rest in the knowledge that God’s timing brings everything into the light where it belongs.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- secret1×
- hidden;1×
- a secret thing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπόκρυφον2×
- ἀπόκρυφοι·1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 4:22
For there is nothing hidden except that it should be made known, neither was anything made secret but that it should come to light.
Jesus uses this term to promise that current obscurity is temporary and destined for disclosure.
-
Luke 8:17
For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
This occurrence reinforces the certainty that hidden matters will inevitably come to light.
-
Colossians 2:3
in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.
Paul shifts the focus from fear of exposure to the value of wisdom stored securely in Christ.